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News, opinions and advice on technology development and the state of innovation.

Talking nuclear energy with Ziggy Switkowski, RMIT’s new Chancellor

This week’s Talking Business guest is the distinguished businessman and nuclear physicist, Dr. Ziggy Switkowski. He talks with Leon and Garry about his agenda as the incoming Chancellor of RMIT University, and explains why, in light of climate change, nuclear power is the most reliable energy source for Australia’s future.

Teacher lauded for bringing science back to preparatory classrooms

A zoologist-turned-primary teacher who worked to bring real science experiments back into the classroom has received one of the Prime Minister's Prizes for Science. Dr. Matthew McCloskey is the director of studies at Sydney Grammar's Edgecliff Preparatory School. Through his efforts, students in kindergarten through Year Six are taught hands-on science at least once a week.

Victoria’s Monash University plugs in students with PC tablets

A Victoria university is in its second year of a digital learning program that is replacing whiteboards with PC tablets. The system, called myLearningSpace, combines the tablets with an in-house-developed software that allows students to connect to instructors and to one another. The students import content, share a virtual whiteboard, collaborate online and pick up lessons where they left off at any time.

Droid, iPhone4, Microsoft Phone 7: Which can take the heat?

There are already countless videos on the Interwebs that present side-by-side comparisons of the most popular smart-phones. You know -- which has the fastest browser, the brightest screen, the quickest boot-up. This is not one of those videos. All we can say to the person who put this video together is, "Dude, we wish we had that kind of money to burn."

With the NBN, deregulation begins now

The National Broadband Network has been heralded as a groundbreaking advance but has also raised concerns that it will create just another monopoly. In this first of two parts, Tony Simmons argues that the NBN can at last bring to Australian telecommunications a genuine opportunity for competition and growth... provided we learn from past.

Origin’s Grant King talks about the timeline for renewable energy

In this interview, Origin Energy Managing Director Grant King talks about his company’s plans for the future concerning the carbon tax and renewable energy, as well as the proposed hydroelectric project in conjunction with Papua New Guinea.

Do we really need another internet browser? Or is Mozilla good enough?

It's a stupid question. But, having said that, it was the first thing that passed my lips on watching this teaser: Does the world really need another web browser? I love Mozilla. Colleagues have embraced Chrome. And your grandma probably still uses Internet Explorer. (Yup, that was bitchy.) Of course, internet users the the world over could always benefit from a better browser. But is this it?

An interview with app developer Jason Castan (aka one of the reasons your iPhone’s...

In this week’s Talking Business interview, Jason Castan talks about his company Never Can Tell, an app developer for Apple’s iOS platform used in the iPhone and iPad – and one of many companies named after snippets from Pulp Fiction.

Have chunky fingers? Here’s an iPhone the size of a fridge!

We were tickled beyond words this week to discover that three Austrian developers have at last solved the problem those of us with fat fingers have when navigating a phone's touchscreen. They've created an iPhone that's as large as a refrigerator door. Your biggest, most chunky-digited AFL star can now swish through his apps with ease.

Deal or No Deal: Facebook is about to disrupt the small business sector… again

This is one of the few times that Facebook has created something specifically for the small business sector. It also offers a firm answer to those who still today believe that Facebook is not relevant to their business because they operate in the real world.

What the interwebs were talking about this week

Sure, this clip involves innovation, creativity and mild commentary on the evolution of technology. But it also includes the whacked out claim that Charlie Chaplin accidentally caught a time traveller on film. And for that, this video is among the Top 10 viewed on YouTube this week. Happy Beer O'Clock Anthillians!

Should Anthill adopt the Groupon model?

Last week, I posted a story that asked Anthill readers to suggest new revenue streams. The post was triggered by a theft (and the loss of some expensive equipment). The surprising flood of responses to this post, received by phone, email, tweets, Facebook messages and, of course, your comments had me both thrilled and alarmed. It also got me thinking.

Does this company deserve $100k in seed funding? Heck, yeah!

Australia's richest business plan competition, offering $100,000 for one savvy Australian business, reached its conclusion at the Queensland State Library in Brisbane last Wednesday night. Does this company deserve $100k in seed funding? Heck, yeah! Now watch the clip.

Anthill’s 30under30 winners revealed (2010)

This year, rather than release the 2010 30under30 'massive' in one shot, we're releasing the names of this prestigious set, three a day, for the next 10 days. Why do this? Well, aside from the unplanned loss of a laptop, containing our deliberations and winner profiles, this suspense filled, masterfully manipulating traffic-fueling tactic just seemed too attractive to pass up. Can you feel the ant-icipation?

Malcolm Turnbull explains the Opposition’s case against the NBN

In this week's Talking Business interview, Leon and Garry speak with Liberal MP Malcolm Turnbull, former Opposition leader and current shadow spokesman for telecommunications and broadband. He criticises the Government’s plan for the National Broadband Network as too expensive and lacking in any cost-benefit analysis. Calling the NBN an effective monopoly that will make any competition impossible, Mr. Turnbull endorses incremental improvements to the existing network as a fiscally responsible policy.

Could this adorable, app-enhanced doggie be YouTube’s next pop star?

The music industry's backlash against Auto-Tune is well-documented, though it reportedly endures on countless CDs and on every episode of "Glee." LaDiDa isn't designed to be insidious; it's tech is actually quite cool. The user chooses a musical tempo and style, then serenades the iPhone or iPad. The app uses the voice to compose a melody. Think of it as karaoke in reverse.

What is the Groupon-model and why is it relevant to your business?

In business circles, Groupon will, for a long time, be known as the Chicago-based startup that scored itself a $1.35 billion valuation within a year of launch. For the rest of the world, it is a website that harnesses collective buying to get consumers cheap products and services. But for ambitious startups, the model could also be employed to sell their own goods and services (and never buy advertising again).

How to ‘Cocoon’ your documents online: an interview with Trent Telford

This week, Leon and Garry talk to Trent Telford, founder and chief executive of Cocoon Data, a Melbourne-based internet security company. Telford’s company combines file and identity protection services, including rights management, so that documents can be secured to protect user privacy as well as right of access.

$43 million earth sciences collaboration gets under Australia’s skin

The government has pumped $43 million into an initiative designed to really get under our skin -- from a geological standpoint. The money is going into AuScope, a nonprofit company designed to help governments, universities, and research and science agencies collaborate in their efforts to better understand Australia's natural resources.

Playbook toys with Apple’s onions

When the Apple iPad came out, I think I speak for most folks when I said, “Ooo, another premature Apple release!” (with emphasis on that initial bleat). This is because Apple, in my opinion, tends to push its products on us a little too early. Hence Blackberry’s confident stride into the same as yet tentatively-described ether; the Blackberry Playbook.
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