Lifehacker Australia

eBay Promises Compensation For Search Stuffup

Angus Kidman — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:00:44 +1100

eBay’s search function went into meltdown over the weekend, meaning many searches returned no results and a number of specialised search functions remain switched off while the auction giant’s boffins try and fix the problem. Lousy timing with Christmas looming. eBay has promised it will compensate sellers affected by the problem, though details haven’t yet emerged. [eBay]

Tax Bills Start Falling Due This Week

Angus Kidman — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:00:37 +1100

If you submitted your tax return on time (and especially if you used e-Tax), chances are you’ve already gotten a refund by now. But if you’re in the less fortunate category of owing the tax office money, those bills start falling due this week. (more…)

Four Airlines In One Day

Angus Kidman — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 12:00:14 +1100

Australia has four major airlines competing on interstate routes, with offerings from bare-bones budget to full service. But price aside, how do Jetstar, Qantas, Tiger and Virgin Blue really measure up? To find out, this Wednesday I’m going to fly on all four of them in a course of a single day. (more…)

iView Now Working On PS3

Angus Kidman — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:00:55 +1100

It’s been in the works for some time, but numerous Twitter users over the weekend reported that the ABC’s well-regarded and recently redesigned iView service is now working on the PS3. (Sony has a launch event for its PlayTV scheduled this week which will likely promote the iView integration as well.) If you’ve given it a try, tell us how it rolls in the comments.

Last Week’s Best Posts

Angus Kidman — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 08:30:57 +1100

You wanted Office 2010, you wanted backup advice and you wanted to make 000 calls. Kick off your Lifehacker Monday by making sure you didn’t miss any of the biggest posts from last week: (more…)

Fraudsters Hitting Self-Managed Super Funds

Angus Kidman — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:00:25 +1100

Scams hitting Internet banking are pretty common (and quite easy to recognise), but online criminals will have a go at any potential source of income. The latest target? Self-managed superannuation funds. (more…)

Grey Market Phones Might Be A 000 Risk

Angus Kidman — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:30:55 +1100

If you want a particular phone model (or colour) that hasn’t been released in Australia, then buying it as a “grey market” import can seem like an appealing way to solve the problem. But as well as not getting any local warranty support, you might run into trouble when it comes to making 000 emergency calls. (more…)

Restoring From Your Windows 7 Backup

Angus Kidman — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:00:27 +1100

Having a sensible backup strategy is vitally important, but so is knowing how to restore your backup if things go wrong. Microsoft’s storage blog runs down how to make that happen in Windows 7. (more…)

Google Real Estate Adds Obvious Search Option

Angus Kidman — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 10:30:37 +1100

Google Maps has already made one upgrade to its real estate search since introducing it in July, and now there’s another why-didn’t-they-do-that before? option: searching for property by adding the words “real estate” to a map search. (more…)

Will Telstra’s T-Box Change The DVR Market?

Angus Kidman — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 09:00:51 +1100

If you want a no-brainer TV recording device, you’ve got two choices right now in Australia: the Foxtel iQ or the TiVo. Now Telstra is throwing its hat into the ring with the planned release of its own device, branded the T-Box. (more…)

Shock Horror! TV Network Using Digital Technology

Angus Kidman — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:30:06 +1100

A perennial theme around Lifehacker in recent weeks has been the fact that TV networks are a bit clueless about the modern world. Turns out the cluelessness runs pretty deep. (more…)

You Can’t Always Trust Mash-Up Data

Angus Kidman — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:00:34 +1100

There’s nothing we like better than a good mash-up (here’s a couple of random examples). But when it comes to services that integrate data from multiple locations and draw their own conclusions, it’s always best to apply a little healthy cynicism. (more…)

Why A 3% Pay Rise Isn’t All Bad News

Angus Kidman — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:00:45 +1100

The average growth in pay for a typical Aussie worker over the past year is under 3%. That makes careful financial planning essential, but there should be light at the end of the tunnel if you’re patient. (more…)

Coles Shrinks Online Delivery Windows

Angus Kidman — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 10:52:08 +1100

Small but useful bit of news from the Coles Online Twitter feed: the supermarket is shrinking its delivery window from four hours to three without charging extra for the privilege. Given that online delivery often equates to “time poor”, that’s a handy change. (Coles also offers to-your-bench delivery.) [Coles]

Get Creative With Twitter For Your SME Tech Summit Pass

Angus Kidman — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 09:00:18 +1100

There’s still plenty of time to enter our contest for one of two free passes to the SME Technology Summit on December 1, or to take advantage of the discount entry offer for Lifehacker readers. See the original post for all the details.

ADVERTISEMENT: Protect Your Computer From Online Threats

Advertisement — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 08:30:22 +1100

A new web threat hits your computer every 2.5 seconds. And with 83% of Internet users in Australia banking online, identity theft on the rise and more confidential information being stored on the web than ever before, regularly updating your online security system is essential. If you’re currently on the look-out to switch security software, purchase Trend Micro Internet Security Pro 2010 today and they will credit you your remaining subscription. (more…)

Which Foxtel Channels Run In Widescreen?

Angus Kidman — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:00:16 +1100

Foxtel launched a bunch of new channels over the weekend, but it’s always something of a crap shoot when you switch channels as to whether you’ll get a widescreen or 4:3 image. TV Tonight has a handy list of which channels are currently offered in widescreen format. (more…)

ABC iView Gets Design Update, Genre Search

Angus Kidman — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:35:13 +1100

The ABC has just rolled out a design update for its iView catchup service. Apart from a general refresh, the big change is the ability to browse programs by genre. (more…)

Customising Google’s SafeSearch Options

Angus Kidman — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:00:38 +1100

Worried about some of the content your kids might run into while searching the Internet? Customise Google’s SafeSearch options to keep them away from potentially undesirable material. (more…)

Ice TV For Windows 7 Exits Beta

Angus Kidman — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:00:10 +1100

The beta period for the Windows 7 version of IceTV’s software didn’t last too long: less than a month after announcing it, the app has now gone on general release. (more…)

mmKeys.dll Makes Media Keys Work Properly With iTunes

Angus Kidman — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 09:00:03 +1100

The Windows version of iTunes is indisputably the poor cousin compared to the Mac release. One feature it implements patchily is support for the multimedia keys found on many PC keyboards, but you may be able to fix that with the mmKeys.dll plug-in. (more…)

ADVERTISEMENT: Cutting Edge Technology Gives Self Directed Investors What They Want

Elly Hart — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 08:30:58 +1100

What do investors really want in an online trading service? The team at Macquarie put their heads together and spent 18 months in search of the answer. They came up with their new online trading platform: Macquarie Edge. (more…)

Project Cleanup: Throwing Stuff Out Feels So Good

Angus Kidman — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:30:21 +1100

The first stage of Project Cleanup is going through my many possessions and working out which ones I should keep. And while there’s pleasure to be had in rediscovering old treasures, there’s even more pleasure to be had in chucking some of them out. (more…)

Get Cheap Entry For SME Technology Summit

Angus Kidman — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:00:37 +1100

The SME Technology Summit in Sydney on December 1 covers the key technology topics small businesses need to examine: social media, online marketing and site design, and selling goods via the Internet. Not only is Lifehacker a media partner for the event, we’re also offering readers the chance to purchase discount registration or win one of two passes to the summit. (more…)

DIY IKEA Change Table Light Box

Angus Kidman — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:30:52 +1100

Baby equipment like change tables isn’t much use when your kids get older. Passing it on to another family is always an option, but for a more elaborate solution, you can convert it into a light box. (more…)