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SpaceX's Falcon 1, Dreams of Space Conquest Begin in 10, 9, 8...

Posted by Gizmodo US Edition at 8:45 AM on August 3, 2008

Like watching rocket launches? Then check out the live webcast of SpaceX's Falcon 1 launch from the Marshall Islands at 7pm EST. The Falcon 1 measures 27.4m, weighs roughly 46,720kg and uses a two stage, liquid oxygen and rocket grade kerosene vehicle to blast off. SpaceX, started up by Elon Musk of PayPal fame, is one of several new commercial companies trying to commercialise space travel, wrestling the mostly government-funded industry into the privatised world. Depending on how the launch goes, Falcon 1 will either prove itself to be a reliable way to transport satellites out to low Earth orbit or the project that turned Musk from billionaire to broke (read: millionaire). Update: looks like the launch keeps on being delayed, so check in and see if you've missed it yet. [SpaceX]

Online

The eBay War Is Finally Over

Posted by Nick Broughall at 9:42 AM on July 4, 2008

In December, when we look back at everything that happened this year, we'll remember today as the day that sanity prevailed over corporate greed. For today (well, yesterday technically, but we're only writing about it today), eBay has withdrawn its efforts to restrict payment options for its users to PayPal and cash on collection.

It's been a long and bloody battle, including companies like the Reserve Bank, Google and hundreds of eBay sellers all voicing their outrage that eBay could even attempt to restrict payment options in the name of "security". In the end, the ACCC's pre-announcement that it thought eBay were ~~full of shit~~ going to be anti-competitive with their Paypal-only move was enough for eBay to go back on their decision and pretend it never happened.

Online

eBay Backing Down On PayPal-Only Payments?

Posted by Nick Broughall at 2:45 PM on June 27, 2008

ebay ACCC backdown.png

After months of ridicule for one of the stupidest decisions in the history of the Internet, it appears that the online auction giant eBay may have come to its senses. Today they've sent users an email stating that the payment changes scheduled for July 15 have been postponed indefinitely, until the ACCC makes their final ruling.

Of course, this doesn't rule out some future madness that might take control of eBay's board and make them insist that Paypal is the only way forward again, but at the moment it looks like sellers are safe from compulsory double payments.

It's also important to note that the changes already brought in, like compulsory Paypal listing (among other forms of payment) are here to stay.

I wonder if it's too late though... how many users have already made the switch to another auction site?

[ebay]

Online

eBay Hates The ACCC, You, Other Sellers; Likes Profits, Lies

Posted by Nick Broughall at 9:24 AM on June 23, 2008

ebay greed.jpg

Despite the ACCC's draft ruling and eBay's subsequent delay of their plans to force all sellers to use PayPal and cash on delivery as their only methods of payment, APC is reporting that eBay are actually cutting off seller's options now.

Apparently, when sellers go to list their items for sale, their hit with a notice that tells them that:

"All items listed for sale on eBay.com.au on or after 17 June 2008 will be subject to the following changes:
You must offer PayPal on your listings.
Pay on pick up (ie paid for when picking up the item) can be offered in conjunction with PayPal.
No other payment methods can be added to your listing."

The official response from eBay was that this was a mistake, caused by the fact that delaying the Paypal-only scheme is a complex matter that requires a fair amount of work.

I'm sure eBay sellers disagree. Considering eBay has stated that they'll fight the ACCC's decision, this definitely has an aroma of "up yours" to it.

[APCmag]

Online

eBay Pushes Back PayPal Only Policy, Still Pushes 'For Your Own Good' Argument

Posted by Nick Broughall at 8:07 AM on June 16, 2008

ebay greed.jpg

After the ACCC kicked ebay's plans to only allow Paypal for online transactions square in the nuts last week, the auction site has delayed the cutoff date for the changeover. For a month.

They now plan to make you use Paypal only when transacting online from July 15. The ACCC may have some more to say about that, of course, but in the interim, you can still use any of the available online payment options.

From the press release:

eBay challenges yesterday's Australian Competition and Consumer Commission's (ACCC) draft notice and is disappointed that the ACCC's current view delays the opportunity to provide consumers a more secure way to shop on eBay.com.au with confidence.

eBay intends to work with the ACCC and hopes to achieve a final outcome which has the safety and security of eBay's members as its paramount objective. eBay will delay the removal of other payment methods from the site until Tuesday 15 July.

