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Apple News: Rumours of iPad mini return

Could Apple be working on a device with a 5-inch or 7-inch screen?

This question continues to get stirred up with other speculation, like the leaves at the bottom of a tea cup - and everyone tries to read them.

In today's edition of "As the Apple Turns", momentum appears to be coming out of China with stories attributed to "reliable sources" about the company developing Retina display screens for a smaller tablet.

Macotakara is reporting that 2013 is the year of the pocket-sized tablet and feature resolution of 1600 by 960 pixels or 1280 by 960 pixels.

And Eric Jou of Kotaku wrote that Chinese site NetEase is claiming a mini iPad would be released in the third quarter of this year to combat a potential debut of a Windows tablet. The report, which appears in Chinese, puts the cost of these devices under $US300, according to Jou.

Talk of both smaller and bigger screens pops up almost weekly. Earlier this month, reports from Korea Times and Venture Beat highlighted the possibility of a smaller screen. And last week, an analyst note started a flurry of speculation about the next iPhone screen growing a smidge to 4 inches.

The genesis of the 7-inch iPad appears to have come from an iLounge report in 2009, citing an anonymous source. Apple had created several versions of the iPad, including a 7-inch model that was dismissed as being too small, according to the iLounge report. (Wired does a good job of tracking the rumour from birth to maturity.)

Apple respectfully declined to comment on rumors.

The current iPad, aka "new iPad", features a 9.5-inch display with 2048-by-1536-pixel resolution at 264 pixels per inch.

And with Apple apparently going through a renaming renaissance, one is left to wonder: would a tablet with a smaller screen be an iPad mini along the lines of the Mac Mini, or would it be an iPad Nano like the watch-sized iPod? Or maybe it'd be an iPhone Maxi.

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/

SCAMwatch email alert: Beware of directory listing scams targeting small businesses [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]

Beware of directory listing scams targeting small businesses


View radar online.

Added: April 2012

SCAMwatch is advising businesses to beware of unsolicited faxes offering paid listings in scam online directories.

How the scam works

  • Your business receives an offer, often via fax, to list your businesses details in a scam online directory.
  • The offer may aim to lock you into an expensive ongoing contract for periods of 12, 24 or 48 months. You may be asked to pay 12 months in advance. Contract fees can be over $1000 per year.
  • The offer may set deadlines for your response and payment. For example you may be required to pay within a number of business days of accepting the offer.
  • If you refuse to pay, the scammers might try to intimidate you by threatening legal action or debt collection.
  • The offer may use variations and copies of well-known logos, words, brand names, business names, pre-existing directories or websites in order to appear legitimate and convince you that the listing is of high quality and value.
  • The offer may appear to be from a local or Australian business directory but often only an international contact phone number is given.
  • The offer may state that you can only terminate the agreement by giving lengthy written notice, sometimes as long as three months. This written notice may have to be sent to an overseas address.

Protect yourself

  • Always check offers are legitimate and offer a quality product/service before you sign up. Search the wording of the offer or the company name on the web as many scams can be identified this way.
  • It is important to check the legitimacy of all offers, whether they originate within Australia or overseas.
  • If the offer includes an outstanding invoice, ensure that it is from a business that you normally deal with. If not it may be a scam.
  • Check first: many small business scams involve fake invoices for goods or services that haven't been requested or provided.
  • Never give or clarify any information about your business unless you trust the other party. Also ensure you know what the information will be used for.
  • Try to avoid having a large number of people authorised to make orders or pay invoices.
  • Beware of offers which come out of the blue and that you didn't ask for. Scammers almost always approach businesses in this manner. 
  • Do not let anyone pressure you into making decisions involving payments or ongoing contracts. Always get independent financial or legal advice.
  • If you are interested in listing your business details in a legitimate online directory, research your options first. Online reviews and forums may help.

Report
You can report scams to the ACCC via the report a scam page on SCAMwatch or by calling 1300 795 995.

More information
See our small business scams section for more information.

Stay one step ahead of scammers, follow @SCAMwatch_gov on Twitter or visit http://twitter.com/SCAMwatch_gov

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Alleged rapist accused of striking again while on bail

The alleged Mt Coot-tha rapist has been accused of striking again after being released from prison on bail, a court has heard.
 
The 38-year-old man from Murarrie in Brisbane's east, who cannot be named for legal reasons, allegedly sexually assaulted a 20-year-old Korean student in New Farm Park on Friday night.
 
He appeared in Brisbane Magistrates Court today charged with one count each of "stupefy", assault to rape and sexual assault.
 
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He was also charged for breaching his bail conditions.
 
Last year, the 38-year-old was accused of drugging and raping at least three Asian students near the Mt Coot-tha lookout.
 
He allegedly lured the young women, he met via online student forums, to the lookout after promising to teach them English.
 
The 38-year-old was initially denied bail by a magistrate in April, but was later freed from prison by the Supreme Court on December 21.
 
He was remanded in custody today and is due to face court again on Thursday.
 
 
 
COMMENT: The Supreme Court has a lot to answer for over this latest outrage.