The much-anticipated finale of The Hangover trilogy is about to hit the big screen and to welcome back the Wolf Pack we’re giving you the chance to win.

The Hangover Part III is the epic conclusion to an incomparable odyssey of mayhem and bad decisions, in which the guys must finish what they started by going back to where it all began: Las Vegas.

One way or another…it all ends here.

Check out the trailer at thehangover3movie.com.au

To enter to win one of 30 double passes to see THE HANGOVER PART III simply like Fetch TV Facebook Page then email competitions with Fetch TV The Hangover Part III in the subject line and include your full name and address in the body of the email.

Entries close on Friday, May 24.

Good luck!

Will Smith and his son Jaden team up in After Earth – landing in cinemas on June 13 and we’re giving you and a friend the chance to win tickets.

A crash landing leaves teenager Kitai Raige (Jaden Smith) and his legendary father Cypher (Will Smith) stranded on Earth, 1,000 years after cataclysmic events forced humanity’s escape. With Cypher critically injured, Kitai must embark on a perilous journey to signal for help, facing uncharted terrain, evolved animal species that now rule the planet, and an unstoppable alien creature that escaped during the crash. Father and son must learn to work together and trust one another if they want any chance of returning home.

Check out the trailer at AfterEarth.com.au

To enter to win one of 30 double passes to see After Earth thanks to our friends at Sony Pictures Releasing simply email competitions with Fetch TV After Earth in the subject line and include your full name and address in the body of the email.

Love Movies? There are over 1800 ready to rent right now on Fetch TV.  Perfect for the those winter nights at home fetchtv.com.au/movies-on-demand.

©2013 Columbia Tristar Marketing Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Hands up if you’re a business owner. Now keep your hand up if you’re a business owner whose business email address could use a little more personalisation.

You know the email addresses we’re talking about, we see them every day… joesplumbing@gmail.com.au, jimspaints@hotmail.com and even drjones@ozemail.com.au. These email addresses are splashed across cars, ads and business cards.

Isn’t it time small businesses used their business name (domain name) in their email address instead of using one of the free online addresses like Hotmail or Gmail?

Getting a domain name isn’t just for a web site. In fact domain names are more commonly used by businesses so that they can have that professional email address.

Last month iiNet launched Hosted Exchange, enabling businesses to:

• Easily link their business name (domain name) to their email address (e.g. sales@jimspaint.com instead of jimspaint@hotmail.com)
• Get access to their emails via an easy to use web browser with no ads or spam! Which, by the way, also has the familiar Outlook-like interface
• Free themselves from being tied down to a single computer and can get access to that urgent email wherever there is an internet connection
• Sync their emails, address book and appointments across multiple devices (PCs, Macs, smartphones, tablets, etc.)
• Get business email like features – send meeting invites, create group mailing lists, book shared resources like company cars or meeting rooms, etc.

At only $6.95/month, iiNet will manage the entire thing and you won’t need to spend money getting an IT guy to maintain your emails. From setting up Outlook to configuring your smartphone – we’ll be able to walk you through each stage until it all works just for you.

If you don’t already have a domain name, we can easily help you with that too!

So if you know a small business owner or if you’re thinking about your next start up, do consider getting that professional email setup.

If you want one of our small business specialist to assist you, contact us on 1300 378 638 or visit www.iinet.net.au/exchange for more information.

Are you ready for a tale of extreme adventure that pushes the boundary of physical and mental endurance? A journey across treacherous terrain, complete with the ever-present threat of arctic pack-wolves, ten-foot tall polar bears and swarms of biting insects?

The Crossing is an Australian documentary film by filmmaker Julian Harvey based on the idea of a boys-own escapade of truly epic proportions.

During 2005,  a budding friendship between Sydney-siders Clark Carter and Chris Bray, was put to the test when the pair decided that they would travel 1000km across the largely uninhabited wilderness of Victoria Island in Arctic Canada. Yes, Aussies in the Arctic. A challenge they set themselves to complete in 100 days.

The bleak terrain in that part of the world includes snow, frozen lakes, mud plains, boulder fields, tundra, jagged ice, shattered rock and rapids – enough to deter even the most thrill-seeking adventurer. But it was their wild-eyed enthusiasm and determination that won the support of family and friends as well as corporate sponsors including iiNet and Australian Geographic.

