| |  MacTalk Backend Changes Weekend of flakey access
You may notice some odd stuff going on this weekend in regards to the site. Things like not being able to log in via the front page and maybe some URLs not working.
MacTalk has had lots of cruft piled on top of old bits, heaped on top of hacks, so this stuff needs to be done to ensure our planned super duper awesome upgrades go along smoothly and ensure future upgrades can be done with a minimal amount of hassle. The Google Ads on the front of the page are only there because you're not logged in - if you want to avoid them that badly, I suggest bookmarking a direct link to the forums - http://forums.mactalk.com.au
In this time of upgrades, feel free to re-connect with your family or enjoy the outdoors. Don't forget the gut-busting work our fearless sys admin, Currawong, as he's the one pushing the buttons to make it all work. Leave him a tip via PayPal donations (all donations go straight to him now! - just scroll down to the bottom of the page, or send me a PM for our bank details), as he does really make sacrifices to make sure you guys get a rock solid server to whinge about iPhone plans on!
| | | | | | Optus Announces iPhone 3G Pricing | | |  Optus Announces iPhone 3G Pricing Full details with call & data rates
iPhone 3G Pre-Paid Pricing
Here are PDF links incase the Optus website dies on you:
Pre-Paid PDF
Contract PDF
Just in time to stop geek brains exploding, Optus has announced full details on their pricing for the iPhone 3G. It seems their entire range of caps and plans get the iPhone treatment, bundled with a little extra data for the iPhone. There are 12 month contracts available as well as 24-month contracts. The higher your cap is, the less you pay Optus for your handset. There is even a $19 cap (albeit with high handset repayments).
Pre-paid pricing is available, together with the option to unlock your iPhone for $80 within the first 6 months, or simply do an $80 recharge and ask for it to be unlocked for free. That makes the 8GB model $809 and 16GB model $929 - and you can use it on any network you like, any plan you like with no restrictions.
Optus are also including free wi-fi with their plans, however we are still not sure where their hotspots actually are.
Now we sit and wait for Vodafone and Telstra to release their plan info so we can compare them and decide where to line up for the release on July 11th!
| | | | | | iPhone 3G in Australia - the State of Play | | | | iPhone 3G launch in Australia
The state of play  The iPhone 3G launches in Australia in about a week. There are many stories and claims doing the rounds at the moment regarding the launch, making it difficult to extract any key, confirmed information that might be useful.
This news item is our aggregated resource of all confirmed information regarding the iPhone launch, and will be updated as and when any new information is released or verified.
So far:
Telstra - have confirmed they are carrying the iPhone. On a $30/mo plan, the 8GB iPhone will be $279 and the 16GB iPhone will be $399. On an $80/mo plan, the 8GB iPhone will be free, and the price of the 16GB iPhone is unconfirmed. On a $100/mo plan, both the 8GB iPhone and the 16GB iPhone will be free. Call/data rates are still unconfirmed. Taking expressions of interest at Apple iPhone3G - Telstra.
Optus - have confirmed they are carrying the iPhone. Post-paid plans and pre-paid plans including call/data rates and handset repayments have been released. Taking expressions of interest at CustomerConnect - Register your interest. No longer accepting $100 refundable priority deposits.
Vodafone - have confirmed they are carrying the iPhone. No pricing, plans or call/data rates confirmed. Taking expressions of interest at Vodafone iPhone Pre-registration.
Three - are not carrying the iPhone, but are keen to get their customers to sign a petition and expressions of interest enabling them to do so at 3 Shop Direct Blog.
Virgin - is a subsidiary of Optus, but have not announced anything in relation to the iPhone.
Midnight launches - none have been confirmed.
That's all there is for now. Anything else is pure speculation. More as it comes.
Update1 - Optus plan info added.
| | | | | | MacTalk Podcast - Episode 32 - Deep Fried | | | | MacTalk Podcast - Episode 32 - Deep Fried
 Episode 32 is to be kept away from children and stored in a secure location because Peter Wells (fulltimecasual), Christopher Kahler (arkenstone), Alexander Reid (Al Aero) and Anthony Agius (Decryption) talk a lot of crap.
