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Asia Offline 26 October 2001 Edition
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Million $ Ideas
At last, the contents of Aardvark's "million-dollar ideas" notebook are revealed for all to see!
Click To See
Since I delivered a dose of humour earlier this week, there's no lighten-up section today.

Asia Online has been placed into liquidation, a move that could affect quite a few NZ and Australian Net users.

For those who are relatively new to the Net, Asia Online's "restructuring" is quite a significant event, as it is one of the longest-lived commercial ISPs in NZ. Long before there was ClearNet or Xtra, Iconz as it was then known, was offering Internet access to the masses.

That it has now gone into liquidation, so shortly after the demise of globe-trotting web designers WebMedia, is yet another indicator that the local industry scene is perhaps not in the best of health.

Need Cutting-Edge Copy?
As NZ's longest-running online commentator, I'm looking for extra syndication opportunities for this daily publication -- or I'm happy to write casual or regular material specifically to order for print or Net-based publications. If you're interested, drop me a line

Do You XP?
How many Aardvark readers have already rushed out and bought their own copy of Windows XP?

Despite the flashy TV ads and hype, most of the feedback I've received to date indicates that yawns have prevailed and most of those who turned out to pick up a copy yesterday are the same people whose past purchases include 8-track players, Betamax VCRs, Motorola Brick Cellphones and the like.

These are the early-adopters; the people who just have to get the latest and greatest bits of technology whenever it's released.

However, I'd really like to hear from anyone who did trot out and hand over their hard-earned cash. Are you happy with your purchase?

Readers Say
(updated hourly)
  • Windows XP... - Sam
  • XP... - Jonathan
  • Windows XP - I actually bought it!... - Andrew
  • Win xp... - Stu
  • Sorry, No Tie, No Entry... - Hamish
  • Have Your Say

    Sorry, No Tie, No Entry
    Now I sometimes receive email from readers who say that I pick on Microsoft too much and that sometimes I'm less than fair.

    Okay, I admit, sometimes I do beat-up on the software giant -- but it would be hard to do so if they didn't keep taping a giant "kick me" sign to their backside.

    Today they've given yet another example of how stupid they really can be.

    According to this story, Microsoft has started shutting out non IE-users who try to use parts of its MSN.com website.

    Now we're not just talking about users of the admittedly buggy Netscape Navigator, but also those who have had the sense to use the excellent Opera browser.

    Microsoft claims that the lockout is solely because those browsers are not compliant with the latest XHTML standard -- how convenient. There's nothing on MSN.com that I can see which absolutely demands they use all the latest and greatest features of XHTML anyway.

    However, I think this one will backfire on MS. Let's face it, MSN.com isn't exactly the greatest site on the Web. There are far better places to get the type of content being dished up there and if you're going to turn people away at the door then don't expect them to return any time soon.

    I maintain my position that Microsoft is becoming increasingly arrogant towards those who don't embrace its self-appointed dominance of the Net.

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    The Day's Top News
    Open in New Window = open in new window
    New Zealand

    Open in New Window Asia Online pulls plug on NZ
    Internet service provider Asia Online New Zealand has gone into voluntary liquidation, the victim of the failed dotcom strategies of its overseas owners...
    NZ Herald

    Open in New Window IP telephony on hold at Tourism NZ
    Tourism New Zealand has put an experiment with IP telephony on hold because of voice quality problems, says Keith Thomas, the body's corporate services general manager...
    IDG

    Other

    Open in New Window XP Is Hot, But Not Windows 95-Hot
    Remember '95? The long lines at midnight? The "Woodstock of the '90s," as one zealot called it? Microsoft's new operating system may be better, but it hasn't captured America's imagination...
    Wired

    Open in New Window Windows XP Wins Big Users in Singapore, India
    U.S. software giant Microsoft Corp drummed up publicity for Windows XP, its most ambitious operating system, by signing up high-profile corporate users in Asia...
    Yahoo

    Open in New Window Devastating attacks on the net "imminent", says report
    A new wave of devastating internet attacks is just waiting to happen, says a report by a US internet watchdog. What is more, there is there is currently little chance of preventing it....
    New Scientist

    Open in New Window Wisconsin Gov. Considers Video Voyeurism Bill
    Wisconsin Gov. Scott McCallum, R, has received a bill for his consideration that would, in many cases, outlaw videotaping or photographing naked people without their consent...
    NewsBytes

    Open in New Window Hack Breaks Security Site's Back
    With no ad revenue and a staff of one, a malicious hack is one attack too many for SecurityNewsPortal. The popular site has called it quits...
    Wired

    Australia

    Open in New Window AsiaOnline in administration
    OZEMAIL will offer a rescue package to AsiaOnline customers, after the junior ISP went into administration today...
    Australian IT

    Open in New Window Ombudsman's workload boosted by Internet users
    Complaints to the Australian Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman (TIO) concerning ISPS soared by 85 percent to 7965 cases in 2000-2001, according to figures just released...
    ZDNet

    Other

    Open in New Window MSN.com shuts out non-Microsoft browsers
    While the software leviathan's Internet Explorer easily reaches MSN, other browsers--such as Opera, Mozilla and some versions of Netscape--run into trouble...
    CNet

    Open in New Window "Snow White" DVD may be glitchy with XP
    roud owners of Microsoft's new Windows XP operating system may find that they can't play one of the hottest DVDs of the holiday season on their computers: Disney's "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs."...
    CNet

    Open in New Window Leaked MS email reveals WinXP, Xbox launch spin plans
    With exquisite timing a very naughty mole leaks us an email from top Microsoft spinmeister Mark Murray. Not any old email, either - it details events for the week leading up to Der Tag, today, the XP launch in NYC...
    The Register

    Open in New Window ICANN caught red-handed
    The Internet's overseeing body, ICANN, has been caught red-handed manipulating its own rules to protect existing members at the expense of its stated philosophy of openness...
    The Register

    Open in New Window The New Dot-Cons: Who Falls for Them, How to Avoid Them
    Fraud exists in every medium, and the Internet is no exception. According to data obtained from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC), 31 percent of the more than 20,000 fraud complaints the FTC received...
    NewsFactor


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