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editor's note

I can feel the buzz of an imminent election in the air.

This year's election not only promises to be a cliff hanger, it also promises an online and offline campaign like nothing you've seen before. While the actual voting process still happens in the booth on November 24, people will be voting far earlier with their mouse click.

As you'll see from this month's site scan, politicians have discovered the interweb in a big way. And while some of them haven't quite "got it", their team of PR experts are certainly enthusiastic.

Politicians from all sides are contributing to a surge of online election content - from opinion polls to "how to vote" demos like the news.com.au Vote-a-matic that launched earlier this month.

Search hits for "election 2007" are predicted to reach such high levels that Google has launched its own 2007 Federal Election page , featuring election videos from all the main parties, a Google Maps electorate finder and "as they happen" news broadcasts. For us voters, you can see this surge as overwhelming, or as a a chance to turn off the TV and get involved in our democratic process. The great thing about the net is how many opinions and perspectives you can gather in a single moment.

On to iiNews content. Last month we asked readers to send in their opinions on the use of programs like Facebook and MSN Messenger at work. In the feature story we'll look at what you had to say and explore the issue of "using the web at work" in more detail.

In News we cover off some of the results of last month's iiNews Reader Survey, check in on the new refer a friend to iiNet promotion and hear about the 3 Mobile special offer for iiNet members. Security Watch covers off privacy concerns with Facebook and Niaal lays down the final word on Halo's end game in Entertainment.

Happy exploring.

Mark Welker
iiNews Editor

 

inbox

"Love iiNews...in our 3 months as iiNet customers we are now well informed about what 'VOIP' is and plasma vs LCD and more. Thanks! I am now hoping I can stay tuned to this fast moving world with your layman explanations of all this technology stuff that previously baffled me."

- Jack, WA

"Hi. Loved the feature on RSS. I use it on my mobile device. I noted that you didn't mention any readers/aggregators that allow you to synchronize and
view content offline away from your PC or network on a mobile device/PDA/Phone.

I use mobilerss.net on Pocket PC. I'd love to see some articles on using your Internet connection to get the most out of small devices such as these! Also, an article on how to set up an RSS feed for your blog/site on iiNet would be fun!"

- Cathie R, WA

Thanks Cathie. We'll look at running a feature on mobile Internet access in the future.

Send your newsletter views, news and suggestions to iinewsfeedback@iinet.net.au

news

3 mobile special offer
As part of our ongoing friendship with the guys at 3 Mobile we'd like to pass on an exclusive special offer to iiNet members.

Until November 30, sign up with 3 for a Nokia E65 mobile on the $49 Cap and you'll get four months FREE subscription to X-Series Silver.

X-Series Silver lets you extend your iiNet broadband connection by letting you surf the net, check your email and access your PC using your 3 mobile.

To find out more about this offer and X-Series, visit http://xseries.iinet.net.au/silverpack or call 3 Mobile direct on 1300 853 089.

reader survey results
Thank you to everyone who took the time to complete our 2007 reader survey. Below are a few of the main observations that have come out of the results so far:

• 54% of iiNews readers use Outlook or Outlook Express to access email, 10.3% use Thunderbird
• 55% have images blocked by default in their email program
• 70% are interested in a new feature allowing readers to ask support questions and have them answered in the following issue
• 66% are interested in participating in monthly voting polls

Your input will be used to take iiNews up to the next level, improving both the look and feel and the content. Thanks once again for participating.

The three $100 Coles Myer Gift Vouchers winners were:

• Gavan O'Connor
• Daniel Pyemont
• Alain Delhaize

Your gift vouchers are in the mail!

refer a friend for iTunes songs!
Spread the word about iiNet broadband and you can be downloading songs from the iTunes Australia store for free!

For each friend you refer to sign up for iiNet broadband, you and your friend both get 20 iTunes song downloads free. The more people you refer, the more songs you get! Head to www.referafriend.iinet.net.au and start referring.

Once your friend's broadband service becomes active a confirmation email will be sent to both of you with song codes and instructions on how to use them. The offer ends on the 25th of December 2007.

support & services

service spotlight - iTunes unmetered
For those iiNet members who have joined us only recently, you may have missed out on the announcement that all iiNet members get unmetered downloads for iTunes purchases.

