TOP STORIES
British accents baffle Google iPhone software
A NEW voice-recognition search tool for the iPhone has problems understanding British accents, leading to some bizarre answers to spoken queries, reports say.
Crisis may threaten tech firms
SMALL technology firms may collapse and inventions be lost overseas because research commercialisation faces such uncertainty and turmoil on several fronts, leading industry figures have warned.
Facebook in mobile push
IF all things go according to plan, up to 90 per cent of Facebook users will access the popular social-networking site via mobile devices, a senior company executive said.
Microsoft to offer free security software
MICROSOFT said it will discontinue sales of its subscription PC security service and instead offer free software to help protect computers from viruses, spyware and other threats.
Winemaker tracks carbon in real time
Fran Foo AUSTRALIAN Vintage, maker of the popular McGuigan range of wines, has set up real-time carbon footprint reporting tools at the behest of one of its largest suppliers, Britain's Tesco supermarket chain.
Mobile QR Codes to make waves
QR Codes -- special images that can be snapped by mobile phone cameras to deliver in-depth information to consumers -- are poised to step into the retail market as a prime marketing tool.
Google looks to users' needs
THE newly named strategic planning director of Google's Creative Lab in New York says the web giant will place greater emphasis on consumers' needs rather then simply inventing things and throwing them into the market in the future.
Qantas computer fault report released
AUSTRALIA'S aviation safety watchdog is investigating the possibility that interference from a defence communications base caused a Qantas flight to suddenly plunge, injuring 44 passengers and crew.
Print run for Opera House
THE Sydney Opera House has awarded a six-figure, five-year contract to Hewlett-Packard Australia to supply printing devices.
Google adds video, voice to Gmail
Google added a voice and video chat feature to its Gmail email service on Tuesday, launching a free Web-based service that competes with the likes of eBay's Skype.
IPTV to take off in Australia
FOR almost 50 years Australians faced one of the most limited television channel choices on the planet -- a choice eventually expanded by pay-TV, and then digital programming -- but now the country is about to enjoy almost unlimited choice with the arrival of IPTV in the lounge room.
Obama expected to be first 'tech President'
SILICON Valley on Wednesday was looking forward to Barack Obama becoming a "tech president" that will champion internet freedom and innovation.
Obama surfs the web to the White House
DID Barack Obama's MySpace and Facebook friends help put him in the White House? Did he Twitter his way to the top?
Computers suspected of flipping votes
EIGHT years on from the Florida chaos that introduced hanging chads to the world there have been reports of problems with touch-screen machines recording the wrong candidates in early voting yesterday.
Azure's vapourware: Salesforce.com chief
BAD times will be good times for software as a service (SaaS) proclaimed Salesforce.com chief Marc Benioff as he launched a series of technical tools that marry his business grade SaaS platform with the mass user bases of social networking sites.
Telstra gives up search ambitions
TELSTRA has finally capitulated in its $100 million bid to build a home-grown search engine, announcing its Sensis division is joining forces with Google to provide search and advertising.
TiVo offers games and pizzas
AUSTRALIANS will finally be able to do their shopping at the touch of a button on their television remote control when TiVo launches basic food and grocery shopping services by March next year.
Telstra dives into SaaS
TELSTRA has moved into the online software delivery market with a new product targeted at the small end of town.
Optus accepts IOUs
OPTUS pre-paid customers who run out of credit can obtain a $3 emergency loan by sending the telco a text message.
Vic schools buy extra software
SOME of Victoria's largest schools are buying extra software to compensate for shortfalls in the State Government's $100 million management program, a report reveals.