Have any readers, in the last five months, purchased a Samsung LCD/Plasma television during their buy-one-get-one free promo? I bought the sleek LA40M81BDX (above) in February from The Good Guys in Maribyrnong and Samsung had promised to deliver the tellies within six to eight weeks. I say that’s hogwash, as we’re now approaching the middle of May, and it’s almost 11 weeks.

Confirmation email aside, I’ve not received any phonecalls, follow up emails or mail whatsoever. I say, how hard is it to send my free 19″ telly to my doorstep?

Granted, it was a good deal. For $1973 inc. gst, I got myself a relatively large LCD television and a free 19″. Now that’s a steal.

But steal or not, it’s still a restless wait for the Samsung contact that’s never gona come. Or is it?

Yoohoo…anyone working in Samsung here? Get your fucking act together already! My bedroom looks empty and rather forlorn looking without a shiny screen looking back at me.

I made this entry over fifteen months ago and my stance still remains the same: Give me a large cold glass of shit water anyday, mate.

A year has passed, and seems like the Government’s attempt to convince Melburnians to consume shit water has fallen shit short of their expectations.

Nothing seems to have changed. The Bracks Government were ridiculed back then, the Brumby Government ain’t faring any better. I think they really need to rethink their strategy if they wish to pursue this important matter. Whether it leaves a bad taste in everyone’s mouth (pun intended) is another thing altogether, but perhaps it’s time for Brumby and Co. to give the Victorian media another water cooler topic. They’re having so much airtime with their public transport debacle and terrorist bullshit, no thought is given to something that’s very close to all Australians.

Don’t get me wrong. I like to arrive on time in a non-crowded train and not be subjected to retinal checks when I’m at the airport. I don’t start doubting the Muslim’s intentions just because he prays seven times a day or his wife wears a hijab. Hell I’m sure terrorists exist in other religious denominations as well. The bottom line is, who needs a world class transport system and a terrorist-free country if there’s no water for consumption in the long run. We need to think long term. I’d rather be stuck in a hot, humid train, pressed against other sardines and am thirty minutes late. At least I have my delish cold bottle of shit water in my bag and not be worrying what my children will be drinking 30 years from now.

First, one of University of Melbourne’s students figures out a way to make broadband connections 100 times faster. In yet another cool thing produced out of the university, Marcus Curran has designed The Eclipse Office Partioning System.

This may be the office of the future. We all know how ineffective cubicles are with everyone trying to speak in whispers, the stench of various foods during the day, and the ability of people to just pop their head over the top of the cubicle thus scaring the ever shit out of you.

Just as effective as putting the dome over Sam Newman’s head, this retractable cubicle allows for various levels of privacy and quiet. Inside the system is a workspace that contains speakers, a wireless recharging mat, and a wireless camera/projector. The video makes it look awesome but I can’t help thinking that some prankster is going to push this “dome on wheels” with someone inside, down the hallway. Hilarity and sueality ensue.

Gizmodo: Office Cubicle Reimagined as Office Pod

Youtube:Eclipse Office

Technorati Tags: Eclipse Office Partioning System, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia, Victoriaarchives/

If you have some computer waste, consider taking a drive to Riversdale Road, in Camberwell. I did, and best of all, they’re even open on public holidays (I went on 26/01) Details:

City of Boroondara Waste Transfer Station,
648 Riversdale Road, Camberwell
Phone 1800-353-233

Tell them you’re there for the “Byteback” program, and go in and dump your computer related waste. CRT monitors, old PCs, and so on that seemingly no one else wants. Best of all, they take it off your hands, for free.

Naturally, don’t throw stuff thats useful away. Give it away to folk like ComputerBank. Their recycling site should also be a useful resource.

I’ve always been a fan of how 3 can provide services on the cheap. In fact, for the longest time, their data plans have been the cheapest (that I’ve found). I was enjoying paying $29 for 1GB of use, and now they’ve upgraded it to 2GB of use. Kudos to them!

However, it seems that Vodafone, provides a 5GB plan, at just $39. Best of all, if you roam from the 3G network, you get onto Vodafone’s GPRS network, which covers 95% of Australia. This does not incur a roaming charge, like being a 3 customer does (roaming with Telstra, and you’re slapped with a ridiculously large $1.65/MB charge).

Looks like I’m considering a Vodafone change?

OK, only a couple of days to go until Christmas. Know someone who always gets lost when driving? I don’t have to tell you how great GPS systems but the downside of GPS systems are that they don’t take into account traffic and construction conditions at the time of driving. Recently launched in Melbourne, the Suna Traffic Channel can relay real time information to your GPS system.