The lads planned their journey, made the necessary arrangements and landed in the Arctic eager to conquer their challenge. After an admirable attempt of 58 grueling days, they were unable to complete the trip in 2005. But they weren’t dissuaded – not by a long shot. They knew they would be back – to finish what they had started.

And so it was, in 2008, that Clark and Chris, aged 25 and 24 respectively, returned to the 2005 finishing point. This time they were re-equipped, much better prepared and absolutely determined to complete the remaining 700km of their original goal. The Crossing film is based on footage that was recorded by the adventurers themselves.

Chris recalls the intense physical and mental strain both men had to endure. “Cold, hungry and eating painkillers for blistering feet and painfully strained Achilles tendons, we found the following days as much a mental struggle as they were physical. Step by step we pushed ourselves forward… The increasing summer warmth was a double-edged sword as the melting snow turned our world into one giant slushy. Each snow-shoed step broke through the ice into water that froze our pants into a solid mass.”

A journey like that demanded detailed planning and foresight. The guys had learned a lot from their first attempt. Here are some quick stats to give you an idea of how epic this adventure really was:

• Both Clark and Chris pulled a fully laden PAC (Paddleable Amphibious Cart) weighing 250kg each. The carts featured bulletproof Kevlar wheel covers.
• Their inventory included 200kg of food including 25kg of chocolate.
• They packed quite a range of technology including laptops, solar panels, satellite phones, video cameras, a point-and-shoot stills camera, digital SLR, iPods, and GPS.
• The area has wild animals including wolves, seals and polar bears. They had to install a camp-perimeter tripwire polar bear alarm every night and take a shotgun when ‘using the toilet’.
• Average July temperatures range from about −10 to +10 °C.

Crossing Victoria Island is an experience that both men will treasure for the rest of their lives. Chris says, “The things we’ve learnt and experienced between the two coastlines have set our personalities, taught us what to value, how to endure and enjoy, and engendered one hell of a friendship.”

The Crossing will premiere at this year’s Sydney Film Festival on June 6^th and has been shortlisted for the prestigious 2013 Foxtel Australian Documentary Prize. The nomination has come hot on the heels of the film’s official selection at the Europe Outdoor Film Tour.

iiNet will be giving away two double passes to the premiere in Sydney. Stay tuned to the iiNet Facebook page  for details coming soon.

Tickets to the premiere can also be purchased via the Sydney Film Festival website.

For more information on the film and Clark and Chris’ epic journey, just visit the following links.

• Film Website
• 1000 Hour Day website
• Facebook Page

Photo Credit: image provided by Clark Carter.

UPDATE, 22 May: The Crossing has been selected for the prestigious New Zealand Mountain Film Festival. Well done guys!

The CSIRO has been awarded two NBN-enabled Telehealth grants and iiNet is pleased to be a commercial project partner on the NBN Home Monitoring of Chronic Disease for Aged Care project.

What is Telehealth?

Compared with traditional face-to-face delivery of medical care and advice, Telehealth is a cost effective, real-time and convenient alternative. It provides three key advantages.

• Remote access. Telehealth can reduce the need for travel, which is not only convenient but also helps patients who have mobility issues.
• Timely information. Patients can receive reliable information and advice from medical professionals at a time that suits them.
• Supporting healthcare workers. Telehealth can help the continued education and training of healthcare workers. This can also include support, communication and networking.

NBN Enabled Telehealth Pilot Program

The National Broadband Network (NBN) Enabled Telehealth Pilots Program aims to demonstrate how the NBN infrastructure can enable better access to high quality healthcare services. In particular, using Telehealth services in the home to support aged care, palliative care and cancer care.

The NBN has the potential to enhance the way that health services are delivered across Australia. It could allow homes, doctor’s surgeries, pharmacies, clinics, and aged-care facilities to connect to affordable, reliable, high-speed and high-capacity broadband – and each other. Imagine that.

NBN Home Monitoring of Chronic Disease for Aged Care Project

This project is a $5.47M trial to demonstrate an NBN-enabled Telehealth system for home monitoring of patients with chronic disease (a disease that is long-lasting or recurrent).  Monitoring chronically ill and elderly patients can reduce hospitalisations and improve health outcomes and quality of care.

The CSIRO has advised that the study will provide “in-home Telehealth services for 150 patients over six fibre and fixed-wireless NBN connected sites around Australia” and that it is “Australia’s first multi state, multi site randomised clinical trial of telehealth services”. iiNet will provide the connection to the NBN in each of the patient’s homes. The study will involve six sites connected to the NBN. Most sites will be connected by optical fibre with one site using fixed-wireless broadband.

