HP has taken a wild step toward re-imagining the personal computer, deleting the keyboard and mouse and merging a 3D scanner and projector to create a super all-in-one device it hopes can rekindle PC sales. The new desktop computer, called Sprout, being touted as 'unusual', 'futuristic' and 'wild', goes on sale online in the US on Wednesday, costing $US1899.

http://www.smh.com.au/digital-life/computers/hp-launches-sprout-wild-3d-scanning-computer-with-no-keyboard-or-mouse-20141030-11encs.html

In the context of the upcoming crackdown on piracy, Malcolm Turnbull quickly qualified the statement saying rights holders probably wouldn’t be interested in getting access to metadata. Simply put, Turnbull said, rights holders already have mechanisms with which to identify and pursue those engaging in illegal file sharing:

http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2014/10/australian-federal-police-we-could-use-metadata-to-prosecute-pirates/

Although the government is downplaying comments from Australian Federal Police Commissioner Andrew Colvin that retained data could be used to hunt down Australians downloading infringing films, TV shows, or music, Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull has confirmed that the data could be accessed by film studios under a court order.

http://www.zdnet.com/au/film-studios-could-use-retained-data-to-sue-torrenters-7000035263/

The proposed legislation, as he detailed in the Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Amendment (Data Retention) Bill 2014, specifies six categories of metadata to be retained. They are: account or subscriber details source of communication destination of communication date and time of communication type of communication location of the device.

http://theconversation.com/turnbull-outlines-the-plans-for-new-laws-on-metadata-retention-33629

Adelaide has never had a strong reputation as a haven for game development; in fact our city has a history of making life somewhat difficult for the ludologically-inclined. But that hasn't disheartened Machine Spirit, whose first game, Amygdala, launches tomorrow.

http://citymag.com.au/commerce/adelaide-to-the-world/banishing-adelaide-curse/

Bosses Seek ‘Critical Thinking,’ but What Is That? An Important Skill for Young Workers Has a Variety of Definitions

http://m.wsj.com/articles/bosses-seek-critical-thinking-but-what-is-that-1413923730?mobile=y

Robocar R&D is moving fast in Singapore, and this week, the National University of Singapore (NUS) announced they will be doing a live public demo of their autonomous golf carts over a course with 10 stops in the Singapore Chinese and Japanese Gardens. The public will be able to book rides online, and then summon and direct the vehicles with their phones. The vehicles will have a touch tablet where the steering wheel will go. Rides will be free

http://robohub.org/smart-begins-live-public-robocar-tests-in-singapore-today/

Workers paid $1.21 an hour to install Fremont tech company's computers

http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_26778017/tech-company-paid-employees-from-india-little-1

Even if you don't understand a word of Mandarin, it was easy to spot the occasional "um" and "sorry" littered in Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg's speech. But during a question and answer session at Tsinghua University in Beijing, he kept at it — for 30 very long minutes.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2014/10/23/mark-zuckerberg-deserves-a-lot-of-credit-for-speaking-terrible-mandarin/