January iiNews
letter from the editor
Welcome to the New Year.
I hope you like the re-furbished design of the brief version of the newsletter. The new look is just part of a series of improvements we'll be making to iiNews to make it more accessible and enjoyable for all our readers.
For this month's theme - the iilounge - we take a look at the growing trend of integrating your home computer and Internet into your lounge room.
It's a natural progression really, for a long time the Internet and home computers have been isolated to the study or computer room. As the net reveals more and more applications for everyday entertainment and lifestyle needs, the idea of unleashing the net in your lounge isn't that uncommon. Check out the iilounge section below.
A reminder this month that our free connection and free modem offer is still open to new broadband customers. For existing broadband customers of six months or more, you can now purchase reduced price modems through toolbox - though only for a limited time. See the link in your toolbox for full terms and conditions.
On with the show then. I hope you enjoy this month's edition and look out for more iiNews make-overs in the near future.
Mark Welker
iiNews Editor
general news
australian broadband survey
2005
The Australian Broadband Survey 2005 is now open. The survey provides an excellent opportunity for the community to voice opinions on Internet Service Providers as well as their expectations for broadband services in the future. The annual survey is run by users, for users and works towards improving Australian broadband services by informing ISPs like us what you want.
We encourage you to participate in surveys such as this as it gives us a great insight into your Internet needs and wants. It also provides an excellent snapshot of how you see us performing against our peers.
The survey closes on January 27th. You can participate by visiting this page.
buddy bonus winners
The first winners of our fantastic buddy bonus referral competition were announced late December. Congratulations Barnaby Allen (
pictured below with probably the biggest television I have ever seen
) and Damian Turier who each won a $12,000 Panasonic home theatre system!
All Barnaby had to do was refer his friend Damian to iiNet. When Damian signed up, they both went into the draw - how easy is that! You can get full details on the winners here.
To enter, simply visit http://www.buddybonus.com.au and refer your friends to iiNet broadband through the online application process. The competition closes on March 16th, 2006. The winners for December/January are soon to be announced.
support & services
customer service update
January is an exciting month for the those working on the Virtual Call Centre project, with a number of milestones set to be achieved. The initial round of testing has been completed and currently a small number of staff are involved in a pilot test between the Perth, Sydney and Auckland Contact Centres.
The full deployment of the Genesys Customer Interaction Management platform will begin on the 21st of January with the Sydney Contact Centre first, followed by Auckland (25th Jan) and finally Perth (28th Jan). The main objective for this first phase of the project is to have all our staff on one common call answering platform.
Further work to be completed in April will see more enhancements to the system, including a call back system for customers. With the voice call back system, customers will be able to request a callback as soon as a customer service representative is available, or at a specific time determined by the caller. The system empowers customers to request a call back at a more convenient time instead of waiting on hold.
Finally, for those customers affected by recent changes to our invoicing system, an update and more information is available here.
training update
A large part of our commitment to quality service are the efforts of our Training team who help develop the skills of our various departments.
In 2005, the Training team grew from three staff members to 14 at the end of the year. This massive growth is to help support to the huge influx of new staff that we've been adding to our contact centres as well as the ongoing internal training initiatives for existing staff.
Even though 2006 has only just begun, this year is shaping up to be the biggest yet for Training. In January the team has a heavy new employee induction schedule ahead and will start to kick off a range of new training programs for existing staff. As the Virtual Call Centre project approaches, the team will also be making sure that staff are thoroughly trained and ready for launch.
customer feedback
This month we received some great feedback from Andrew in NSW:
"I am most impressed with iinet. When I ring technical support I am almost never kept on hold for long. The staff at iiNet are very polite and knowledgeable. This recent drama with my modem was resolved very quickly. I rang on a Friday to report the problem and I received my new modem from you on the Tuesday (Monday was public holiday). Thank you all and don't change - you are doing a great job, this truly restores my faith in large companies."
And this from Graeme in VIC:
"Hi all, I used to be with a dial up company (Woe of Woe's) a friend of mine informed me about iiNet broadband. Being on a pension, the expense of adsl seemed out of reach, however, my wife and I changed to iiNet broadband from the other ISP. Our phone bill dropped by $170.00 per month so going to broadband has saved us heaps. With the other ISP so-called local call fees and a $19.95 ISP fee unlimited account really bit hard.