We’ll update readers on the how the trial is going in the coming months.

For more information visit the NBN Telehealth website here.

What happens when you contact iiNet with a problem?

After speaking to a friendly customer service representative (CSR) your issue can usually be fixed on the spot.

But sometimes the situation is a little more complex than first appears. So some detective work may be required. In some cases – a lot more detective work.

In this article, we take you on a journey that reaches from Cape Town to Perth and outback Western Australia, crossing the paths of multiple iiNet departments… leading to a very unexpected outcome.

It started with a phone call…

Earlier this year, we got a call from Julie, an iiNet customer for nearly 13 years. Based in Perth, Julie traveled to Onslow on a regular basis but found her mobile phone had no coverage when she got there.

Where is Onslow, you ask? It’s a coastal town in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, approximately 1,300km north of Perth.

Julie spoke to Lisa, one of our CSRs based in Cape Town who was on the case and asked for more info. Julie was happy to oblige with a map and photo saying, “I would have gotten closer photos, but it’s snake country in there, so these will have to do.”

The mobile phone tower in the middle of “snake country”.

The problem was that someone had taken up residence at the mobile phone tower: an eagle with an elaborate nest. It was something the locals had been aware of for some time. Julie said, “The initial discussion was that they used to get Optus coverage but now do not, due to the eagles nest. They all seem to know about it. I don’t know what types of mobiles they had, neither how long the nest has been there.”

iiNet’s mobile phone service is based on the Optus’ network and after some initial enquiries, Lisa realised that this query was getting into some interesting territory and required some eyes on the ground.  So, her internal enquiries made it to Marcus – iiNet’s Group Mobile Product Manager – who looks after our mobile products as well as managing the coverage in regional and remote areas.

Time for some detective work

Like an episode of The Wire, Marcus was on the case and told Julie he would follow up with his Optus counterparts. Julie knew she was in good hands. “Thanks Marcus, you’re a good man,” she said. “May the force be with you.”

The WA Optus network team checked on the Onslow “bird tower” and reported back to Marcus that no alarms had been activated and the site was taking call traffic as per normal.

Marcus knew that the bird tower was one of three Optus towers in the area that serviced customers for Optus and iiNet. The other two were at Lansdale and Greenwood.

Getting a bit technical, the bird tower was 3G 900 MHz only, meaning that it only supported handsets that used this frequency. For example, newer phones from the last few years would be fine. There were no 2G (older style mobile) or 3G 2100 MHz towers (like what you find in the city) in Onslow, however there were at the Lansdale and Greenwood sites.

The plot thickened when network records showed that Lansdale and Greenwood were Julie’s two primary serving towers when she was outside the Onslow area. In other words, the bird tower in Onslow was not providing a service for Julie but it was for others. So if the tower and the eagle’s nest weren’t the issue, what was?

The breakthrough

Looking at network records, Marcus discovered that Julie was using an iPhone 3GS. A model that was not compatible with the 3G 900 MHz frequency (only with 2G and 3G 850 MHz and 2100 MHz). He also saw that Julie’s previous mobile was an LG GS290 which is a 2G (GSM) only handset.

This information cracked the case wide open. Regrettably neither handset was compatible with the Optus 3G network in Onslow. That’s why Julie was getting very poor or no coverage at all. With or without the bird’s nest – the problem lay in the lack of compatibility between Julie’s mobile phone and the servicing towers in the area.

So, the only way for any customer in the area to receive signal is to have a mobile phone handset that runs on the 900 MHz 3G frequency. Instead of Julie having to go out and buy a new phone straight away, Marcus suggested that she use a trial handset from iiNet to see what the experience was like.

Case closed with a happy ending… for all

Julie thanked everyone for their help getting to the bottom of her trouble. She’ll be trialing a handset in Onslow soon.

In the meantime, the Optus team has done their own digging. Apparently, the tower in Julie’s original photo was actually a Telstra (850 Mhz) tower and the Optus tower was located to the right (the main image featured in this article). There was a nest on the Optus tower but because it was above the panels there wasn’t any service degradation. Optus has since been to the site and verified that the site works with a 900Mhz handset.

And the eagle wins in this story too. As part of Optus’ commitment to the environment, the welfare of wildlife is taken into consideration and Optus are currently building a new tower for the birds – right next to their current home.