It still blows me away that they're still pushing the whole security reason as the catalyst for this move. I mean, if it were purely for the benefit of consumers, they'd cut back some of the fees involved for sellers.

Hopefully we'll see the ACCC pull out a can of whoop-ass on eBay and this will fade away quietly in the night before July 15.

[eBay's Greed on Giz]

Online

ACCC Drafts Response To eBay's PayPal Only Scheme: No Way!

Posted by Nick Broughall at 11:47 AM on June 13, 2008

eBay's plans to ~~bleed sellers dry~~ make their service "more secure" by only allowing Paypal for online payments on Australian auctions has hit a small hurdle - the ACCC.

After asking for submissions in response to eBay's proposed move, and receiving them from the Reserve Bank, Google, and countless other institutions and ebay users, the ACCC yesterday released a draft response to ebay's request for exemption to anti-competitive laws. The response sounds like a polite version of the phrase, "F^&k off".

From ACCC Chairman Graeme Samuel:

"Given eBay's position as Australia's leading online marketplace, the notified conduct will substantially reduce competition to supply online payment services to users of online marketplaces more generally".

According to Australian IT, ebay are waiting to go through the ACCC's draft response before they comment, but hopefully it will be a meek walking away with tails tucked well and truly between their legs.

[Australian IT]

Online

Hacker Pulls an Office Space, Steals US$50,000 Worth of Pennies from Google, Paypal

Posted by Adam Frucci at 5:10 AM on May 29, 2008

In a move reminiscent of schemes seen in Office Space and Superman III, a hacker has exploited a loophole to weasel himself over $50,000 from services such as Google Checkout and Paypal by taking pennies at a time. Unfortunately, he was caught, and is in all likelihood heading to pound-me-in-the-arse prison.

Online

Trading Post To Take On eBay

Posted by Nick Broughall at 11:46 AM on May 27, 2008

eBay aren't the most popular online auction site in Australia at the moment. They've been publicly flogged by every man and his Reserve Bank for their plans to restrict payments to PayPal only in the near future, not to mention disgruntled sellers unhappy with new feedback options.

So it's probably a very smart time for Sensis to take the Trading Post into the world of online auctions.

Today the Telstra subsidiary announced that they'd be launching auctions on the Trading Post website. And they've clearly structured their pricing model at disgruntled ebay sellers: it's free to list your item, you get the first photo free with every auction, and you only pay when you make a sale. On top of that, sales under $10 will only cost you 50 cents, while the most you'll pay for an auction is $24.95 on any item over $500.

Not only that, but they support a wide range of payment options including Paymate, bank transfers and credit cards.

Random Stuff

Silicon Valley Nerds Plan Sea-Based Utopian Country to Call Their Own

Posted by Adam Frucci at 4:40 AM on May 21, 2008

A group of super-rich Silicon Valley nerds are sick of the man keeping them down. That's why they're planning to create their own sea-based country made up of floating structures that will be similar to oil rigs, but with houses and offices rather than, you know, oil rig stuff on board. And this isn't some conceptual plan; they're looking to have their first prototype in the San Francisco Bay within two years.

Online

Reserve Bank Pissed At eBay's PayPal-Only Payment Plans

Posted by Nick Broughall at 9:30 AM on May 12, 2008

ebay greed.jpg

It seems users aren't the only people pissed off with ebay's plans to ~~financially rape you~~ only support payments via Paypal. The Reserve Bank is also unimpressed with the proposal, submitting their thoughts to the ACCC.

Their arguments were simple: that Paypal only restricted consumer choice and actively promoted Paypal, limiting competition for other payment methods. They also felt that if eBay's whole "security" argument were true, people would opt to use it exclusively, rather than having it forced down their throats.

As well as the RBA, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) and Australian Bankers' Association (ABA) have also lodged their thoughts with the ACCC, and neither of them were too happy with the auction site either.

Now, eBay has until May 23 to respond to the 350+ submissions to the ACCC. After that? Who knows, but hopefully it will end with eBay walking home with its tail between its legs...

[Australian IT]