The iiNet tech staff are always helpful regardless of the time you ring, and almost always get you fixed up fast, and they do call back if they have to. Keep up the great service."
Thanks guys for your feedback, we appreciate you taking the effort to send it through. If you have any feedback on this month's edition of iiNews, send it through to iinewsfeedback@iinet.net.au
virus alert
top 5 viruses reported to sophos in december
1. W32/Sober-Z
2. W32/Zafi-B
3. W32/Netsky-P
4. W32/Mytob-EX
5. W32/Mytob-FO
List provided by Sophos.
Remember, all iiNet plans come with industry leading Sophos Brightmail email anti-virus and anti-spam protection that is automatically kept up-to-date with the latest virus threats. However, to fully protect your system, we recommended that you use our email anti-virus in conjunction with a personal anti-virus product such as those listed here.
tech knowledge
DSLAM expansion news
The number of iiNet customers on the iinetwork (our DSLAM network) has now reached 74,184 with 186 live iiNet DSLAM sites. Nine new sites were recently added to the pending construction list including Blackwood SA, Brighton SA, Chelsea VIC, Cheltenham VIC, Flemington VIC, Heidelberg VIC, Mordialloc VIC, Narre Warren VIC, Ormond VIC and Wheelers Hill VIC.
More sites will be added soon as we reach for our June 2007 target for 90 per cent coverage of metropolitan customers.
This month's hot DSLAM question is actually in two parts:
What do we mean by 'migration'?
A migration is the physical transfer of your telephone line from the Telstra DSLAM to an iiNet DSLAM port within the exchange in your area.
I am a current customer. I see there is a free port on the iiNet DSLAM in my exchange, will I automatically be migrated onto it?
At this point in time, migration costs prohibit us from migrating current customers each time a port becomes free. We pay a fee for each port that we migrate, and therefore, we try to get as many customers onto our network as we can during mass migrations. If there are enough customers at your exchange to warrant a second pass, you may still be migrated onto our network in the future. Please note however, that there still may also be factors that prohibit us from putting you onto our DSLAMs-for example you may be connected to a RIM or sub-exchange.
To find out if you can get access to our new range of broadband2+ plans, try the number checker on our web site at http://www.iinet.net.au/broadband/ or check the DSLAM update page http://www.iinet.net.au/dslams/updates/
tech tips
Thanks go to Lee and Brendan in Provisioning for this month's tips.
Having problems with frequent dropouts or slow speeds?
Electrical devices such as air conditioners, refrigerators and televisions can cause interference on your phone line which can cause these problems. Make sure your phone line isn't running past any electrical devices.
Having troubles getting your new Belkin wireless modem to work?
Ensure that 'Enable Wireless Radio' is ticked from the main account config screen when setting up a wireless connection on a Belkin modem/router.
A reminder that you can view updates of current network faults as well as scheduled maintenance outages on the iiNet homepage at http://www.iinet.net.au/status/fault.cgi.
ii people
staff profile
Name:
Andy McIntyre
Title:
Project Manager - VCC
How long have you been with iiNet and what roles have you had?
I have been with iiNet for almost two years. I was initially employed to project manage the DSLAM rollout in 2004 and have recently been managing the integration of OzEmail and other acquired ISPs into the iiNet business.
What do you think has been the biggest changes while you've been here?
I have been lucky enough to watch and participate in iiNet's growth over the past two years. When I joined the company in March 2004, we had some great plans about how we would look in the future. Now we have implemented many of these plans and the future is looking even more exciting.
The introduction of our own DSL network has been a huge change for iiNet and has created the platform for us to develop some great new products such as Broadband2+ and iiNetphone. The acquisition of OzEmail has been another incredible change for iiNet as we can now wear the badge of third largest ISP in Australia.
What does your current role involve?
I am currently managing the Virtual Call Centre project which will provide iiNet with one of the most robust, advanced, and efficient customer service systems in Australia.
