As mentioned on the last Update, I’m weighing up my options for a move to iPhone. I do more with data than phone calls, so I’m trying to find the price-performance sweet spot with a focus on wireless broadband.

In the local market, I’ve ruled out Telstra for being too expensive and being too proud to officially support tethering. Yes, I can DIY it, but it could end up being a battle if future updates stop unofficial tethering usage. I’ve also ruled out Optus (and therefore Virgin) after hearing too many horror stories around the reliability of their data network. I hear it might be getting better, but I want a lot more good stories before I head over there.

So that leaves 3 Mobile and Vodafone. Of course, that’s the same company now, but it’s still two different networks. Both have pretty good price balance and fairly good data bundles. 3 has more data for less money, but they’re close enough for me to decide based on performance at this point.

So who has the best data mojo? I toured the Sydney CBD and North Sydney last week, banging out tests concurrently on two iPhones (using the Speedtest.net App) to see who gave the best overall performance across the main areas I spend my worklife. I ran 38 tests in areas like Ultimo, Haymarket, George St, Martin Place, Pitt St Mall, Wynyard, The Rocks, Harbour Bridge, North Sydney, Crows Nest, St Leonards, Artarmon, and Lane Cove.

There was one factor that was not totally equal. Vodafone was running on an iPhone 3G, and 3 on a 3GS. I’m not entirely sure what major advantages or disadvantages this would account for, but with that up for debate, let’s hit the results:

Net result? Vodafone was soundly faster than 3 across the board, both up and down. Another interesting stat is the number of tests where each network delivered good performance. Vodafone tested in the 1000-1500 range 8 times, 1500-2000 2 times, and 2000+ 5 times (max 2768). 3 pushed into 1000-1500 territory 4 times, 1500-2000 1 time, and 2000+ 1 time (max 2031).

There’s always a chance the hardware played a significant role. But I’ll get a chance to do some superficial comparison soon, as I’ve just received a Vodafone iPhone 3GS for more testing, so while I won’t be operating in parallel again I will be able to see if issues like that abominable ping related to the older hardware.

Below you will find a table of all raw results, if you’re so inclined to do your own analysis. Each row matches the testing as conducted at the same timing at the same location. Enjoy!

Just in case you missed it last week, Midnight Update will run to a new schedule. Monday night / Tuesday morning is the Tech news show, and Thursday night / Friday morning is the Games show.

I’m then going to be adding a new feed of shows to the mix, where I’ll run my event and launch coverage, as well as hands on previews and reviews. This will be dubbed Midnight Extra. The first of these should start rolling out later this week.

Yep, it’s been a slow June and it will continue to be the case in July. I’m pulling together a very big new show launch for August, so Midnight Update is a secondary priority until the new show – and new business – go live next month. There will still be updates once or twice a week. I’ll also use the quiet time to adjust some of the trappings of the show. Then once we return to full speed things will really be singing.

Thanks for the messages and keep an eye out for new episodes as well as the big announcement on the new project. More details coming very, very soon.

Hopefully you’ve noticed I’m taking a break right now. Easter is as good an excuse as any to pause, take a deep breath, and look at how to keep pushing the show forward.

Here’s links to a few of the best received shows so far, in case you’ve just joined us. Enjoy!

#32: Non-’freedom’ keys against the mandatory Internet filter
#25: Kogan Agora Netbook – Hands-on Preview
#20: 888 Racing’s Jamie Whincup and Craig Lowndes share their ‘inner geek’
#19: Motorola’s APX P25 and the smart police car project
#15: Ruslan Kogan interview and hands-on with the notorious Kogan Agora Android phone
#13: Games Edition: Killzone 2 developer interview
#06: Vodafon3, pricing a Death Star, and Australian cricketers reveal their ‘inner geek’

Mentioned in tonight’s Update, here’s the best of the viral videos from Norton’s amusing promo campaign for their Gamer Edition Anti-Virus. Remember, a poorly timed system scan could cost you victory.

April Fools seems a perfect time to analyse last week’s Q&A and Tuesday night’s Insight, where Mandatory Internet Filtering has been debated. I lost count of the straw men arguments put forth by Senator Conroy and other conservative commentators. I think I’m like many opponents of mandatory filtering. I believe the Internet should remain unfiltered but that doesn’t mean I like the idea of illegal content like child porn. I understand how the Internet works, and so I see that this filter is doomed. So I thought I’d outline some key points aimed at keeping our net free while also having plenty to do with protection kids. Hopefully a few of these will help at your next dinner party debate.

Firstly, where is the demand for THIS solution?
Ask the nation if child porn should be available online and you’ll get a resounding ‘No’. Ask if we should live under a mandatory censorship regime and you’ll also get a ‘No’. Yet many conservatives argue only a child porn lover would disagree with these filters. Because it’s all about the kids! But, there are kid-friendly filters available, including software from the previous government and its ‘Big Scary Internet’ campaign. Yet few opt-in. Many don’t know or care, but many more do and they actively choose to protect their kids on their own terms. If so few want optional filters, where did the idea we need a mandatory national filter come from?

Took Monday night off to relax on my birthday, so sorry for the lack of a show. Instead I thought I’d share a quick wishlist for the year ahead.

1. Make it to E3 AND PAX.
2. A netbook-style computer from Apple.
3. A full featured Twitter client on Blackberry.
4. Kindle 2 in Australia.
5. To have Philips bring the Aurea back to the local market so I can buy one… in 2012?
6. To see Telstra drop upload metering and charge overage at a reasonable rate.
7. Conroy’s censorship capers to officially come to an end.
8. Get solid video roadkit together for rapid on-location production and distribution.
9. Run sub 80 minutes in the City 2 Surf.
10. To successfully launch my ‘next big thing’…

On last night’s show I mentioned the heated debate on the Australian mandatory filtering plans. Here we have the video of the debate, featuring Bernadette McMenamin from Child Wise, Anthony Pillion from Webshield, Geordie Guy from EFA, and Mark Newton. If you aren’t up to speed on this debate yet, or you’re just interested in watching a passionate debate on one of the most important discussions for the future of Australian broadband, check it out after the jump (I’ve moved it off the front page as I couldn’t stop autostart, so I don’t want it to annoy everyone).

OH! Just missing the cut for timing tonight, so I thought I’d send this through as a quick news post. Seems Sol Trujillo has been pickpocketed at Mobile World Conference, and they’ve got their hands on a top-secret Windows Mobile. Probably a second gen HTC Touch Pro or Touch Diamond. But the big secret is the Windows Mobile version on-board, which is early code and isn’t meant to be seen until the end of the year. Shit, meet fan.

Nice spot of Windows pisstaking by the ‘Ratbags’ of ZDNet…

[ZDNet Australia via Dan Warne]