Today’s “Google doodle” celebrates the 80th birthday of the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge.

And in an extra feature, clicking on the doodle activates a search for “history of the sydney harbour bridge“.

The Sydney Harbour Bridge was opened on March 19th 1932 after six years of construction. It is the world’s largest steel arch bridge.

The first 4G smartphone has arrived in Australia, with the HTC Velocity 4G now available through Telstra.

The Velocity 4G features Android 2.3 operating software (upgradable to Android 4.0 in the future), a 4.5 inch touch screen, 1.5 GHz dual core processor and an eight megapixel camera with auto focus, dual LED flash, and back-illuminated sensor for capturing images in low-light. Its built-in HD Voice support enables crisper, clearer calls when chatting to other people with HD Voice compatible handsets.

Telstra Mobile director Andrew Volard said 4G, which is currently only available through Telstra’s network, would make the smartphone an even more inseparable part of our lives.

“The HTC Velocity 4G delivers mobile internet speeds unimaginable ten years ago. The leap to 4G means customers in Telstra 4G coverage areas can load web pages up to five times faster, video chat with fewer interruptions and use more mobile web services simultaneously,” he said.

“4G also opens the door to an exciting range of emerging smartphone applications such as cloud-hosted gaming and streaming music and video collections over the internet.”

The Velocity 4G is the first in a series of advanced 4G smartphones and tablets set to launch this year on Telstra’s 4G LTE (Long Term Evolution) network.

Telstra says customers using the phone in 4G coverage areas will enjoy typical download speeds ranging from 2Mbps to 40Mbps and typical upload speeds from 1Mbps to 10Mbps.

Australian Twitter users have helped to locate a Melbourne teenager who had indicated on her Tumblr blog that she intended to kill herself.

The girl, who is believed to be 18, posted an image that said “Suic_de” and another reading “Something I’ll commit” along with a note saying she loved her family and was sorry.

A stream of comments urged the girl not to harm herself, while Twitter users frantically re-tweeted the address of the Tumblr blog in an attempt to reach someone who knew her.

A Twitter user managed to track down a relative of the girl through Google, who subsequently contacted police.

A tweet from Melbourne radio station 3AW at 5:30pm subsequently reported that the girl was safe.

“The teen known on Twitter as ‘[Name withheld by Ausocial.com.au]’ has been taken to hospital by Police. She was conscious,” it read.

For 24 hour crisis support, call Lifeline 13 11 14.

AUSTRALIANS will be without Wikipedia from 4pm this Wednesday, for 24 hours.

In what it calls “an unprecedented decision”, Wikipedia has chosen to black out its English version for 24 hours in protest against proposed legislation in the United States which it says will harm the free and open internet and bring about new tools for censorship of international websites inside the United States.

A statement from Wikipedia administrators reads:

“Over the course of the past 72 hours, over 1800 Wikipedians have joined together to discuss proposed actions that the community might wish to take against SOPA and PIPA [Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) in the U.S. House of Representatives, and PROTECTIP (PIPA) in the U.S. Senate].

“This is by far the largest level of participation in a community discussion ever seen on Wikipedia, which illustrates the level of concern that Wikipedians feel about this proposed legislation.

“The overwhelming majority of participants support community action to encourage greater public action in response to these two bills.

“Of the proposals considered by Wikipedians, those that would result in a ‘blackout’ of the English Wikipedia, in concert with similar blackouts on other websites opposed to SOPA and PIPA, received the strongest support.”

Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales said:

“Today Wikipedians from around the world have spoken about their opposition to this destructive legislation.

“This is an extraordinary action for our community to take – and while we regret having to prevent the world from having access to Wikipedia for even a second, we simply cannot ignore the fact that SOPA and PIPA endanger free speech both in the United States and abroad, and set a frightening precedent of Internet censorship for the world.”

Wikimedia Foundation executive director Sue Gardner said she hoped people would understand the shutdown is to benefit readers.

“We support everyone’s right to freedom of thought and freedom of expression,” she said, “We think everyone should have access to educational material on a wide range of subjects, even if they can’t pay for it.

“We believe in a free and open Internet where information can be shared without impediment. We believe that new proposed laws like SOPA—and PIPA, and other similar laws under discussion inside and outside the United States—don’t advance the interests of the general public.”

It’s official – Tourism Australia’s Facebook page is the most popular tourism destination page on the planet.

The “See Australia” page passed the major milestone of two million fans worldwide following Tourism Australia’s New Year’s Eve social media short film initiative Project:12.

The short film featuring Facebook fans of Australia celebrating NYE in Sydney as well as user-generated video captured via iPhone saw the fan base increase by 85,000 fans in just three days, with the film being viewed by almost 400,000 people.

