Kiwiblog

InternetNZ released earlier this month a discussion document called Future:Digital, talking about possible priorities for a future Government. It’s only nine pages so an easy read. There are five themes:

1. The Internet drives economic growth
2. A digitally inclusive society
3. A vibrant, multi-cultural identity
4. Protecting the environment for future generations
5. A Government that “gets” the Internet

Waldo Kuipers from Microsoft talks about some of these themes in a blog post. He makes an interesting point:

In a paper looking back on 125 years of refrigeration (PDF), Dr Andrew Cleland explains, “In 1882 the first refrigerated meat left New Zealand for London, the pioneering use of a technology that was to transform the New Zealand economy. Animals were no longer grown for wool only, and the wealth of the nation developed rapidly. From 1882 until as recently as the early 1990s refrigerated food has returned at least 30% of New Zealand’s export income. Whilst much of the equipment has been imported, expertise in the application of refrigeration was developed in New Zealand.”

For New Zealand, the internet could be the best thing since refrigeration.

Reps from five of our political parties also debated Internet issues last week. If you missed it, you can view or listen to it at this page.

Owen Hembry at NZ Herald reports:

New Zealand software company Orion Health has struck a deal with Microsoft enabling it to offer a complete applications package to hospitals.

Auckland-based Orion has bought Microsoft’s Hospital Information System software assets, including radiology information system and picture archiving assets. …

“Normally North American companies buy New Zealand companies and New Zealand software assets,” he said. “We’re doing the opposite.”

And this is why those who rail against free trade and foreign investment are wrong. If they get their way in a world with greater barriers, then deals like this wouldn’t happen. We can’t say that US companies should be banned from buying assets in NZ, unless we want companies like Orion banned from buying assets from Microsoft.

Orion’s business is 90 per cent overseas and turnover in the current financial year would be more than $100 million, McCrae said.

A nice little export earner. They also employ 500 people, and grew 40% last year taking on 100 more positions. Their aim is to grow by 200 more next year. Well done to Orion and Microsoft for what looks to be a win-win deal.

Waldo Kuipers from Microsoft NZ blogs some advice on how account holders can avoid being stung under the new copyright law.  Well worth a read if you are an account holder and more than just yourself use the account. His main points are:

1. Set clear expectations about internet use
2. Cover the Internet security basics
3. Remove unwanted peer to peer file sharing software
4. Consider monitoring on restricting Internet use

AFP reports:

US software giant Microsoft has expressed concern over a report that anti-software piracy laws were being used to stifle dissent in Russia and announced steps to try to halt the practice.

The Microsoft statement followed a report in The New York Times that the Russian authorities had used piracy charges concerning Microsoft software to confiscate computers and harass non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

“As general counsel for Microsoft, it was not the type of story that felt good to read,” Microsoft senior vice president and general counsel Brad Smith said in a blog post.

“Whatever the circumstances of the particular cases the New York Times described, we want to be clear that we unequivocally abhor any attempt to leverage intellectual property rights to stifle political advocacy or pursue improper personal gain,” Smith said.

“We are moving swiftly to seek to remove any incentive or ability to engage in such behaviour,” he said.

I’m pleased to see Microsoft take a strong stand on this issue. I spoke to a Microsoft regional conference in Singapore earlier this year, and one of my criticisms/suggestions was that they don’t seem to show much interest in issues around the Internet, in contrast to Google.

Smith said Microsoft had internal teams around the world looking at the issues and was seeking advice from human rights advocates.

Microsoft also plans to retain an international law firm not involved in anti-piracy work to conduct an independent investigation and provide advice on new measures the Redmond, Washington-based company should take, he said.

In the meantime, “to prevent non-government organisations from falling victim to nefarious actions taken in the guise of anti-piracy enforcement, Microsoft will create a new unilateral software license for NGOs that will ensure they have free, legal copies of our products,” Smith said.

“We’re creating in Russia a new NGO Legal Assistance Program focused specifically on helping NGOs document to the authorities that this new software license proves that they have legal software,” he said.

Great. That’s a superb response.

Smith said Microsoft seeks to “reduce the piracy and counterfeiting of software” but wants to “do this in a manner that respects fundamental human rights.”

“Piracy is a very real problem,” he said. “But none of this should create a pretext for the inappropriate pursuit of NGOs, newspapers, or other participants in civil society.”

Again, really pleased to see Microsoft take an appropriately balanced view.

My laptop is six months past the three year anniversary, which is when I normally get a new one.

I was waiting for Windows 7 to come out, so I could avoid Vista. From all accounts Windows 7 is a big step up from Vista, and considerably faster.

So now the decision is whether to wait for Office 2010, or not. I’m using Office 2003.

The Waikato Times has a report on Office 2010

But I’m keen to hear from anyone who has used their beta versions. Is it worth waiting until June or July for?

No, no don’t let it happen. Microsoft is hinting it may wish to buy Facebook, after their bid for Yahoo failed.

I do not want to have to have a MSN Passport to use Facebook!