Where do you see iiNet in five years?
It's difficult to say. With the speed at which iiNet moves, it's anybody's guess as to where iiNet will be in five years. But of course, I envisage that we move from being the third largest ISP in Australia to being the second largest ISP in Australia!
customer profile
Name:
Jane Vaughan
Account Type:
broadband2+ with iiphone
Customer Since:
October 2005
Location:
Canning Vale, WA
What do you use the Internet for most?
It's how we do all our Internet banking. Also, I'm a miniaturist - meaning I collect and make 1:12 scale doll houses - so I find the net keeps me abreast of all the developments in the field. As well, my husband is a keen amateur Astronomer and gets all the latest NASA news and Hubble telescope pictures sent to him online.
What are the best aspects of your broadband connection?
The speed. Before I was on broadband I found myself getting very frustrated with dialup - it just seemed to take forever. Switching to broadband makes
such a difference.
Why did you decide to bundle with iiphone?
Basically I was upset with the poor service I experienced with my previous provider. So when I made the switch to iiNet I resolved myself to switching everything over.
How do you find the iinetphone service?
It's met all my expectations. I was hoping that I would cut my phone bill, and it's done that dramatically. I've been amazed at the difference it makes. Over Christmas I got my son in touch with an interstate family member he hadn't contacted for ages, and even though they were talking for almost half an hour, the bill came to just $1.15 for the phone call.
I also find the quality exceptional. I've had a lot of problems with my own home phone acting up and experienced quite a bit of interference. I just don't
have any of those problems with VoIP. The difference is such that I rarely use my landline at all anymore, in fact my last bill for my landline was just 79c!
What were your impressions of iiNet before joining and how do they compare now?
I was actually a customer many years ago when iiNet first started, and we were just lured away by a special offer at the time. With my new provider I
became disillusioned not only with the quality of service, but the quality of the support as well. Since switching back to iiNet the quality of support I receive now has proven that I made the right choice. I've had only one minor problem so far. It was handled quickly and at no time was I made to feel like an idiot - something my previous provider had a knack for.
build your own iilounge
The Internet ain't what it used to be. The days of a screaming modem locked in the "computer room" are behind us and many people are moving further and further into a fully integrated Internet lifestyle. What does this mean? Well it doesn't mean you need to browse the Internet on your fridge. What it means is that the Internet has a place in more rooms of your house than ever before. One close to my own heart is the lounge room.
getting out of the computer room
With a broadband connection and router you can start enjoying audio and video in any room of your house. You've got two options really, wired or wireless - each has its advantages and disadvantages. A wireless router allows you to do away with network cables and connect multiple devices at the touch of a button. Cabling can often be expensive to install, but is more secure and doesn't suffer from as much electrical interference that a wireless network can fall foul of.
Which you chose really depends on your budget and your needs. Wireless is great for those who just want a quick and easy setup which they can move around at will. Cabling is more permanent.
what do you want to do?
Before you go and buy anything, decide on your needs and start formulating a plan. The range of gadgets you can buy are unlimited in number and price. Like any good home theatre, work out where you want it, how much you're willing to spend, and what you want to achieve.
If all you're after is the ability to listen to your music library throughout the house, then a top-of-the-line media centre with hi-def video streaming is a costly option that you might never get your money's worth from.
audio
Streaming audio over your wireless network is cheap, neat and remarkably effective. At the bottom end of the spectrum you've got Apple's AirPort Express
($199). It's not terribly pretty, but plug it into a power socket, connect it to your stereo via a cable, switch it on and you've got your itunes music library streaming wirelessly from your computer (Mac or PC).
But maybe you don't have a laptop, or your computer is in the back of your house and the idea of walking to your computer every time you want to change music isn't too appealing. Take a look at the Squeezebox ($699) from Slim Devices. There are heaps of similar audio streaming devices to the Squeezebox, but none are anywhere near as compact or stylish. This does exactly what the AirPort Express does, only it features a beautiful display and handy remote so that you can control your tunes from the couch. It's also probably the sexiest thing I've ever seen, but costs three times the price.
video
If you've got a heap of movies waiting on your hard drive, or you want to stream any kind of video from one room to another, then the next level is basically what you'd call a media player. There are heaps of media players around and all have different ratings, support different formats and offer a range of different features.
