Tech Stream
Archive for March, 2009
The Grass Mud Horse of China
31 March 2009
Listen and download: MP3
I came across this story a couple of weeks ago about the Grass Mud Horse of China and its decidedly potty mouth. It is often refered to as one of the Ten Mythical Creatures of the Baidu but the video and song on the internet featuring the horse is a clever (and dirty) riff on internet censorship in China.
Stephen McDonell reported on the story for ABC’s PM program. You can listen via the MP3 link at the top of this post – but be warned if you’re a Chinese-speaking listener who might be offended by certain song lyrics.
Nano hits the road
31 March 2009
The Nano on show at the Geneva Car Show in early March [Reuters]
The car slated as ‘the cheapest in the world’ has starting rolling out of two factories in India. Despite some significant setbacks, the Tata Nano has moved into production, and there’s a growing waiting list for prospective buyers. But some are worried that it poses a threat to the environment.
Michael Coggan has a special feature on ABC Radio Australia News.
Review: The Google phone
30 March 2009
Listen and download: MP3
The G1 running Google’s Android operating system. Image from Hexus
We spoke with Ruslan Kogan on Friday about delays to his plan of releasing a mobile powered by Google’s Android operating system in Australia. HTC Corporation are still the only manufacturer to release a smartphone running Android, with their HTC Dream (pictured above and usually just called the G1) unit appearing in the US in October last year. It is also now available in Australia as well as a few other countries in our region.
Peter Marks, technology editor for ABC Radio National Breakfast, spoke with Fran Kelly about the G1 smartphone. You can listen to his review via the MP3 link at the top of this post.
HTC unveiled their next handset running Android, HTC Magic, at the recent Mobile World Congress. The G2 will be available in April in parts of Europe with the rest of us to follow at some point this year. And we should see some more phones or personal media devices coming out with the operating system very soon as well.
Tech Stream 006
27 March 2009
Listen and download: MP3
Classic lolcat from icanhascheezburger.com
We’re in Jakarta again for this week’s program, investigating location-based mobile applications; Bajo joins us from ABC TV’s Good Game to review GTA Chinatown Wars on the DS; our online language trend-spotter Georgia Webster traces the evolution of the lolcat; and we meet young Australian businessman Ruslan Kogan and his GPS watch.
You can listen to the full program with the MP3 link above or the “Listen Now” link on the right.
Today’s story about mobiles applications in Jakarta was co-produced with Tito Ambyo from Radio Australia’s Indonesian service.
Gaming: Handheld weapons of choice
26 March 2009
Listen and download: MP3
Wu “Kenny” Lee from GTA: Chinatown Wars [Rockstar Games].
Bajo joins us in the Tech Stream again this week, with two new handheld console games to review. First up is Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars on the Nintendo DS. It’s the first time a game from the GTA series has been on the portable DS platform, and it is squarely aimed at the mature player, with plenty of the usual ultra-violence, langauge and drug themes. Bajo’s also brought in a new FPS game for the PSP – Resistance: Restribution. You can hear all about these games by following the MP3 link at the top of this story.
Bajo and his cohort Junglist from Good Game on ABC TV have all the latest games news and reviews online at abc.net.au/goodgame.
Location based mobile applications
26 March 2009
Listen and download: MP3
The iPhone 3G launched officially in Indonesia last week. Smartphone uptake has been on the rise in the country, with many people opting for the latest Blackberry devices, which have a strong suite of SMS and IM tools. But the iPhone’s success could be driven by its ability to know where you are.
Anyone who has been to the capital Jakarta knows how difficult it is to navigate the complex, overcrowded road network. It is a city of over 15 million residents and traveling to meet up with friends can be a grueling, frustrating affair.
Mark Hanusz is from Equinox Application Development, based in Jakarta. The company is developing location based applications for mobile phones. I spoke with him about these applications, including one called Transjakarta (pictured above) for use on public transport. You can hear the interview via the MP3 link at the top of this story.
Death of the Newspaper
25 March 2009
Triple J Hack has also investigated this week the supposed death of the physical newspaper. Newspapers around the world are declaring bankruptcy and some have switched off their printers altogether. The loss of advertising dollars to the internet seems to be a major cause of the problem. Reporter Antoinette Chiha looks into whether an Australian newspaper could be next. And does this mark the death of quality journalism? You can watch this story online and you can track the death of newspapers in the US via the wonderfully titled newspaperdeathwatch.com.
I buy newspapers on the weekend to read over a slow breakfast, and then get all my updates via online news sites and RSS or twitter feeds during the week. But I would miss physical newspapers if they went away. Where do you get your news from? Why do we usually associate ‘quality journalism’ with newspapers? Do you have a favourite online news outlet or news application for your mobile device or computer?
Wiki Wars
25 March 2009
Was pavlova invented in New Zealand or Australia? Is Daffy Duck a dad? What genre is Nickelback? Pop rock? Soft rock? Post grunge? Or as one user suggested, buttrock?
These are just some of the wars going on amongst Wikipedia editors. We all know the site’s gimmick, anyone can change almost anything. But what are the practical implications of that? And how is it policed? Turns out Wikipedia isn’t as free love as it looks.
Juliette O’Brien and Michael Atkin from Triple J’s Hack radio program investigated. Take a listen (link to MP3 file).
Tech Stream 005
20 March 2009
Listen and download: MP3
Technology journalist Adam Turner joins us in the Tech Stream to talk about impostors on Twitter and updates for the iPhone; Bajo from ABC TV’s Good Game reviews the Watchmen video game; we take a world-wide-web history lesson and meet Paul Miller from the schoolofeverything.com.
You can listen to the full program with the MP3 link above or the links on the right.
The School of Everything interview comes courtesy of Future Tense from ABC Radio National. A full interview is online. The History of the Web is from The Buzz and although the audio is no longer available for download you can can read a transcript. It was produced by Craig Liddell.
Gaming: Comic to film to game
20 March 2009
Listen and download: MP3
Bathroom brawling with Rorschach and Night Owl II in Watchmen: The End is Nigh [Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment]
Steven O’Donnell (aka Bajo) joins us again to chat about gaming. This week he reviews Watchmen – The End is Nigh a new downloadable game based on the incredibly popular Watchmen film and graphic novel. But as with a lot of film to game adaptations, its doesn’t always hit the mark. You can listen via the MP3 link above and catch more gaming news and reviews with Bajo and Junglist at abc.net.au/goodgame.
