Blag

Copied verbatim from their blog post:

As always, check back at http://torrentfreak.com/the-pirate-bay-trial-the-verdict-090417/ and Torrent Freak for the latest news.

Today is a sad day for Internet users, torrent trackers, ISPs and network operators worldwide.

The Pirate Bay 4 – Guilty.

1 Year jail term, and $905000 fines each.

The Pirate Bay will stay running of course – the trial was never about the tracker, just the 4 admins who ran the website behind the scenes. They do have 2 courts (or opportunities) to appeal their sentences though, the first of which must be lodge by the 9th of May 2009. It may be years before an outcome is reached though.

http://torrentfreak.com/the-pirate-bay-trial-the-verdict-090417/ is the most accurate and constantly updated source. (Torrent Freak is the de facto site when it comes to file sharing news.) Check back constantly.

The outcome will be very interesting though as this is a landmark case, and it could mean that ISPs may become responsible for policing their users download habits. The outcome of this case LITERALLY could halt the development of broadband worldwide. Let’s face it, with P2P file sharing accounting for 2/3 (and growing) of the data transmitted over the Internet, the ripple effect from these legal proceedings could make 4 companies VERY rich, many companies very broke and land millions of citizens in jail (or at least considerably lighten their wallets anyway).

Speaking of which, iinet vs. AFACT isn’t going too well either… I’m sure Senator Cuntroy is happy, but every Australian ISP is on the edge of their seat watching the drama unfold.

Chop chop! Faster faster!

Internode’s been shipping the new Billion 7401BGP R3s (which replaced the Billion 7401VGP-M) for a few weeks now, but they still haven’t updated their website, support section, or the FTP mirror (firmware, user manual, settings). Kinda annoying, as they ship with the 5.53.s5.rc8 firmware yet the latest is 5.53.s5.rc11 I think, but even Billion hasn’t listed the model on their website yet, as it’s so new.

Speaking of which, what should I do with my Netcomm NB5Plus4 and my Acer 56k modem while I’m at it? Thermite? Keep for spares? Throw it out?

Seeing as I’ve been getting a lot of hits from Whirlpool users, for all you those who have ended up here looking for the firmware updates, or help with Bit Torrent and/or NAT, try sending a Whim to Quentin (Rep for Billion/Minitar). His profile is at: http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-user.cfm?id=87096

Related: Billion 7401VGP R3 (http://oztecheducate.org/WP/?p=155), Netcomm NB5Plus4 (http://oztecheducate.org/WP/?p=79)

Edit: Updated with correct firmware revisions

Woo! Replacement for my crappy Netcomm NB5Plus4 (see this post) finally arrived – the Billion 7401VGP R3

As it turns out, I bought a 7401VGP-M but actually got a free upgrade to a 2009 model (7401VGP R3), which isn’t even in the stores yet, let alone listed on the manufacturers website. Doing a Google or Whirlpool search brings up nothing – that’s how new it is. Perhaps Internode got a very advanced shipment of them.

According to the helpdesk dude, its got exactly the same features, but with a faster CPU, more ram, and newer OS which should make it more stable and increase its routing capabilities.

As side bonus, it has WiFi built in – 802.11g 54mbps admittedly, but now I have 2 wireless networks in my house. How useful…

But boy, is it an improvement.

4 wired PCs + 1 wireless laptop, all streaming data continuously, and one of the PCs running 14 active torrents and it still hasn’t crashed after 4 days now. Web interface is as responsive as ever, and includes everything AND the kitchen sink too Ambient temperature has no effect whatsoever on it, and wireless range is damn good. Not a single dropout so far either, and it syncs relatively high, considering the crappy phone line I have. The included extras were good too – 2m Cat5 cable (what, is E more expensive now?), RJ11-RJ11 6P4C telephone cable, 12v 1A power adaptor (switchmode, so no clunky hot transformer), obligatory quick start guide, warranty card, utility CD-ROM, and a very nice (and expensive) C10 Communications ADSL2+ filter/splitter  Those things cost a LOT when purchased retail…

The only downside really is that it takes a while to boot up before its usable (~1-2 minutes). However, it does sync and authenticate in <8 seconds which is a HUGE improvement on the NB5Plu4′s 2-3 minutes (important if your internet drops out frequently).

So myes, I am a happy chappy.

If only Billion would list the model on their website, so I could download a newer firmware.

Edit: Seems like more people are getting their hand on the 7401VGP R3 now. Posts are slowly starting to crop up on whirlpool about them – mainly Internode customers though.

Edit2: Seeing as I’ve been getting a lot of hits from Whirlpool users, for all you those who have ended up here looking for the firmware updates, or help with Bit Torrent and/or NAT, try sending a Whim to Quentin (Rep for Billion/Minitar). His profile is at: http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-user.cfm?id=87096

Related: Internode/Billion 7401VGP R3 (http://theparanoidtroll.com/blog/?p=242), Netcomm NB5Plus4 (http://theparanoidtroll.com/blog/?p=79)