Anything you purchase from iTunes Store Australia comes quota-free - meaning no matter how much you enjoy, you'll never take a hit to your monthly download quota (Podcasts exempt).

The Australian iTunes Store now has more than 4 million songs, plus music videos, audiobooks, Pixar short films and iPod games to choose from. Preview 30 second clips of any song and purchase the ones you like for just $1.69 each (GST included). Download to a Mac or PC, sync it with your iPod or burn to a CD. It's that easy.

If iTunes sounds like your kind of thing, download it today for free, then create an iTunes account and you're on your way. For more information on iTunes unmetered, visit the mini-site at http://www.iinet.net.au/my/itunes/faq.html

tech tip - net status section
At iiNet there is always something going on network-wise: whether it's routine maintenance or upgrades to your services. To keep everyone informed of what we are up to, our Net status page provides an overview of what's happening on our network with alerts for your local area.

You can view a state breakdown by clicking on the map of Australia or selecting it from the down down menu on the right hand side. Once you select a state, you'll see a list of all the upgrades and maintenance for a range of categories. The list will show the service affected (ADSL, dialup, email etc), whether it's an upgrade or a fault and the ID number, start time, estimated time of completion, and the state it's affecting.

If you click on the ID number attached to the alert you'll be able to view a detailed description of what the event is and how it could affect you. You can also filter the alerts by the menu on the left if you would like to see a particular category of upgrade or fault.

If you'd prefer to have relevant net status notifications sent to you by email, log into toolbox and subscribe to our Netstatus emails.

 

security watch

top 5 viruses reported to Sophos in September

1. Netsky
2. Pushdo
3. Mytob
4. Zafi
5. IFrame

List provided by Sophos. Remember, all iiNet plans come with industry leading Sophos email anti-virus and Ironport spam protection that is automatically kept up-to-date with the latest virus threats. However, to fully protect your system, we recommend that you use our email anti-virus in conjunction with a personal anti-virus product such as those listed on this page.

facebook privacy
The spreading phenomenon of Facebook has changed how we keep in touch and track our friends, but have you ever stopped to think "who else is keeping track of me?"

A snapshot of London's Facebook network found 75 percent of users allow their profiles to be seen by anyone in the network. This supports claims by experts that personal information isn't as safe from Internet identity fraud as many might think.

41 percent of Facebook users, in a snapshot by security firm Sophos in August, were willing to provide potentially fraud usable personal information to a complete stranger. Posing as a smiling green toy frog, users unwittingly provided personal information to Sophos's identity thief, Freddi Staur. Ironically an anagram for ID Fraudster.

Facebook allows all of your networks to see your profile by default, potentially anyone could be "Freddi Staur" and viewing your personal details. Due to this alarming oversight, iiNet users might want to think about changing their Facebook profiles so that only friends can keep track of their movements.

To find out how to further secure your Facebook account see the Sophos article at http://www.sophos.com/security/topic/facebook.html

feature story: web at work

Online applications like Myspace, MSN Messenger, Youtube and Facebook have been dragged over the fire the last year or so for their effect on office productivity. A recent report by Internet security firm Surf Control reported that Facebook alone could be costing companies up to $5 billion a year in lost productivity.

So, in attempt to explore the issue further, last month we asked iiNews readers to send in their views of how the web gets used at work. Opinions ranged wildly:

"As an IT manager I have a fair idea how much productivity is lost due to accessing the Internet. I have used computers since the early 1980's and have always had the policy to encourage staff to have a go at anything, to use the net, to use applications even if not for work, mainly to get skills in computing. But those days are gone, now most people can competently use a computer in the workplace."

Dave L, WA

"Using Internet products for private purposes during working hours is immoral, dishonest and wrong. We have no right to cause our employers expense by any action or in-action, despite the fact that employers may condone such, or 'turn a blind eye'. We owe our employers total commitment & time while we are at work."

Daryl C, SA

Use or abuse?
Most people agreed that having access to the web at work was an essential part of doing business. Modern workplaces are confident that productivity increases when the the Internet is introduced. Most also agreed that distractions (online or off) causing productivity loss is not a new problem.

