The tech space went ‘green’ this week with more talk about how and who in the IT industry is committing to using solar energy. TechBlorge acknowledged that “various forms of creating cheap solar panels, from using printers to using roll to roll processes to use plastic as a basis for solar collection, are being refined.” TechBlorge reports that The University of Washington has to this effect announced a break through in efficiency using titanium oxide to increase the efficiency significantly over zinc oxide. With these kind of innovations happening so quickly, it won’t be long before solar power becomes affordable enough for every-day living.

Continuing the ‘green’ theme, TechBlorge also blogs about General Electric’s (GE) wind power offering, commenting that the company has a backlog of orders reaching a massive $12 billion. TechBlorge notes that this sector of GE has grown by 40 per cent!

The launch of the new Nokia Music Store on Tuesday has been one of the ‘hot topics’ this week. It seems to be one of the only companies that might actually provide a bit of healthy competition for iTunes. Mobile Mojo comments that “Nokia's brand has great cachet, their handsets have an excellent reputation for functionality and reliability.” Steve Fenech at The Daily Telegraph provides some further information on the site sharing that “more than 2.5 million tracks will be available from the site with all record labels, except Warner Music, on board from the opening. Negotiations with Warner are still continuing.” Steve names Nokia “as the largest manufacturer of digital music players after shipping more than 146 million music-capable handsets in 2007 alone” – maybe Nokia really will give Apple a run for their money! You can find more blog posts about the Nokia Music Store on Technorati here.

The eBay debate continues to rage amongst our technology media with The Beer Files discussing why the ACCC cannot grant eBay Australia’s request for PayPal only payments. Stan Beer writes that although the online auction site does not really have a chance, it “has written to the ACCC asking for immunity from prosecution under the Trade Practices Act, the argument being PayPal will provide greater protection for consumers.” Following the recent eBay debate on Channel 9’s ‘A Current Affair’ and his starring role, Angus Kidman references an article by APC which also analyses the debate and discusses the ACCC’s involvement in the case and eBay’s “global plot”.

Top five journalist bloggers of the week:  Alex Zaharov-Reutt - Fuzzy Logic, Jason Hill – ScreenPlay, Anthony Caruana - The PDA Guy, Des Walsh-Business and blogging, Stan Beer- The Beer Files

Top five IT Professional bloggers of the week: The Tower Blog, techAu, Darryl Burling @ Work, Laurel Papworth - Online Communities - Australia and Global, Hey Jude

For more information on the week in review, or to make a comment, please contact Helen Smith at helen@espressocomms.com.au. 

Following our last Perspective, the implementation of an R18+ classification system was still a hot topic with Jason Hill at ScreenPlay.  With an entire week dedicated to reviewing the highly anticipated Grand Theft Auto IV, Jason Hill points out its developer Rockstar has compromised the Australian version of the game to comply with the current classification system.  The alterations made to the game were not implicitly stated however; a statement made by Rockstar indicates the changes were “minor” and “not significant”.  On an extra note, a ScreenPlay poll which asks “Do you support the introduction of an R18+ classification system for interactive games in Australia?” has received 12,661 votes with 62% of voters saying yes.

A controversial move by eBay forcing all members to make their purchases through a PayPal system or in person caused quite a stir amongst technology bloggers this week.  Stephen Fenech on Connect indicates the decision is designed to further protect its users as it safely transfers funds without divulging personal and financial information; however not without an added cost.  PayPal which is owned by eBay, charge a fee of 1.1 to 2.4%, on top of the additional fees already billed by eBay.  In a statement made by eBay, Alastair MacGibbon “denied the move was just a way of driving more company revenue” as “most eBay members already have a PayPal account”.  Angus Kidman on Gusworld posts a link to an article he wrote on APC further outlining eBay’s contentious decision.  According to the article, the PayPal system won’t be implemented until May 17 so we’ll be sure to keep you updated on the effects of this decision!

