We are super excited to have Scott Emerson MP speaking to the Brisbane Usergroup Community, on the "State of the QLD ICT Industry". Scott is a Liberal National Party member in the Queensland Parliament, representing the seat of Indooroopilly in Brisbane’s inner-west since 2009. More importantly for us, Scott is the Shadow Minister for Science, Research and Information and Communication Technology.

In a recent discussion with Scott It was surprising to find out that "In terms of ICT, the Queensland Government is the largest consumers of ICT products in the state; yet they are NOT the biggest consumer of Queensland’s ICT products and services."

The LNP as a party is determined to support the local ICT industry. Scott understands the value of our input as ICT professionals, and is keen for our feedback on how the LNP can better serve the ICT community.

This session will be a round table discussion so please come armed with your IC ...

The 2011 Scripting Games begin on April 4, 2011, and run through April 15, 2011. The Scripting Games are the premier learning event of the year for IT pros and others who want to master Windows PowerShell. For each of 10 events, you as a registered contestant have seven days to script a solution to a scenario-driven problem and post your code to an MVP-maintained script repository. A panel of internationally recognized judges scores each script you submit. And daily leaderboards and prize drawings help keep your interest high throughout the two-week international, online event.

Last year, people from more than 200 countries visited the Script Center during the Scripting Games. Because the scripts are written for real-world scenarios and problems, they are of immediate value to everyone, participants and spectators alike.

This page includes all essential 2011 Scripting Games links. Add this page to your favorites. (For that matter, make it your home page.)

Folks I'm assisting with and leading up the Brisbane spearhead for this program.

We believe that many businesses are going to be significantly affected by the recent flood events. A lot of these businesses have no insurance and limited or no IT support or disaster recovery plan.

A program has been set up by a number of MVP's and other like minded community IT professionals to help support those effected get operational as soon as possible.

What we need.
1. Location to receive any and all equipment from local donations as well as those from interstate that are already starting to mount up. Desperately we need somewhere here in Brisbane to act as our logistics and shipping and receiving centre.
2. Donations of ICT equipment to assist those that have been flood devastated.
3. Any support from a technical as well as logistical slant to help this effort.

We appreciate any a ...

I’ve been in IT for some 20 plus years directly and indirectly.  I’ve been in the job market for a little longer, not much thou.  From school, I had a full time job as a Commercial Pilot flying right hand seat on Small executive jets and a selection of twins and Gas turbines and single engine aircraft, I have accumulated some 3700hrs flight time both in command and as First officer.

I however took a break from flying and moved into help my family’s business install a computer system back when screens where just going green and amber was the main PC monitor colour.  RAM was measured in Kb and Hard Drives in Meg.  To keep my flight enthusiasm going at the time I bought the first version of MS flight Sim, Hell I was cool and was handed a pre release copy of something called Windows from this nerd called Bill who was trying to flog off his new operating system.  At the time I was using DOS, Unix and SCO Xenix OS’s. 

Over the years and a var ...

Leading up to today I was hoping to post some good news and outcomes after taking my complaint to the Office of the CEO at Telstra.  But todays events have pissed me off even more and ponder the value and ability of the Telstra CEO to have any significant or beneficial impact in changing Telstra’s ways.  Far be it for me to expect customer service from the telco giant.

It starts with my blog post “Telstra, shitty Service and questionable data plan charges” http://www.autechheads.com/blogs/entryid/279/telstra-shitty-service-and-questionable-data-plan-charges

Last week I had received a response to my letter to the Office of the CEO and the outcome was having a case number a person that gave a commitment to address the issues and take ownership of my complaint and furnishing me with a daily update on the progress and outcomes.  One of the commitments and outcomes was that the account was being placed on hold, which means that no disconnection a ...

I have been battling with Telstra regarding some outrageous recent bills particularly in relation to Mobile Data Billing.

My bills all of a sudden jumped from around $250/mth to over $750/mth.  On review the data charges seem to be completely inconsistent, additionally I’m getting charged for data usage for periods that the phone is off or on WIFI.  The volume of Data too is questionable  in recent months I have mindfully used the internet and applications drastically less than in the past 12mths, I have next to no apps on my phone that i use away from home and while on my WIFI Network.  This leaves Email, on review of email there is nothing outlandish in what is being sent and certainly does not reflect the data and session times on the bill.

I had started my line of contact via phone.  This opens up my first long term issues with dealing with Telstra. For a telephone and communications company, your phone system and queuing systems sux.  You tend to sit in qu ...

