News: Would you buy a Kindle phone?

Amazon to launch Kindle smartphone next year, analyst says

They’ve just rolled out a fully-fledged tablet. Now it looks like Amazon are preparing to launch their own smartphone, according to researchers from Citigroup.

“We believe an Amazon smartphone will be launched in 4Q12 [the fourth quarter of 2012],” analyst Mark Mahaney wrote. “Based on our supply chain check, we believe FIH [Foxconn] is now jointly developing the phone with Amazon.”

Mr Mahaney and his team estimate that Amazon’s phone may cost $150 to $170 to develop, and it is conceivable that the company will sell it for something close to that price.

Demi and Ashton to divorce

There’s been speculation for months and now one of the world’s most talk-about couple have confirmed it. They’re getting a divorce after six years of marriage. Demi Moore released a statement about the separation, which read:

“It is with great sadness and a heavy heart that I have decided to end my six-year marriage to Ashton. As a woman, a mother and a wife there are certain values and vows that I hold sacred, and it is in this spirit that I have chosen to move forward with my life. This is a trying time for me and my family, and so I would ask for the same compassion and privacy that you would give to anyone going through a similar situation.”

Kutcher responded with this tweet: “I will forever cherish the time I spent with Demi. Marriage is one of the most difficult things in the world and unfortunately sometimes they fail. Love and Light, AK.”

Obama leaves Australia, heads to Bali.

Well that was quick. He came, he saw, he committed 2500 US marines to the NT and then he left again. US President Obama spent a total of 27 hours in the land down under, but we can probably call him an honorary Aussie now. Since he touched down on Wednesday afternoon, President Obama went to an official state dinner at Parliament House, addressed a special sitting of Federal Parliament and wrapped up his trip in Darwin by thanking Australian troops for their contributions to ANZUS. He also mastered the Aussie phrases “Aussie, Aussie, Aussie,” “true blue” and “how are you going?” Next stop for the US President is Bali for the East Asian Summit, which begins today. (There are more pics of Obama’s visit in the gallery below).

Vatican backlash over pics of kissing leaders.

Benetton are known for their controversial campaigns, but could this be the most contriversial yet? The Italian fashion retailer was forced to pull the advertisements which depicted world leaders -such as Pope Benedict XVI, US President Barack Obama and China’s Hu Jintao – kissing, which were part of a global campaign called UNHATE. The Vatican released a statement in response to the images, in which it expressed “the firmest protest for this absolutely unacceptable use of the image of the Holy Father”. Benetton has since said it was “sorry that the use of the image had so hurt the sensibilities of the faithful” but maintains the campaign purpose was to “battle the culture of hate.”

What do you think of the pics? They’re in here with all the other pics that got us talking this week:

Soul singer Adele recovering after throat surgery.

“I’m doing really well, on the mend, super happy, relaxed and very positive with it all” was the message the 23-year-old posted on her website after undergoing throat surgery for a hemorrhaged vocal chord. Adele was forced to cancel tours and appearances in the US and the UK because of the condition. Could there be anything more concerning for a singer? Let’s hope she makes a speedy recovery.

One in six Australian teachers have been victims of “cyber-baiting.”

While 90% of Australian teachers say that being friends with students online exposes them to risks, one in six are still willing to accept friend requests. The Norton Online Family Report surveyed 10,000 adults and children and found educators who “friend” their students run a heightened risk of cyber-baiting –  in which teachers are taunted so their reaction can be filmed and posted online. In fact, one in six of the teachers surveyed said they had already become victims. Scary. Do you think it’s appropriate for teachers to be friends with students online?

News Limited says ‘we didn’t hack phones’.

News Limited Chief Executive John Hartigan has told a public inquiry into the media that the company does not hack phones or pay bribes. Mr Hartigan denied Murdoch-owned News Limited was guilty of the same behaviours uncovered by the UK telephone scandal earlier this year and also stated the company was not running a campaign against the government. “After 41 years with the company I work for, I say with absolute conviction the standard of work of our 2700 journalists has never been higher,” he said.

What’s on your mind today?