'It's like Uber but for taxis': Girt by CNET podcast 46

We've been talking about it nearly since the first Girt by CNET podcast but it's now official: Mandatory data retention laws have come into effect. So what does that mean? Well, that's a surprisingly complex question and the Girt team, along with special guest Chris Duckett from sister site ZDNet, break down the fundamentals and peer into the complexities. Rest assured, this is going to be one hell of a ride for the Aussie ISP community.

Telstra TV, or the "Noku" as Seamus termed it back in July, has been officially launched, bringing the world of catch-up TV and streaming video on demand to a single device. Costing AU$109 (or bundled free with some Telstra broadband packages) it'll launch with 15 apps, slightly under the 2,500 odd that the US version of the Roku features. A winner for Telstra? We'll see.

Meanwhile at least one member of the Girt by CNET team was completely overwhelmed by having a burrito delivered to the office, thanks to a new Burrito-as-a-Service app currently seeking crowd funding, while the rest are slightly more sceptical. However, it has a better chance of succeeding than the latest attempt from the combined taxi councils in Australia to take a bite back from Uber, with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission ruling the ihail app anti-competitive.

Finally, a big congrats to our #GirtbyCNET winner from last week, M Zimmari who scores two 3-days passes for PAX Australia!

Want to Know more?

Data Retention is here

• Surviving data retention day zero: What you need to know
• Telcos and ISPs in the dark on 'confusing' data retention laws
• How to choose a VPN (unrelated link)

Tune in to Telstra TV

• Telstra wants to Roku with Telstra TV launch
• Telstra TV keeps unmetered streaming in the family
• Australian streaming video services compared

Planet of the Apps

• Danny Burrito
• No fare: Cabcharge-backed taxi app ruled anti-competitive