All’s well that ends well. Marcus hung up his hat and the case of the Mystery of Bird Tower was closed.

Australian mums are a particularly savvy bunch. As a Mother’s Day special, we decided to check out some of the apps that help out new and soon-to-be mothers. From the labour room to getting the shopping done, we cover some of the best apps right here.

Contraction Timer

Android, Free: Obviously this app has a pretty specific use and pretty much does what it says on the tin. Contraction Timer is simple to use and handy for mums who are writing up their birth story later and want to look back at that data. Apparently during labour, the app itself can be a good distraction.

The Wonder Weeks

iOS and Android, $1.99: Wonder Weeks is a development calendar that tells you when your baby is going through developmental leaps and when they may be at their fussiest. It’s great for checking up on ‘why is my baby extra unsettled this week’?

Baby Monitor

Android, Free: If you enjoy being mobile and taking your baby out to visit family and friends – this could be a great app for you. Baby Monitor is a baby alarm and sleep diary. Instead of carting around your home baby monitor, use this app to keep an eye on your little one when they are a short distance away but not within eyesight (for example in another room of the house).

Feed Baby Pro

Android, $3.50: Feed Baby Pro lets you record every sleep, breast-feed and nappy change. The app is available as a free Lite version but the Pro version lets your partner access the information too. Along with helping out, we’re sure they’re keen to know what baby is up to. Over time the app is very helpful in tracking your baby’s habits. You could also use the data to keep your GP in the loop.

Pocket Weather

iOS and Android, $1.99: Yes, it’s a weather app, but have you thought about how useful it can be? To make your day easier, plan ahead and figure out where and when to go – as well as what to pack. Pocket Weather is available through the Apple App Store as well as Google Play and sources its information directly from the Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BOM).

YouTube

iOS and Android, Free: Available for iOS and Android set up special playlists that are going to keep baby entertained or at least distracted momentarily. Think about nursery rhymes, favourite songs and soothing sounds.

ShopShop

iOS, Free: Here’s a useful app for mothers with kids of all ages. ShopShop lets you add items during the week so you don’t forget anything at the shops. (No one wants to go back just for toilet paper). No more scribbling on the back of envelopes or digging around at the bottom of your handbag.

Are you a mum that enjoys using technology to stay organised, relax or entertain? Let us know your favourite apps in the comments below.

Photo Credit: @heylovedc

The Samsung Galaxy S4 has arrived and is available online through the iiNet website and at the iiStore in Perth.

It’s not just the latest and greatest. The Samsung Galaxy S4 has strong core functionality plus a range of exciting new features to check out.

Core specifications

Samsung’s latest addition to the family is an outstanding flagship product. It has exceptional processing power and storage capacity.

• Gorgeous 5-inch display with full HD Super AMOLED technology – bright and sharp images.
• Strap on your seat belt because the Galaxy 4S has some serious speed with a 1.9GHz Quad-core processor.
• Internal storage capacity of 16GB plus expandable storage.
• A 2,600mAh battery gives you more fun and play time.
• Runs on the latest Android operating system 4.2.2 (Jelly Bean).

With a solid foundation that’s reliable enough to take on whatever you do during the day, the Galaxy S4 also has some new software features that are sure to dazzle and delight.

Abracadabra!

Smart Scroll lets you scroll through emails or websites just by looking at the screen and tilting the phone.

We bet you can’t wait to test this feature – Smart Pause. If you look away while watching a video, it will pause to make sure you don’t miss anything. Then when you turn back, playback resumes. Simple yet amazing.

The Galaxy S4 also has Air View/ Air Gesture. With a flick of your hand you can take a call, change the song or flick through your photos. Now you can browse the net while having your lunch – without the sticky fingerprints.

Amazing in every language

Parlez-vous francais? For those who love to travel, the S Translator is the ultimate companion. Just say or text what you need translated and the Galaxy S4 will read or text back the translation.

You’ll know the difference between poulet (chicken) and escargots (snails). Get tips from the locals and know the location of the nearest bathroom. It’s like starring in your own foreign film, complete with subtitles.

Shutter-Bug Action

Wherever you go, the Galaxy S4 will help you capture sound and images to share with family, friends and work colleagues.

• A dual camera for double the action. The 13 Megapixel camera has Dual Shot so you can take a photo with the front camera and add it to the photo you take with the rear camera.
• You can also record sound while you take photos – it’s like a talking postcard.
• Loads of other useful camera functions like Drama Shot, Cinema Shot and Cinema Play.