I’ve never been a huge Blogger, never had the need really.  I must say after doing a few and using the sites editor stumbling though it and accidently hitting the back button too many times to care to admit, I took a look at and installed the latest Windows Live products and “Window Live Writer” rocks. Thanks to @delic8genius and @coatsy for mentioning it in a #Franklyspeaking podcast. I’m sure there are other cooler and bigger than Ben-Hur apps for this out there but for me it’s cool handy and on all my machines.

I find that for cross posting between sites it’s great.  once set up and what a breeze that is it retains all the appropriate setting and connection and all you have to do is calve up you post select the site you post to and upload.  I does the rest for you.

The interface is a cut down word, if you can use word 2010 you are set.  Makes formatting so much easier and adding pictures, hyperlinks and video etc. a breeze  Shit just noticed it has spell chekc to.& ...

You all are probably aware of my iPhone issues.  I don’t want to go through them again, I'm over it and wanting to move forward.

Specifically my issues are with Telstra although I hear similar problems with people with other carriers.

Why do I choose Telstra, with my travelling, they are the only provider that provide the best coverage overall than any other vender out there.  I’m not talking about capital cities or CBD’s or regional hubs, most of them all have reasonable coverage by most of the top players.  When you choose to live by the coast or on an island away from major centres and hubs you limit your self straight up, but generally you can find some options.  when your clients and customers offer the same location and comms challenges your options really come down to Telstra only or change to sat phone or have multi sim devices (Happy to have that debate).

So I go with Telstra and accept I’m going to pay a premium.

For year ...

I was talking to a good Buddy of mine Andrew Gibson From Hitec who are a Microsoft Registered Partner dealing in the SMB space since about 1993.  Andrew is a keen member of most of the Brisbane based Usergroups and also Qld and National Treasurer of SMBiT Professionals.

Andrews group have put together a great roadshow for small business with focus on;

“The latest technology has created endless possibilities for changing the way we
do business today, but has also introduced a whole new set of questions and
implications. Attend one of the free half day seminars designed to introduce and
demonstrate some of the latest information technology developments in cloud
computing, virtualisation, communications and the greening of IT.”

Speakers locked in for each of these session are;

Generally I love the concept of the Hanvon but there is some issues and limitations that leave it lacking as a complete solution for me.  The device is very well designed and ergonomic.  I would be keen to get my hands on the B20 series unit as it looks a little slicker and closer to the iPad thickness, but specs are allot less too.

HANVON BC10C Model

My issues with the HANVON are;

On the positive,

Generally I fou ...

About a month ago I decided enough was enough and ditched my iPhone 3Gs for a HTC Desire.  I had looked at a number of devices and after consideration of the imminent launch of Windows Phone 7 series of phone I was compelled enough to loose the rotten apple for a practical and functional replacement.  My consideration was that I would look at the new Windows phone 7 offerings once they were launched to market.

I was considering returning to the Blackberry range for a number of reasons, firstly I have  had no issues in 7 odd years with the product.  All the models I have had have served me well and the pricing plans for data and knowing I was paying a fixed amount per month on the Blackberry plan despite my Download/Upload on the device as always a plus.

I opted some 13months ago to try and become an apple fan boy and get an iPhone.  I had picked up an iTouch while in the US in 07 before they had been released in Australia and loved it, I’ve had a number of iPods and N ...

 I've been having no end of problems with Mobiles and other devices of late.  Either the products are coming up short in the fuel capacity or I'm just an over the top user.  I think the earlier is the case.

I had been using an iPhone 3Gs for some 12mths or so as many of you will know through my consistent complaining and issues I had with it (12 replacements in 12 mths).  One of my biggest issues was the life of the battery.  Generally the iPhones I was only getting 3-5 hours usage depending on how busy I was with it.

After the 12th replacement I had had enough.  I was over the relationship with the device, the Apple support and the Genius (Retard) Bar experiences. Now I have a shiny new HTC Desire.  I'm not completely happy with the device.  Firstly, Battery Sux.  Available apps are nothing close to tho ...

Today I picked up a HANVON BC10C.  I was listening to a “Frankly Speaking” podcast and the guys were discussing a HANVON that one of their guests Shane Morris had.Purchased from Officeworks.  For those that know me, I’m not to be outdone, so I went out to get one.

There was no way that I was going to head to #auteched this year with an iPad, and I needed a new toy.  I’ve had an iPhone 3GS now for almost 12 months, and I’m on my eighth replacement, and with the experiences I had dealing with Apple support and the "Genius Bar", I’m so over it.  Deep down though, I’m finding it hard to get rid of it because of some actually functional apps I’ve purchased and use religiously.  It’s a bit like that relationship you form with that flea-bitten rampant dog you once had (your yard ends up like a mortar practice range with all the holes, rips-ups and destroys every ...