“Suna Traffic Channel data is generated by the information gathered at the sensors on the road networks on arterial roads and freeways. In Melbourne the base traffic data is from VicRoads and other sources. The most important source of raw traffic flow data is derived from the loop sensor network embedded in the road pavement on the approach to signalised intersections. Virtually all urban (and many regional) signalised intersections are networked to central traffic light control systems in each state. By agreement with the respective road authorities to value-add this data, we are able to develop and drive near real-time link-by-link congestion models.”

All of this information is then broadcast via an inaudible signal on MIX 101.1FM to your tuned in GPS system. Your GPS system can then guide you around any traffic. Very cool. Looks like Mio’s DigiWalker’s series will be able to utilize the Suna Traffic channel with its models starting at $450.

Suna Traffic Channel [via Lifehacker]
Video showing how Suna works

Picture via Lifehacker

Technorati Tags: Melbourne, Australia, Mio, Suna Traffic Channel, Suna, GPS

Last Friday, I was at the opening of UNSENSORED 07. It was a crowded event, with gallery-goers spilling to the back of the gallery, as well as onto High St. UNSENSORED is touted as the first annual exhibition, of a group on Flickr, called the Melbourne Silver Mine.

What made it so special (besides my friends amazing photography on the walls)? The fact that its all film-based. Some made even with toy cameras like the Holga or Diana. Quality, is amazing. Shows you that fancy digital cameras alone, do not make a good photo.

I find it an interesting mashup, of Flickr, and RedBubble. Yes, RedBubble, a company based right in the heart of Melbourne, makes some amazing prints (and from what I gather, frames). All the artwork were printed by them. Presentation is very professional. Take a look at the SilverMiner’s RedBubble page, if you fancy buying some artwork.

More importantly though, head to the exhibition, and be breath-taken by the 24 photos. I understand that at any given time, one of the photographers in the exhibition will be on duty, and will give valuable information about the photos, and be there for a regular chat. Details:

When? 26 October - 10 November 2007 (Tuesday - Friday, 12-5pm, Saturday 10am-4pm)
Where? Kerala Gallery, 263, High St., Northcote
How do I get there? Driving is a possibility, there’s plenty of parking. Alternatively, take Tram Number 86, and get off at Stop 32 (stops pretty much right in front of Kerala)

Technorati Tags: unsensored, unsensored07, flickr, redbubble, galley, photographers, melbourne silver mine, msm, kerala gallery, northcote

Fancy meeting digital media types, to talk about business models and social media? Into podcasting, blogging (you’re reading this, you must be), Twitter, Facebok, mobile content, Second Life, etc. ? Consider coming to MODM 5 tomorrow (Thursday).

MODM is a monthly event, and to RSVP for the event, you’ve actually got to have a Facebook account (here’s the Facebook event), but showing up will do just fine. Drinks aren’t sponsored (this month), so I guess this is a wide open invitation. So to recap:

MODM 5
Thursday, September 6, 2007
Riverland Bar
Vault 1-9, Federation Wharf, Federation Square

Its on the Yarra, if you haven’t been there before, check out the map.

On the way back from seeing the Eureka Tower last night, I took this picture at the Federation Square tram stop. Looking up at the arriving trams screen, I also noticed the time was stuck at 4:50 PM (time was actually 9:30PM). Its always strange to see an ATM, flight information, or train arrival display crash. These screens are akin to celebrities as in the end we are all the same underneath.

Bonus: Bourke Street/ Swanston Street BSOD
Bonus Quote from last night’s Futurama: “I am Bender, please insert girder”.

Technorati Tags: Melbourne, Australia, BSOD, Federation Square, Tram

ever wonder why there are no true “unlimited” internet plans in Australia?

…but where does the bulk of our internet content come from? Ahh, the US and Europe, a land-mass with an even higher population density.

So that means international cables, and they make our costs of running copper from Ballarat to Bendigo look like pocket change you couldn’t buy a bag of mixed lollies for. And they cost a lot to run. And they’re owned mostly by a very very small number of companies, who have to pay the USAians and the Europeans on a per-gigabit basis for our traffic, as well as maintain the big pipe plugs at each end and several multi-million-dollar ocean going vessels (with highly trained, highly paid crews) to do maintenance and repairs.

from a nice informative forum post

for everyone looking for the best place to search for internet plans in australia, don’t forget the previously mentioned whirlpool.net.au. just type in your land phone number and filter accordingly.