15th May 2011 Archive

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• Apple seeks patent for keyboard that sucks

  Or blows. Or both

  Apple has applied for a patent that describes a novel method for improving the tactile feedback of ultra-thin keyboards: each key emits a puff of air when either approached or touched, and can be pneumatically sucked downward in response to touch. When we discovered patent application number 20110107958, "Input devices and …

  Media 15 May 2011, 03:00

• Alcatel-Lucent bribery scandal reverberates in Australia

  NBN boss in embarrassing backflip

  Alcatel-Lucent is facing a refreshed raft of trouble: a US federal judge has decided that Costa Rican telecommunication company ICE can challenge the US$137 million criminal settlement between the vendor and the US Department of Justice finalised last year. ICE received approval last week to seek victim status in the bribery …

  Broadband 15 May 2011, 22:30

• Optus to fling A$25 million at Tasmania

  New network mimics NBN backhaul link plans

  Telstra is finally going to lose its near-monopoly over mobile comms in Tasmania, with Optus announcing it will triple the number of base stations it operates in the island state. The network upgrade, which Optus says will cost $25 million (including new retail stores), will cover 45 towns in all regions of Tasmania. …

  Broadband 15 May 2011, 23:30

• Facebook planking game claims its first victim

  Death by planking - an Australian first

  A social media game that uses Facebook as its vector is being blamed for the death of a 20-year-old Queenslander over the weekend. The silly, but mostly harmless, game of "planking" involves a person lying straight, arms by side face down, sans facial expression. Plankers are encouraged to pose creative or daring locations …

  Bootnotes 15 May 2011, 23:55