Life in the fast lane

This baby is 4G Compatible and you know what that means: smoother transitions and faster response. Get breaking news as it happens and update your status before your friends have even opened an app.

iiNet will soon be launching 4G plans so stay tuned for the latest plans and coverage.

The Wrap Up

People will love the Galaxy S4’s

• Core functionality with faster processing and
• Cutting edge features like the S Translator, Smart Scroll & Pause, Air Gesture.

Business professionals will love the

• Speed: no mucking about, get in and out of applications like a pro.
• Crisp 5-inch display that makes viewing documents and presentations a pleasure.

The Samsung Galaxy S4 is available at iiNet for

• $33/month on a 24 month contract
• Or buy it outright for $792

To get your Galaxy S4 quick smart just visit our website for more detailed information on specifications.

The workplace has changed a lot over the last two decades. We’ve witnessed the decline of the fax machine and the rise of electronic mail. Social networking has become a legitimate business tool and we’re working from home and wherever else we can get access to the internet, thanks to mobile devices and mobile broadband.

But it’s not just a question of where we work. It’s also about how we work in those spaces and how we can work smarter. Two major trends have surfaced in the workplace due in part to advances on the technology front: hot-desking and activity based working. Let’s take a look at why these have become so popular.

Any desk can be your desk

Hot-desking has been around since the 1990’s. Also known as “hotelling” the term refers to the fact that employees can move from desk to desk. In fact, they aren’t even allocated their own desk. In some cases, staff are provided with laptops so they can work from any desk (or flat surface) in the office. In other offices, there are work stations with desktop computers from which any staff member can log into.

Hot-desking is particularly useful in companies where staff travel frequently leaving behind empty desks that aren’t utilised full time. With the rising cost of office space per square meter any measure that can cut waste is a bonus for businesses looking to tighten their belts.

A plus for employees is that you don’t have to sit at the same spot every day. You can work from anywhere in the office that takes your fancy or boosts your productivity. By the window, in a quiet boardroom or closer to colleagues who are working on the same project.

But hot-desking is only the beginning.

What you do determines where you do it

The next evolution of smart spaces is Activity-Based Working. This practice is less than a decade old but has recently become very popular in Australia and overseas with companies such as the Commonwealth Bank, Macquarie Bank and Microsoft adopting the practice.

Activity-based working involves allocating specific areas in the office to specific activities. These could include “library” areas for reading only, meeting rooms for groups, booths for individuals, standing desks for flash meetings and cafes as general purpose areas.

This type of set up requires a lot of more planning and commitment from the business including considerations around office design, furniture, equipment, and IT infrastructure.

Gone is the expectation that a supervisor has to stand over an employee to ensure that they are really working. Here, the emphasis on outcome.

But where do I put my personalized coffee mug?

There are a lot of human factors to consider before a business can or should implement hot-desking or activity-based working. Employees need anchor points so that they can store their things (so you can still have an office mug at work) and designated “home” areas for hanging out and mingling with other staff. Listening to feedback and being willing to adapt is also important to ensure success.

Does your workplace have hot-desking or activity-based working environments? Do you think it’s a good idea? Tell us why in the comments below.

We recently invited iiNet and Westnet customers to complete our fun little ‘Me, Myself & the Interwebs’ survey. Those who completed the survey for the first time during April, were eligible to win some great prizes.

We’re pleased to announce that the prizes were drawn on 28 April 2013. Congratulations to the following winners:

• Budii – P de Boer
• Samsung Galaxy Camera – A Green
• Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 (7 inch) – C Carline, N Reeves, R Taylor

All winners have been contacted by phone and email.

250 customers have also won an iiNet USB thumb drive whilst 250 customers have won a Westnet cap – these winners will be notified by email this week.

Thank you to everyone who participated!

Although the competition has closed, you’re still more than welcome to complete the survey. It’s short (yet sweet) and comes complete with snazzy pictures for your viewing entertainment. It really is the most fun you can have with a mouse, and it would put big smiles on everyone here if you could take a few minutes to fill it out.

Plus as a special bonus, you’ll see a fun little customised message at the end – just for you!

The survey is accessed via your Toolbox page, or My Accounts page if you’re a Westnet customer – so you can rest assured knowing it’s secure and all answers remain confidential.

What are you waiting for? Get clicking!

The survey has been tested to run on all standard browser types and platforms. If you encounter any difficulty completing the survey, please contact support.