"MSN Messenger access at work has made a huge difference. I've been able to keep in touch with a key developer who was seconded to another capital city, and resolve ongoing issues quickly where he's key, while allowing him the flexibility to answer at a slower rate than if it was a phone conversation.

It's also allowed my team to keep in touch on the occasions where I work from home. Like everything, you have to be disciplined and ensure your team members are disciplined. "

Dave C, WA

While some see the "Facebook lure" as a clear case for an outright office ban, others see the excessive use of such sites a symptom of a more complex problem of employee morale, motivation and supervision.

"I guess that if people choose to waste time they will. Ultimately it comes down to individual morals or values. And I don't just mean the staff's. Employers have a lot to answer for how their staff behave. If a student does poorly we've generally blamed the student. But it is now well accepted that it generally comes down to the quality of teacher."

Jeremy G, VIC

A growing problem, or perfect opportunity?
With more than 100 Australians joining Facebook every hour, the issue isn't going away any time soon.

In the US, the Trade Union Congress recently released a statement claiming that businesses needed to "get a grip on reality and set guidelines for programs like Facebook and Youtube rather than banning them outright. "

The article states that "simply cracking down on the use of new web tools like Facebook is not a sensible solution to a problem that is only going to get bigger."

Not all firms take this opinion. Internet Security firm Sophos claims results from a recent US worker poll show that almost half of US companies now ban Facebook at work through their IT system.

"I think employers are quite right in restricting access. We are paid to provide services for them not to swan around improving our social contacts - do that at the water cooler."

George G, NSW

Others are trying to tap into its potential.

A recent ABC news interview revealed travel agent Flight Centre saw Facebook as a friend.

Flight Centre spokesman Colin Bowman says it is useful. "We recognise that our customers are using it, and also our consultants are using it, so it is a legitimate way for them to consult with each other," he said.

How much is too much?
Facebook representatives have often repeated the case for employers to explore the site to understand the advantages. If an employer fails to understand why and how their employees are using Facebook then perhaps that is a management issue and a lost opportunity for an employer to understand a changing (and not necessarily worse) social and work ethic.

In a recent interview with news.com.au, IBM spokeswoman Deepa Hammond said IBM staff were encouraged to communicate via blogs, podcasts and even the virtual world Second Life.

IBM Australia's Internet policy says "IBM encourages its employees to explore responsibly to further the development of new spaces of relationship-building, learning and collaboration".

At a recent software developer conference , a Microsoft senior executive said that job seekers will think twice about employers who lock down work Internet access.

The Microsoft Senior Design Anthropologist labelled companies who banned the use of the web at work as "digital immigrants": people who were not born into the digital lifestyle and view it as a distraction rather than an integral part of life.

conclusion
Getting distracted, losing momentum, slacking off at work are not new phenomena. What is new is the ability for a security firm like Surf Control to measure and track when you are getting distracted, losing momentum or slacking off. Statistics give visibility to a situation that already exists, that perhaps has existed for a lot longer than many realise.

One thing seems to be pretty certain, if employee morale is low then banning one thing will simply redirect the problem somewhere else.

related links:
www.facebook.com - ground zero
www.myspace.com - the original social networking phenomenon

Got more to add to the Facebook debate or a hot topic we should cover? Send your newsletter suggestions and comments to iinewsfeedback@iinet.net.au

Next month: Online TV

 

 

iipeople

staff profile

Name: Nicole Rudd
Title: HR Advisor

What does your current role involve?
My current role involves providing advice and support to iiNet managers throughout the recruitment process. I am also responsible for the management and implementation of many HR projects such as career expos, enhancing our customer assessment centres and implementing online skills testing.

What did you do before you came to iiNet?
Prior to iiNet I have worked within the recruitment across a range of different industries including administration, engineering, IT, and marketing. In 2002 I spent a year in London where I worked at the well renowned Walkabout pub and travelled around Europe.

After returning from London I couldn't decide where I wanted to live so for the following year I spent time in QLD, NSW and WA before deciding to move to Perth permanently. I chose to move to Perth because a lot of the friends I had made while I was travelling were from Perth and they were always raving about how good it was.

