The Good, The Bad and The Wi-Fi

wifi_logoI recently returned from a trip to Greece and noticed a great deal of change in how travellers and backpackers alike use the internet.

I remember travelling around Europe in 2005 and having to scout out internet cafes in order to book accommodation and keep in touch with friends and family back home. Even then, it wasn’t very difficult to find internet access in even some of the smaller European cities. The growth of wi-fi in particular, has meant that you now rarely need to leave your hotel (or pay) to access the internet, but how reliable is it?

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Remember Kazaa? Now They Offer Legal Downloads

kazaa_logoRemember Kazaa? That program many of us used to download music illegally (not me of course). Well they’re making a comeback, but this time it’s legal. Kazaa have moved away from a P2P platform and moved to an online music store where users are able to purchase their music legally.

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Making Travel Easier with Technology (UPDATE)

Whether you’re planning a holiday or travelling for work, there is always the annoyance of having to keep track of all your plans and bookings. Technology is here to save the day, there are dozens, if not hundreds, of applications and websites that can help keep your trip organised. Here’s a few that I use (and a few that I’m yet to try) when I’m travelling.

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French ‘Three Strikes’ Law Rejected…again

access-denied-againThe ‘three strikes’ law passed by the French Parliament a few weeks ago has now been rejected by the French Constitutional Council. Finally, some sense, but for how long.

When the law was first voted on by the French National Assembly, it was rejected, only to be passed when it came time for them to vote on the law a second time around. The law was passed despite the EU disallowing such regulations among their members, only to now be disapproved by the French themselves.

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‘Three Strikes and Out’ French Internet Law Approved

access-denied-approvedThe French have gone and done it. The plan, by mini President Sarkozy, to disconnect users internet connection if they’re found downloading or sharing files illegally was approved by the same assembly that initially rejected it. The law, commonly referred to as the ‘three strikes’ law, will mean that pirates will be given two chances to stop their illegal behaviour before having their internet connection cut off. This is despite the EU deciding that such laws are prohibited among EU members.

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Traditional vs New Media… which is faster?

Alarm ClockWhen I began writing this post it was heading down a very different path. To be honest, it was going to be another attack on how traditional media these days just can’t keep up with technology when it comes to breaking news stories. This is where Twitter comes in handy. Following both traditional and new media sources gives you a constant feed of when stories are announced.

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Newspapers up in the AIR…

The New York Times has given up with the whole ink and paper thing… well not entirely, but they have moved to AIR. The Times Reader is available on the Adobe AIR platform, allowing users to read the paper on their computer. This may not be anything new, as we’ve been able to read the news online for quite some time now. The Times Reader does however give you the opportunity to take the paper offline.

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Hulu for Australia: ABC iView

ABC iView - Internet TV Service

You by now have all come across Hulu, the joint venture between NBC Universal, News Corp and now Disney. What a beautiful thing. The ability to stream TV shows and movies on demand, straight from the web…as long as you’re in the USA. It may be quite some time before Hulu comes to other countries around the world *sigh*. The UK have a variety of channels allowing users to stream popular shows online such as BBC iPlayer and Channel 4. But what about Australia I hear you say? Yes, we do have some options…

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