Show notes:
| | | | | | Software Update: Mac OS X 10.5.4 | | |  Software Update: Mac OS X 10.5.4 Available to download now
Check your software update - Mac OS X 10.5.4 has hit the street. Weighs in at 87.6MB for those running Intel 10.5.3 machines. Nothing too amazing in this update, looks like a general "we fixed some stuff" release. For more details check the Apple website: About the Mac OS X 10.5.4 update
Thanks to forum member spuds_imac for the heads up!
| | | | | | Telstra Announces iPhone Pricing | | |  Telstra Announces iPhone Pricing Will be available July 11th
Just when we thought the iPhone wouldn't be on Telstra, or not on launch day at least, the big T throw out this huge surprise! All the details can be found in this press release.
The most interesting thing is that Telstra has announced iPhone pricing - no other telco has announced this yet. Quoting from the press release:
iPhone 3G will be available from Telstra on July 11 with a range of specially designed Next G™
iPhone 3G plans that meet the needs of any customer. The Next G iPhone 3G plans start at $30
per month with an upfront cost of $279 for the 8GB model and $399 for the 16GB model.
Customers will receive the 8GB iPhone 3G model at no cost with the $80 plan and either the 8GB
or the 16GB model at no cost with plans starting at $100 per month. All plans include free Wi-Fi
access at Telstra hotspots and require a 24-month contract.
More information will be added as it comes to light. The pressure is now on Optus and Vodafone to release their pricing info, as well as on poor little 3 to even get the iPhone in the first place.
| | | | | | iPhone Prices Around the World | | |  iPhone Prices Around the World Except Australia 
Eight out of the 21 countries that are getting the iPhone 3G on July 11th around the world have announced plan pricing. In an attempt to guestimate how much we will be charged (or how much we will be ripped off), forum member NeoRicen has created a list of countries that have announced pricing and coverted it to Australian dollars.
It seems at the moment, the average price is AU$336 upfront together with a AU$65/month contract. Of course, none of us have any idea what to expect when it comes to local pricing, but of all the guesses so far, NeoRicen's average is the most informed.
| | | | | | Meet the MacTalkers - Formulagpguys and jeremy_warnock | | | 
Meet the MacTalkers Formulagpguys and jeremy_warnock
Welcome to another edition of Meet the MacTalkers! This week we have the pleasure of hearing from forum members Formulagpguys and jeremy_warnock. The former who doesn't seem to know where to call home and the latter with a username as creative as my own! Thanks to both members for taking the time to complete the questions and give an insight into who they are.
| | | | | | Review Mania - iPhone Car Mount, AppleTV Patchstick, iPod Speakers & Fancy Keyboard | | | | Review Mania - iPhone Car Mount, AppleTV Patchstick, iPod Speakers & Fancy Keyboard
First up is the infamous Apple Core LLC patchstick for the AppleTV, that allows you to hack the AppleTV to play many more formats and enable much more features. Normally the process is drawn out and complex, but the patchstick is simple and supported by Apple Core LLC. Forum member remhh purchased it and let us know what he thinks.
Ementis takes a look at the iGrip iPhone car holder, a simple device to keep your iPhone in sight while you're driving.
tcn33 takes the Razer ProType Keyboard for a spin. This model has an iPod dock built in and is a nice white to go with your Apple gear.
Last, but not least, DebB reviews the JBL On Tour Music Box, a set of portable iPod speakers.
These reviews were submitted by regular forum members who simply made a post in the Articles forum here on MacTalk. If you have a product you want to review (maybe something you bought was really good or really bad), just write it up, post it in the Articles forum and a moderator will approve it, or maybe tweak it a little (spelling, pictures, formatting etc) then approve it.
| | | | | | Melbourne MacTalk Meet - Friday 18th July | | |  Melbourne MacTalk Meet - Friday 18th July
Mark it in iCal people - the long fabled Melbourne MT meet is going down on the 18th of July from 5.30pm onwards at the Oxford Scholar Hotel.
There will be some excellent prizes, from sponsors STM Bags, iWorld Australia and Try and Byte. The Sydney meet had around 40-50 people turn up, so I'm sure we can better that, as Melbourne is a much better city
Where? Oxford Scholar Hotel, 427 Swanston Street, Melbourne 3000 (opposite RMIT Uni) (google map link)
When? Friday 18th July, from 5.30PM until whenever everyone's had enough to eat and drink.
What to Bring? Yourself and money for drinks & food. Wi-fi is around, but I won't have my laptop with me (and maybe you shouldn't either, but it's up to you if you want to be stuck in laptop corner on your own)
Let us know if you're coming!
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