What is the best thing about working at iiNet?
My team and the learning and development opportunities. I have already learnt so much since I started here 8 months ago and I have had the opportunity to develop my skills on heaps of external training courses.

Your favourite website?
At the moment I would have to say Facebook because it's been a great chance for me to get back in touch with all my old school friends and people I have met on my travels.

customer of the month

Name: Anne Macmillan
Location: Queenscliff, NSW
Account type: broadband2+ with VOIP
Customer Since: August 2007

Describe your typical day of living online?
Thanks to iiNet (and the wireless router) my day kicks off with a coffee in bed while I check my emails and a check of some news websites (BBC, ninemsn, SBS). Then after a while tending to the real world, it's back to the computer to do some studying. I have recently started a Bachelor of Science (by correspondence) and having fast broadband makes studying online much easier - downloading lectures and lecture notes takes seconds rather than minutes!

Once all my work is done, I like to have another flick through the news websites and keep up-to-date with everyone on Facebook. My kids then usually claim the computer for a little while and visit sites like Club Penguin, NRL, Nickelodeon and National Geographic kids.

The best thing about broadband for you?
The best thing about broadband is the speed... everything happens in an instant. With the wireless router it also means that the kids can be on the computer where I can monitor which sites they're on even while I'm doing my own work. Also, with our family spread all over the world, broadband makes Skype an excellent way to keep in touch.

Your favourite site?
The NASA website has lots of interesting stuff on there and there's a kids zone too. I like to look up when we'll be able to see the space station or shuttle from Sydney and take the kids outside to see it. The kids love Club Penguin and I like it because I know it is a safe site for kids to play on and learn how to use the Internet. My older son likes the Mathletics site where he can play maths quizzes against kids from all over the world (and he doesn't even realise that he's improving his maths at the same time!)

Interested in being our next customer of the month? Send your details to iinewsfeedback@iinet.net.au.

 

competitions

entertainment

2 minute games review - Halo 3 (Xbox 360)
with Niaal Holder

I've been brapping away for months about it and lo, now I have to curb my brappery - Halo 3 has materialised and we, as a global family, have devoured it.

So here we are, we're finishing the fight. Halo 2 left us dragging our collective bottom lip as the storyline ripped itself away from us - we felt bare, hurt and angry, like an ill-performed Brazilian waxing. But like the soothing ointment for these tender needs, Halo 3 picks up squarely where things left off, all is forgiven and we're getting stuck in gunwise with big grins and thumb blisters.

The storyline is no Bioshock, but it's entertaining enough to warrant sticking out the cutscenes. Without ruining the show, we're rescuing folk and blowing many large things up in the name of humanity united. The Master Chief is gruff as always, and little has changed in how you steer him to victory. The enemy is much the same too. In fact, I'd say 90% of the Halo 3 repertoire you've seen before - and if you're anything like me, that's absolutely fantastic.

Hitting the campaign trail is a great start. I ran it on Normal to begin with, and behold... 8 hours later, the game was finished. Which would probably annoy me if there wasn't so much to go back for: play it through again to find the secret bonus skulls on each map, play it through again on heroic, legendary and mythic for more intelligent combat, play it through again with 3 mates online for tracked scores and bragging rights, then watch the blindingly cool video replays to truly detail where things went right/badly wrong.

The campaign is 9 missions long and (aside from what is, frankly, a downright fracking skidmark of an 8th mission) really good fun. Two missions in and you're pretty much handed the keys to every driving, flying or hovering car bike plane or tank you can lay your gloves on. The two-man quad bikes are truly the highlight - it's the mark of man, he who can barrel roll over a giant scarab battle spider and still summon the minerals to beep their horn cheerily for passers-by.

When you've tired of the campaign, the real fun begins. From deathmatch to team strategy, king of the hill to duo battles, we're looking at a bevy of ranked and unranked social and competitive tourneys kicking off every five seconds. Over a million Xbox live users jumped on to play Halo 3 on launch day, and the Aussie contingent is well represented for good connection speeds and jolly old ocker banter.

