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Editorial

Microsoft's new operating system Windows Vista is on it's way, so you better get ready for it. It should be available to industry in November 2006 and us plebs in January 2007. No you don't have to upgrade straight away, and I recommend you don't unless you purchase a new computer after January 2007 with this operating system included. However You will ultimately upgrade to this new system and I suggest you read about it and be ready for it.

Also, if you purchase any new software make sure it is compatible with Vista. I have included a few articles on Vista including a link where you can test you hardware and software for Vista compatibility.

Bruce Beresford, Manager & Editor

In this Issue:

• Featured Site - Jock Athletic
• Vista on time - analyst
• Unwired sell-off raises $5.4m
• Symantec feeling Vista heat
• Security firms see Vista code
• Google in free challenge to Office
• Quotes of the day

Featured Site  

Jock Athletic

Jock Athletic had its birth 20 years ago when two young aspiring Strength and Conditioning Coaches met in the early days of their university studies. Delayed by sporting commitments and career opportunities Jock Athletic is now ready to mature. Jock Athletic is the brainchild of the former Australian cricket team's strength and conditioner Jock Campbell and former NRL strength and conditioning coach Paul Watson who, for 13 years, was a member of Johnny Lang's staff at the Cronulla Sharks and Penrith Panthers.

Jock Athletic is an innovative training company that will be the first in Australia to incorporate a private Sports Academy in its operations. Allied with it's unique Corporate Training, Group Training and Personal Training Jock Athletic intends to usher in an era of lifestyle improvement and coaching that hasn't yet been seen in Australia.

Visit the Jock Athletic website...

Vista on time - analyst  

MICROSOFT is likely to ship its upcoming Windows Vista operating system on time, meeting its deadline for both corporate and retail consumers, a Wall Street analyst says.

Goldman Sachs analyst Rick Sherlund sent a note to clients saying that Microsoft may be ready to send the final test version of its much-anticipated Windows upgrade later this week or next week, indicating that Vista would be available for business customers in November and retail PCs by late January.

Windows Vista, already five years in the making, had been postponed by Microsoft several times and some industry analysts had speculated that the world's largest software maker would again be forced to push back its release dates.

"We had been sceptical of the launch schedule," wrote Mr Sherlund. "But the team seems to be making great progress in addressing issues of performance, reliability and compatibility.".

Reuters >>> more

Unwired sell-off raises $5.4m  

WIRELESS ISP Unwired has started selling off its base stations in order to increase its operating cash levels. The company has given its cash reserves a $5.4 million top-up entering a ten-year lease agreement with Meridian International Capital.

"This is a logical next step for Unwired. With this lease facility we can access cash without any equity dilution and we can agree to increase the size of the facility over time as the business requires," Unwired chief executive David Spence said.

Unwired general counsel Richard Bean would not reveal how many base stations were covered by the lease facility. The company would have the same rights to operate and maintain the base stations as if it held legal title to the equipment, Mr Bean said.

Unwired said that the $5.4 million raised through its equipment lease back agreement was part of its commitment to raise $23 million to expand its business, announced last year.

Unwired secured $37 million cash injection from chipmaker Intel to partially fund deployment of its wireless network in Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth.

Under the terms of the agreement, Unwired made a commitment to find $23 million to expand its business. Its $8 million worldwide WiMax development agreement with Mitsui announced last month is also tethered to that commitment.

Part of Intel's investment has been used to fund its spectrum swap agreement with regional cable operator, Austar, while the remainder was allocated toward the company's roll-out beyond Sydney.

AustralianIT.

Symantec feeling Vista heat  

SYMANTEC has warned that users of Microsoft's new Vista operating system could find their options for running anti-virus style software seriously reduced.

Vista is still in the final stages of its development and the system is not due to go on sale until the beginning of 2007. But Symantec's communications director Chris Paden on said that in its current form the new Microsoft operating system OS would "reduce consumer choice" when it came to computer security.

Vista currently contained a built-in Microsoft 'security centre' that included applications such as anti-virus software, firewalls and anti-spyware packages, he said.

Security Centres have existed in previous Microsoft systems but it had been been possible to replace the Microsoft package with security software made by another company.

With the current version of Vista this will not be possible, Mr Paden said. It would be possible to install other security packages but not remove the Microsoft centre.

"It would be like trying to drive a car with two dashboards. This is going to cause a great deal of consumer confusion," he said.Symantec has a vested interest in ensuring it is possible to install non-Microsoft security packages in Vista. AustralianIT >>> more

Security firms see Vista code  

MICROSOFT said it had provided some essential data to dozens of security software firms so their products can work smoothly with the new Vista operating system.

Microsoft, previously punished by Brussels over competition issues, has promised the data to comply with European Union requirements which stem from a landmark 2004 decision that the US company used its dominant Windows system to hurt rivals.

The codes are important for the software companies as they will allow them to suppress Microsoft's own security "pop-ups" if a PC user decides to buy alternative security software, thus keeping brands distinct from that of Microsoft.

Separately, Microsoft has yet to develop promised software essential to the companies so they can block "spyware" and other malicious software.

It will give Symantec, McAfee and other security firms access to the core, or "kernel," of the 64-bit version of Vista, the new Windows operating system due for release in January.

A spokesman for Symantec said technical talks had not started yet to resolve the issue. "The companies are in discussions to lay out a timeline for the technical discussions," Symantec spokesman Cris Paden said.

Software firms had access to the kernel in the past until Microsoft redesigned its software to block them.

Asked when Microsoft would deliver the data, chief executive Steve Ballmer told Reuters in Rome: "Today, Seattle time, not Rome time."

The codes were delivered a short time later, before the opening of business on the west coast, a spokesman for the company in Brussels said later. AustralianIT >>> more

SOME ADVICE: If you are considering upgrading to Windows Vista in January 2007 and you currently use Norton AntiVirus software applications then seriously consider upgrading to the latest version as it's my understanding that Norton Applications prior to 2006 will not work with Vista. This may also be the case with other AntiVirus software.

Microsoft have provided an application called Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor RC click this link, download and run the application and you will see if your current computer and software will work with the new Windows Vista operating system.

Google in free challenge to Office  

INTERNET search king Google has launched a free word processing and spreadsheet program that could dissuade computer users from shelling out for Microsoft's Office desktop productivity package.

Dubbed Google Docs & Spreadsheets, the package blends the Writely online wordprocessing software, which Google bought in March, with spreadsheet software it debuted in June.

The software requires an internet-connected computer to work and runs within a web browser pointed at the docs.google.com address. Users must register with Google.

Google's grab for an extra slice of computer desktop real-estate comes as Microsoft gears up for the simultaneous launch of its long-delayed Windows Vista operating system and Office 7.0 desktop applications suite. The Microsoft products are set for launch to business users in November and consumers in January. AustralianIT >>> more

This is a great FREE service provided by Google, join up and start using it.

Quotes of the Day  

Historians are like deaf people who go on answering questions that no one has asked them. Leo Tolstoy (1828 - 1910)

The difference between a violin and a viola is that a viola burns longer. Victor Borge (1909 - 2000)

It has always been the prerogative of children and half-wits to point out that the emperor has no clothes. But the half-wit remains a half-wit, and the emperor remains an emperor. Neil Gaiman, Sandman

The point of living and of being an optimist, is to be foolish enough to believe the best is yet to come. Peter Ustinov (1921 - 2004)

Brought to you by The Quotations Page

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