Tourism Australia managing director Andrew McEvoy said surpassing two million Facebook fans was clear evidence of Australia’s enduring international appeal and of its successful social media strategy.

“By having the largest Facebook page located in Australia and, by a considerable distance, the largest destination page on Facebook – with almost three times as many fans as our nearest rival, Las Vegas – we can effectively demonstrate our country’s continuing appeal both to Australians and people overseas,” he said.

“To achieve two million fans is remarkable and hasn’t happened by accident. We engage very closely with our followers, listening and acting upon their feedback to deliver simple and effective content which inspires many fans to share with their own Facebook networks. It’s a massive multiplier effect and this is what social media and advocacy is all about.”

McEvoy said Tourism Australia had been proactive in encouraging Australian tourism operators to engage with its Facebook fans, by interacting directly with the See Australia page and provide links to tourism experiences our followers may be interested in.

“In a new initiative, tourism operators can add their company to an online directory on our page which allows consumers to search for experiences, attractions and events across Australia,” he said.

The Facebook page is integrated with Tourism Australia’s wider social media activity, which includes Twitter, a dedicated YouTube channel, Google+, Instagram and an increasingly large presence on major Asian based Weibo and Tudou social media platforms.

The Facebook page has grown rapidly since it was first launched in May 2008, and in 2011 grew by 855,000 new fans.

Project:12 – Time to Dream

Top photo: Ricardo Martins

It’s well known that former Australian Prime Minister Bob Hawke likes a beer.

And, it seems, Australians love him for it. A video of the 82-year-old former PM flattening a beer in one gulp during the Sydney cricket test has gone viral and become a YouTube hit.

So far, the video has been viewed over 350,000 times and been shared on Facebook over 25,000 times.

“Deadset champ”, “Legendary”, “That is awesome” and “This makes me proud to be an Australian” are some of the comments the clip has earned.

In addition, a creative YouTube user has penned and filmed a tribute song celebrating the former PM’s heroics.

Here’s the viral video of Bob Hawke skolling the beer:

And here’s the tribute song:

NBN co, the organisation behind the National Broadband Network, has talked up its signing of 4000 customers amid retorts from the Federal Opposition that the network is a “policy failure”.

Figures from NBN Co indicate that at the end of 2011, 2315 premises were using the fibre optic service, while 1700 premises in rural and remote Australia were receiving broadband via the NBN’s interim satellite service.

NBN Co head of product development and industry relations Jim Hassell said the organisation would look back on 2011 as a “pivotal year”.

“[2011] saw us move from planning and designing the network to ramping up the rollout of a key piece of telecommunications infrastructure that over the next decade will reach every Australian,” he said.

“Indeed, the biggest challenge we face is managing the expectations of communities who want the NBN – and want it now. The key question we hear is not ‘Why do we need the NBN?’ but ‘When am I going to get it?’ A crucial task for 2012 will be to educate and inform Australians about the principles that dictate the rollout.

“We’re under no illusions. This is a complex project – not just in size and scale, but because it is fundamentally reshaping the telecommunications landscape in Australia. That will have huge implications for the way we live and work and help Australia compete in an increasingly online world.”

But Shadow Minister for Communications and Broadband Malcolm Turnbull refused to buy into NBN Co’s optimism.

“According to NBN Co’s 2011-2013 Corporate Plan there were meant to be 35,000 customers using NBN’s fibre network in June 2011 and 137,000 using it by June 2012,” he said.

“Today’s announcement that only 2300 households are now connected to NBN fibre (and another 1700 to its satellite service) despite more than a billion dollars already ploughed into this vastly expensive project yet again confirms Labor’s inability to manage money or execute policy.

“[It] would be comical except that the joke, the bitter jest, is on the Australian taxpayer and Internet user who is reminded once again of how the NBN Co is failing to deliver very fast broadband quickly and affordably.”

According to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), a deal reached between NBN Co and Telstra for the former to use the latter’s underground infrastructure is likely to be approved by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) next month.

In rejecting Turnbull’s criticisms, Prime Minister Julia Gillard told the ABC the deal would now mean a faster rollout.

“The roll out is proceeding. We did take the time necessary to negotiate with Telstra an appropriate agreement to use its infrastructure because that meant that the NBN could be rolled out more easily using pre-existing infrastructure,” she said.

Picture: Wesley Fryer

A feature in Vodafone’s cricket app that lets viewers vote in real-time on polls featured in Channel Nine’s television coverage received over a million votes in one day during the Melbourne test.

Vodafone Viewers’ Verdict, a feature in the telco’s Cricket Live Australia app, allows viewers to vote via their smartphones on issues, predictions and more pertaining to cricket matches. Poll results are available via the app in real-time and broadcast on Channel Nine within minutes.

Vodafone Australia director of marketing John Casey said Australians were enjoying a new way of getting more from their cricket.

