australia

Apple, Adobe, Microsoft try to justify higher prices in Australia

Australian buyers of digital products from Apple, Adobe, and Microsoft shell out higher prices than do those in other countries. Just why is a question all three companies were finally forced to answer.

Executives from the three tech players appeared today before an Australian Parliamentary committee investigating charges of price gouging on software and other digital products.

The committee is looking into the charges based on a 2011 report that found a huge difference in the prices charged in Australia versus those in other countries.

Last month, Apple, Adobe, and Microsoft were summoned to address the complaints over higher prices … Read more

Adobe cuts prices in Australia following price-gouging probe

Adobe Systems has trimmed the cost of its Creative Cloud suite in Australia following complaints that it's been overcharging customers there.

In a statement seen by The Australian Financial Review, Adobe said it has slashed the monthly and annual subscription costs of Creative Cloud to match the prices paid by U.S. consumers. The company's Australian Web site shows the new prices already in effect.

New and current customers in Australia will pay 49.99 Australian dollars (U.S. $51.55) per month for an annual subscription, compared with 62.99 Australian dollars previously. Those who subscribe on … Read more

Apple, Microsoft summoned in Australian pricing probe

Apple, Microsoft, and Adobe Systems have been summoned by Australian lawmakers to explain why consumers pay more for IT products Down Under than in other countries.

The Australian Parliament's House Committee on Infrastructure and Communications said Monday that it wants the companies to appear before the committee as part of an ongoing probe regarding disparity between prices charged in Australia and in overseas markets.

"The Committee is looking at the impacts of prices charged to Australian consumers for IT products -- Australian consumers often pay much higher prices for hardware and software than people in other countries," … Read more

Google wins landmark AdWords case in Australia

Google has won a landmark advertising case in Australia with a ruling that the Web giant was not responsible for misleading advertising that ran on its site.

The five judges of Australia's High Court unanimously ruled Wednesday that Google did not violate trade laws by allowing companies to purchase AdWords related to competitors' names. The decision overturned a Federal Court's ruling last April that found four advertisements purchased on the site between March 2006 and July 2007 were misleading and in violation of Australia's Trade Practices Act 1974.

Google appealed the decision, arguing that it was merely … Read more

Mayan apocalypse fails, according to Australia

The reports are rolling in on Reddit. Australia and New Zealand have successfully crossed over into December 21 without the world ending. This news should make NASA happy.

Redditor sasquatch92 posted an image of a clock hitting 12:00 while flames licked around the casing. This is especially strange since we all know that Sasquatches are afraid of fire. Still, it does offer some slight bit of photographic evidence that the world hasn't abruptly ended as so many Mayan calendar fans have predicted.… Read more

Apple's Australian maps mishap linked to local data

The bad directions issue that led local police in Australia to steer motorists away from Apple's Maps app may not entirely be the iPhone maker's fault.

Apparently there are two listings for the same problematic location in the Australian Gazetteer, the de facto local geographical dictionary that lists some 322,000 locations and their corresponding GPS coordinates.

As reported by The Register, this resulted in two possible results for "Mildura" -- one of which was located in remote wilderness more than 40 miles away from the town of the same name. People were reportedly getting stranded … Read more

Police Down Under rescue Apple map users

Monday's CNET Update shoulda taken that left turn at Albuquerque:

It's no secret that Apple's Maps are bad. But using the app could be hazardous to your health. Australian police had to rescue several people who were stranded in the wilderness after being directed 70 kilometers off-course by Apple's directions on iOS 6. Police have urged residents to use other mapping apps in the meantime.

Today's tech news roundup also looks into the continued drama between Twitter and Instagram. You'll no longer see a photo automatically load inside of a tweet -- you have … Read more

The 404 1,180: Where that map's gonna get you killed (podcast)

Leaked from today's 404 episode:

- Australian police discourage use of Apple Maps app after rescues.

- "50 Shades" success yields $5,000 bonuses at Random House.

- Best Buy sends five iPads in error, says "keep them."… Read more

Australia police discourage use of Apple maps app after rescues

Apple recognized a few months ago that its iOS map app was so inefficient that it encouraged use of competing apps. Now police in Australia are suggesting that such a move might save the lives of motorists Down Under.

Police in Victoria, Australia, issued a warning Monday discouraging iPhone users from relying on Apple's map app after rescuing several people who became stranded in recent weeks in the wilderness following the app's directions -- some who were stranded 24 hours without adequate food and water.

Police said they rescued six motorists who were stranded following Apple's directions … Read more