It's intense, brutal action and the variety will keep you going long after the campaign has settled into the 'done' basket. The more you play, the higher your overall ranking and individual skill level in multiplayer disciplines becomes. It's also well worth hitting www.bungie.net to track your stats after the fights are over.

Overall, this is Halo 2 with a euphoric sugar high, in that most of what you're doing will feel right at home already. But everything feels slightly crisper, newer, cleaner and smoother. Landscapes feel grand, the weapons feel more powerful and everything feels tight and responsive. Bungie have invested an awful lot of dosh in making this game addictively right, with just the right level of difficulty for your mood, just the right game-world tangibility.

Keep in mind that this isn't revolutionary. It's just an extension on a theme, even if that theme is a pretty bloody good one. Halo 3 is lovely looking but it aint no Gears of War, it's witty but it's isn't as clever as Bioshock. That said, Gears and Bioshock took less than a week to gather the dust of decrepitude on my gaming shelf, whereas Halo 3 looks like it will get high replay for a long while yet.

But then, I'm preaching to the converted. You either own this game already, or you're still saving for your blu-ray player.

movie review - The 11th Hour - Rated PG

The 11th Hour is the second in what could be a long line of documentaries (and movies) detailing the end of the world.

The film is the spiritual successor to An Inconvenient Truth . It is the "hurry up!". Where An Inconvenient Truth held out a hand to introduce us to the idea of rapid climate change, The 11th Hour is the person who challenges you across the dinner table. The dinner guest who overwhelms you with their breadth of knowledge and argumentative ferocity, leaving you exhausted, feeling very small and no longer hungry.

The brainchild of surprise environmentalist (or humanist - depending on how you look at it) Leonardo DiCaprio, The 11th Hour brings together some of the brightest minds of the 21st century for a think tank on climate change.

What follows is a long procession of "talking heads" including mathematical genius Stephen Hawking, environmentalist David Suzuki as well as renewable energy experts, civil rights activists, economists, doctors, botanists, urban designers and many more. Each talking head plays off the thoughts of the last, working through climate change and pointing out the implications for our rather short term future.

The 11th Hour probably spends too long re-stating the issue we all hear about every day in the media. At times the film overwhelms with its apocalyptic predictions, causing a kind of brain freeze as you realise how large and immediate the earth's problems are.

Yet as quickly as this doom descends, the talking heads change their tact, and The 11th Hour suddenly shifts to a message of excitement and hope for the future. An alternate view of climate change is presented, inviting viewers to look at the world we live in and how we live in it from a completely new perspective. Like unwrapping the Earth all over again.

This is probably the most significant difference between An Inconvenient Truth and The 11th Hour ; the second half of the film is mostly devoted to exploring solutions to climate change. This is a welcome relief from the apocalyptic bent of the first 45 odd minutes.

Sadly, for all its bright minds, The 11th Hour lacks the most important facet of all life - a heart.

Buying something that has been endorsed by an "expert" or better yet, a celebrity like DiCaprio is persuasive. However The 11th Hour often feels like viewing the world (and its issues) through a dull microscope. There are opinions aplenty, but watching some relatively un-charismatic scientists finish each other's sentences for an hour and a half? Not so enthralling.

The aggressive and stripped back method of delivery (the film is dominated by talking heads and news reel footage) will make many think they are being told what to do, rather than being cleverly and subtlety led to one ultimate conclusion. This is a shame, because there is so much to gain from seeing this movie. But, perhaps the situation is beyond nicety, and a more aggressive approach is required. Not for me to know.

An important and ultimately uplifting documentary, but better suited to DVD I think.

 

site scan - election sites

www.chaser.com.au
Love em or hate em, the Chaser boys push the boundaries of political satire, providing a fresh and often hysterical perspective of the upcoming national election and Australian political issues.

impact.myspace.com
Elections are never going to be the same again. This site is the jump off point for politician's myspace profiles. Befriend a politician or check out what music Peter Garrett is playing on his page.

www.getup.org.au
Getup gets people involved in the democratic process by providing a platform to vote with your mouse click. Getup campaigns cover a wide range of issues including social justice, cultural diversity, ecological sustainability and economic fairness.