For a simple player that streams video and audio from your computer to your home theatre system, a good start is the Dlink DSM-320 or Linksys Wireless-B Media Adapter. Both are nice and slim, support most audio files and a host of video formats and allow you to watch slideshows of your photos through your TV. You can pick up the Dlink for around $315 or the Linksys model for around $230 if you shop around.
Going a bit further is Zensonic's Z500 player (around $500) which includes an inbuilt DVD player and supports the latest high resolution video formats such as Windows Media Video 9, DivX and MPEG4 and also includes some limited internet connectivity (weather, internet radio) via your broadband connection. Although, if it's about looks (it always is with me), then I'll be getting the Kiss DP 600.
all in one
If you're really serious about getting your internet integrated into your lifestyle, then the final step is the media centre. Basically, a media centre is a PC in your lounge room. By connecting it to your TV and plugging in a keyboard and mouse you are essentially using your TV to do all the things you'd normally do in the study, plus of course, you get all your music, videos, PC applications and photos all available from the comfort of your couch. You'll find most media centre's run off a Microsoft operating system similar to Windows, but there are more creative solutions around if you've got the right equipment.
As with all PCs, prices and specs vary widely depending on speed and the features you need. Some new additions to the market place include the Enspire AVR-200 ($1699) and the Shuttle XPC Media Centre ($2200) - the shuttle in particular features its own electronic program guide so you can simply select your program from the list for automatic timed recording.
Of course, if you've got the know-how then you can pretty much turn any PC into a media centre with the right software. Or why not change formats altogether and get a Mac mini - super cool from just $799 and smaller than a dictionary.
conclusion
As with any audio-visual endeavour, setting up your new Internet lounge presents a delicate ballet of digital options. However, it's not nearly as hard as it often appears. Put a decent amount of time and forethought into it, and even the most basic setup can bring a lot more enjoyment into your lounge.
competitions
GOAL! tickets giveaway
To celebrate the release of the new soccer film, "GOAL!", Roadshow Films have kindly provided us with 35 in-season double passes to the film to give away to our readers.
To be in the running for this prize, please email competitions with "GOAL Competition" in the subject line, and provide your iiNet username, full name, and address by 5pm WST, January 27, 2006, along with the answer to this question: What is the name of our current refer a friend competition? (hint: you'll find the answer in the news section).
Winners with the correct answer will be drawn at random and prizes sent by mail.
ii games
Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones (xbox)
with Niaal Holder
I have fond memories of times gone by, of tying my jumper round my face, putting a cricket wicket down the back of my shirt and pretending to be a ninja, leaping out at passers-by from a bush in the front garden. These heady joys of last weekend seem a world away now and I'm steadily realising the frailty of my 20-something bones, feeling the pressing need for a vicarious conduit of leapery and ninja-ness.
Ubisoft have latched on to this no doubt pandemic need and baked up a gaming delicacy yet again. It's no ninja title, but by the seven gods of retail gaming it's the next best thing: Prince of Persia - The Two Thrones .
No amount of my refreshingly edgy prattle can convey the leaping heaven this title pushes on you. Run up walls. Run along walls. Run along walls and then leap off them onto other walls. Climb stuff and leap off it. Leap back onto it. It's... beautiful.
Pick up the controller, adopt the role of the spry and acrobatic Prince and forget that you're actually a pasty gamer, sitting in your dorito-crumbed underwear, barely able to leap off the couch, let alone rooftops. Escape into the world of Babylon, where conveniently placed debris and fire means the only way to your goal is via obscure but surprisingly convenient obstacle courses.
You'll flip, bounce, roll and scurry through the ancient city in luscious third-person, engaging in combat, puzzles and vertigo-inducing feats of rooftop insanity. It sounds like standard fare, but the polish on this kettle just doesn't rub off.
