Google is not having a good run recently. Two weeks ago, Google announced that it was integrating Google+, its brand new social network, with its Google search results, calling the new feature “Search, Plus Your World”. The resulting change to Google search results has frustrated some, angered others, and prompted a new conversation about anti-competitive practices and antitrust laws in relation to Google. More »
Linux and open source technology should be a good news story for everyone. However, the way these topics are presented in the media often leaves enthusiasts unhappy. There is a widespread belief that open source alternatives are neglected in favour of commercial products; that coverage often distorts the facts and exaggerates conflict rather than offering insight; and that the right-wing bias of much Australian media dooms the open source community to being dismissed as a kook minority led by some cult figure from Scandinavia whose name no-one can pronounce. The reality is more complex, as reality usually is. More »
One of the more annoying features of iTunes is its insistence on a full-sized download every time there’s even a minor update. Steve Jobs apparently thinks that a 90MB download is “not so big”, but Australian users might beg to differ. More »
It’s fashionable to bash on Foursquare, the location-based, social, game-like service that clutters social networks and seems like pure self-indulgence. It’s a lot more useful than most give it credit for, if you dig in and make smart use of it. More »
It’s not Qantas’ fault that volcano ash in Europe cut off many flights for a week or made planning return routes difficult. But it’s entirely Qantas’ fault that it made an absolute dog’s breakfast of communicating with those passengers once flights resumed, indulging in a mixture of misinformation, confusion and outright lying that’s a textbook example of how companies can rapidly annoy (and lose) customers. More »
Yesterday, Steve Jobs worked his charm, attempting to wow the world with the Apple iPad, a new, super-slim computer he touted as the missing link between iPhones and laptops. It’s an undeniably beautiful device, but it also represents some serious problems. More »