As active users of social networking sites here at Espresso, it was interesting to read a post by Mark Neely on Infolution which highlighted a new UK report that examined the rapid growth of social networking sites and researched into the attitudes, behaviours and uses of its users.  The report found users were categorised into 5 distinct groups: alpha socialisers, attention seekers, followers, faithfuls and functionals.  At the top end of the scale, alpha socialisers were described as a small minority “who used sites in intense short bursts to flirt, meet new people, and be entertained”.  In contrast, functionals were a minority group at the lower end that “tended to be single-minded in using sites for a particular purpose”.  Interestingly, the study also identified 4 categories for non-users of the sites which can be read in the full report.

Top five journalist bloggers of the week:  Fuzzy Logic, Gusworld, Mobile Mojo, Business and Blogging, ScreenPlay

Top five IT Professional bloggers of the week: The Tower Blog, techAu, Darryl Burling @ Work, Working Solo, Talking Technology

For more information on the week in review, or to make a comment, please contact Helen Smith at helen@espressocomms.com.au.

Whilst a relatively quite week in the blogosphere, technology bloggers across Australia have almost all had something to say on the topic of mobile phones. First off the blocks, Mobility Mojo writes on Microsoft’s announcement of its plans to rollout an updated version of its Windows Mobile platform. With a host of cool new features, Anthony Caruana believes that “this is Microsoft's tilt at beginning the catch up with the iPhone”. You can find more international blog posts on Microsoft’s Mobile 6.1 at Technorati here.

Keeping in line with mobile phones, Stan Beer of The Beer Files asks whether mobile phones are really a cancer risk? This is a debate that has been contested since the late 1990s and Beer presents both sides of the argument; that of senior medical specialists, many of whom believed that the cell phone brain cancer issue was a ticking time bomb and on the other hand that the mobile phone companies who insist the opposite. Beer makes reference to a report by The Independent this week which resurrects the comparison between cell phones and cigarettes titled: ‘Mobile phones more dangerous than smoking’.  In essence, the article came to the same basic conclusion as neurosurgeons did 10 years ago: mobile phones increase the risk of brain cancer in a similar way that cigarettes increase the risk of lung cancer. The Sydney Morning Herald’s Mash Up also comments on the report noting that “there is still more work to be done before the link between handsets and tumours is definitively proven” and asking “will this warning lead you to reduce your mobile phone usage?”

Despite this global debate, Australian’s seem not to be deterred with Steven Fenech writing that Australians are finding it difficult to part with their old mobiles - “with an estimated 16 million handsets cluttering our homes and offices.” Fenech goes on to write that “There are more than 19 million mobile users in Australia and our appetite for new handsets generated more than 9.6m new handsets sales in 2007 alone. On average Australians change their mobile phones every 12-18 months. Yet since mobile recycling began in late 1999 only 2.9 million handsets have been recycled.” It seems that mobile users are keeping hold of their mobiles just in case something goes wrong. As regular mobile phone users here at Espresso, we’ll continue to monitor these issue with interest.

Amongst the gaming community there is currently a no more contested topic than the implementation of an R18+ rating. Mike Bantick for Radioactive IT writes that The Australian Attorney-Generals have met and discussed the possibility of introducing an R18+ classification for video games. For the classification to be brought into effect, all states must be in agreement but as expected, this week saw the South Australian Attorney-General Michael Atkinson maintain his anti 18+ classification stance. Stan Beer also chips in noting that “Mr Atkinson's view that it is necessary to deny adults from buying, renting and playing R18+ games in order to protect children from exposure to these games is one that many adult gamers and freedom of expression advocates find irksome.” However, there is consensus from most gamers that if an adult can legally watch, buy and rent an R18+ movie, why can't the same rating be applied to video games?

The result from the SCAG meeting is that they will look to public consultation on the issue. Jason Hill at Screenplay adds his touch to the debate commenting “I share the concerns of many well-intentioned opponents of an R18+ classification who want to do everything they can to protect children from inappropriate material, but feel that most critics have not been fully informed. So starting today, I'd like you to help construct the definitive list of reasons why Australia needs an R18+ rating for games.” We will update you with the result soon!

Top five journalist bloggers of the week:  TechBlorge, Pocket Mojo, ScreenPlay, The Beer Files, Open Sauce.
Top five IT Professional bloggers of the week: The Tower Blog, Online Communities, Talking Technology, Hey Jude, ChiefTech.

For more information on the week in review, or to make a comment, please contact Helen Smith at helen@espressocomms.com.au.