In pursuit of the evil Vizier (New and Improved!™), the Prince needs to not only shimmy like it aint no thing, but also whup nine colours of Shiva out of an army of heavies. And this is where fun becomes...uh...funner. The Two Thrones showcases a bevy of movements, attacks and combinations through our plucky protagonist, so much so you'll struggle to enact the same fight twice.
That's exactly where the sheer grinworthy charm of the title lies - Prince of Persia contains, for me, the most intuitive control system I've come across. Without really even thinking, often the buttons you push to execute moves do exactly what you intend. In both combat and leapery, the only time you take a wrong step is when you're stupid enough to think it was the right one. Despite some occasionally inconvenient third-person camera angles, the system is infallible.
Fans of the original Sands of Time can stop cursing the heinous sequel The Warrior Within , as this third instalment is the redemption title we've been screaming for. It's addictive, seamless platformer fun. As your game broker, I strongly advise you to BUY BUY BUY.
ii flicks & tunes
album of the month
Big Day Out 06 - Assorted Artists
The Big Day Out show returns for it's annual tour of Australia with a bombastic line-up of musical eccentrics including The White Stripes, Mars Volta, Franz Ferdinand, Iggy & the Stooges, Wolfmother and heaps more. This of course is the companion album and features tracks from most of the bands appearing on the day with everything from hip-hop to the very best of Australian rock. So if you can't afford the entry price on the day, crank the heating up, don your best black t-shirt and turn up the white noise as you take your own tour of Australia's biggest music festival.
movie of the month
GOAL!
- Rated PG
This film is about soccer. It's about passion. Passion for being out on the grass, under the lights, the fractured static of the crowd, the soft give of the ball against your foot. A young Mexican immigrant realises a dream when he's plucked from obscurity and thrust into the English Premier League.
But reaching the league is only the first step. Santiago must prove that he's got the grit and the game to win a contract with one of the most beloved football clubs in the world: Newcastle United. Starring football greats David Beckham, Zinedine Zidane, Raul, and Newcastle captain Alan Shearer, as well as newcomer Kuno Becker, GOAL! is a visceral exploration of the game half the world calls religion.
Check out the competitions section above for a chance to win double passes.
top 5 in 2005
It may be a cliche and perhaps a month late, but I figured it was about time I took a look back on 2005 and sorted out my top 5 for the year. So here they are, in no particular order:
Downfall
The first film in memory to bring complexity and meaning to a character too often simplified into a tyrannical cartoon character. Downfall follows Hitler's last days in the infamous Berlin bunker. It's gripping stuff, watching a cold yet charismatic leader spiral into paranoia and delusion as the Reich transcends into a kind of desperate lunacy. A rare film that made me sit for long moments well after the credits began to roll.
Batman Begins
I couldn't hide my excitement when I first heard that Christopher Nolan, the man responsible for Memento and Insomniac, was taking the job of breathing new life into the Batman saga. By returning to the roots of the story and concentrating on character rather than spectacle, Nolan crafted a complex and meaningful caped crusader (portrayed brilliantly by Christian Bale). It wasn't perfect - the close up camera angles make you wanna slap on a sea sick patch during some scenes - but Batman's future is now brighter than ever.
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
The surprise hit of 2005. A clever, witty script, great acting and a good deal of morbidly black humour made this hard boiled crime/comedy immensely enjoyable. It's one of those movies that will pass a lot of people by, especially with the awkward title. For this reason alone, it makes the list.
The 40 Year Old Virgin
I would have liked to say 2005 was the year of comedies, but it wasn't. I only laughed twice in 2005. The 40 Year Old Virgin was the second laugh, and is sure to become a cult hit. It's no American Pie clone, thank God, the film rides the line between crude and intelligent comedy. It's a film that moves past the "teenage" comedy boundaries and delivers jokes that jo schmo's like you and me might tell each other.
Sin City
It's hard not to like this movie. That is, if you're a male, over 15, with a strong stomach and a testosterone appetite. Half the people I saw it with came away offended by it's graphic heart. But there's no denying that there's something delicious boiling behind the blunt characters, hammed up dialogue and stroke after stroke after stroke of red, white and yellow blood. I've heard they are already making a sequel, which disappoints me. It's the kind of movie you love remembering seeing for the first time.