“We’re pleased to have given Australian viewers ‘the vote’ as a fresh, new innovation to our Cricket Live Australia app that brings fans closer to the action with a chance to have their say on a multitude of cricket topics,” he said.

The most active voting during Boxing Day on Vodafone Viewers’ Verdict surrounded the role of the Decision Review System (player-requested review of umpires’ decisions), with 91 per cent of viewers voting in favour of the referral review process.

Cricket Australia CEO James Sutherland said constant innovation was good for the game and ultimately created a better experience for fans.

“One million votes in one day speaks volumes on Australians’ desire to have their say as the action unfolds,” he said.

“We’ll continue to run Vodafone Viewers’ Verdict on all key facets of the match, including running it alongside the more traditional commentators’ Man of the Match – as the People’s Choice.

“I think it will be interesting to see how the Vodafone Viewers’ Verdict stacks up against that of the commentators and that may mean that we sometimes see a difference of opinion.”

Vodafone Viewers’ Verdict was developed in close collaboration between Vodafone, Cricket Australia and Channel Nine.

Customers on any mobile network can use Vodafone’s Cricket Live Australia app, but only Vodafone customers can use the app to watch live broadcasts.

The app is available on both Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android operating systems.

Google Australia today revealed the year’s most watched videos on YouTube.

The list has been divided into the top 10 community videos and top 10 music videos.

Posting on Google Australia’s blog, Communications and Public Affairs Manager Johnny Luu said: “The lists show that we were obsessed with Australian musician Gotye as his song became second most watched music video in 2011. “Aussies were quite diverse with their musical tastes as Nicki Minaj, Katy Perry, Bruno Mars and Jennifer Lopez also made the cut.

“Rebecca Black and her song Friday became a viral sensation over the year ensuring her song took out top spot for most watched YouTube community video in Australia this year.

“A Melbourne prank called “cone-ing”, which involves ordering a soft serve cone at a fast food restaurant’s drive-through and then grabbing hold of the ice cream upside down, was amongst the most watched YouTube Community videos. Showing how YouTube can be the incubator of Aussie talent, Alki Stevens, the person behind the video has given up his day job to concentrate on his comedy career and YouTube Channel.

“Also making the list: a short video by Network Ten in which a newsreader responds to an on-air comment about how “something so small can be so impressive”. Labelled “an awkward moment” the YouTube video has been watched more than 7 million times globally.

“Australians also came to YouTube to keep informed on the latest news events. The top searches reveal we came online to find footage of the floods in Toowoomba and about Osama bin Laden’s death.

“Bizarrely, Aussies were amongst some of the 52 million people who watched “Nyan Cat”, an animated video of a cat propelled across the sky by a rainbow.”

The top 10 community videos

1. Rebecca Black – Friday (OFFICIAL VIDEO)

2. Ultimate Dog Tease
3. An Awkward Moment
4. Jack Sparrow (feat. Michael Bolton)
5. Songify This – Winning – a Song by Charlie Sheen
6. Nyan Cat [original]
7. The Creep (feat. Nicki Minaj & John Waters)
8. Nice Guys
9. CONE-ING IS THE NEW PLANKING!!!!! (AlkiStevens)
10. Nicki Minaj – Super Bass By Sophia Grace Brownlee

The top 10 music videos

1. LMFAO – Party Rock Anthem ft. Lauren Bennett, GoonRock

2. Gotye – Somebody That I Used To Know (feat. Kimbra)
3. Nicki Minaj – Super Bass
4. Jennifer Lopez – On The Floor ft. Pitbull
5. LMFAO – Sexy and I Know It
6. Bruno Mars – The Lazy Song [Official Video]
7. Jessie J – Price Tag ft. B.o.B.
8. Katy Perry – Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)
9. Adele – ”Someone Like You”
10. LMFAO – Champagne Showers ft. Natalia Kills

The insurance industry is urging holidaymakers to keep their travel plans off social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter to reduce the risk of burglary over Christmas.

Insurance Council of Australia Executive Director and CEO Rob Whelan said protecting personal information is an essential part of reducing the risk of burglary and car theft during the end-of-year holidays.

“These days many of us feel comfortable sharing personal information with friends and colleagues, but not everyone using social media has a positive motive,” he said.

“It does not take much homework for a thief to connect information about you and work out when your house might be empty or your car unattended.

“When you put your plans on social media it’s like sticking a note on your front door saying ‘No one is home – help yourself’.

“The Insurance Council recommends that holidaymakers keep their travel plans to a need-to- know basis, and avoid posting holiday pictures to websites and social media until they return.”

Mr Whelan said an empty property is an invitation to burglars, and holidaymakers can take other steps to reduce the risk of burglary and theft over the holidays.