New Zealand

Yep, It’s Looking Like an iPad Christmas

Arik Hesseldahl in News on November 29, 2013 at 5:49 am PT

If you’re in the market for an iPad, there are deals to be had.

America’s Cup Gets Really Exciting (So Exciting, Larry Ellison Misses His Own Keynote)

Liz Gannes in News on September 25, 2013 at 10:11 am PT

Today might be a good day to tune in.

Post-Production on “The Hobbit” Goes Into High-Tech Rush (Video)

Kara Swisher in Media on November 25, 2012 at 6:12 am PT

This unexpected journey has a lot of complex tech elements.

Dear Hollywood

The very powerful and the very stupid have one thing in common. Instead of changing their views to fit the facts, they try to change the facts to fit their views.

— Kim Dotcom, in an open letter to Hollywood, written from house arrest in New Zealand

News Byte

Spotify Launches in Australia

Peter Kafka in Media on May 21, 2012 at 1:46 pm PT

Spotify opened for business in Australia and New Zealand today. The move broadens the streaming music service’s reach as it raises a new round of funding that should value the company at $4 billion by the time it closes. Last month rival service MOG announced an Australian expansion but hasn’t launched yet.

RIM Corners the “You’ll Use BlackBerry 7 and That’s an Order” Market

John Paczkowski in Mobile on May 18, 2012 at 4:00 am PT

Well, at least one part of RIM’s business is on the upswing.

Here Are Some More Yahoo CEO Choices: Liddell, Rosenblatt, Desmond

Kara Swisher in News on December 27, 2011 at 4:12 am PT

Let’s throw a few more names on the fire!

Viral Video: The Making of “The Hobbit” — Part Five

Kara Swisher in Media on December 27, 2011 at 12:19 am PT

Back to Middle-earth!

Viral Video: First Trailer for “The Hobbit” Movie

Arik Hesseldahl in News on December 22, 2011 at 9:09 am PT

Still suffering withdrawal from an annual holiday-season Hobbit habit? Hope is but a year away.

News Byte

Facebook Timeline Finally Starts to Roll Out — in New Zealand

Liz Gannes in Social on December 6, 2011 at 6:43 pm PT

Earlier this week we chided Facebook for delaying its new Timeline feature, which the company said was only a few weeks from launch when the glossy new design debuted with much fanfare in September. Today, Facebook said it is finally making Timeline available to a broader audience — in New Zealand, a country with a total population of just 4.4 million and something like two million Facebook users (but lots of scenic places to take pretty cover photos!). Other people are to get access to Timeline “in the near future,” Facebook said.