su·per·cil·i·ous

Today has been a bit of a struggle. I didn't sleep very well and have had a pounding headache when I woke up. So Advil is my friend for the day and I have pretty much kept to myself.

It interests me muchly, but at this point I really have serious doubts that these leaks about new metros for Sydney are strategically timed to just keep people thinking the NSW government is moving forward - and that there is next to no likelihood of them ever happening. But maybe that is just the cynic in me coming to the fore. 

So what little tease did we get today as a result of secret feasibility work being undertaken by the state and federal governments? 

• the West Metro will cost $8.1bn to build
• will carry 30 000 people an hour from Parramatta to the CBD
• will take between 24-27 minutes to make the trip stopping at nine underground stations (Parramatta, Granville/Rosehill, Auburn/West Homebush Bay, Burwood, Five Dock, Leichhardt, Camperdown, Sydney University, Central)
• will use single deck driverless trains which arrive every two minutes
• will link to the CBD Metro which will cost $4.8bn to build
• multi-million dollar interchanges will be constructed at Parramatta, Olympic Park, Camellia, Strathfield and Central to allow for smooth transfer from CityRail to Metro to Sydney Buses

All of this sounds like a brilliant start to getting more cars off the roads in Sydney, and in a promising plan they are talking about giving any new Sydney Metro Authority powers to redevelop land around stations to improve the amenity of those hubs and further promote public transport. This secret study has found that the plan could dramatically ease gridlock on Parramatta Road. 

Lets just hope they can actually get this project up with Infrastructure Australia - because Sydney's transport system is pretty much fucked into the future if it doesn't get its act together in a hurry. From what I read there will be some big demands placed on the states from IA - part of which will see them attempting to consolidate the density around metro stations along Parramatta Road. The Rudd Government plans to make Australian cities look more like London, Tokyo and Singapore where the population density is more than twice that of Sydney and Infrastructure Australia has lamented Sydney's population density as being too low; they are also not happy with the social divide with many wealthy areas having access to public transport while poorer areas do not. Time to get working Mr Rees. No more strategic leaking. 

On a less ranty tangent, I was interested to read the News Limited press had a top five hottest technologies to watch in 2009. Number 1 on the list was the Apple netbook. Now I might not be an expert in this area, but I do read reasonably widely and I thought most of the Apple rumour sites were discounting this as a bit of a long shot at the keynote tomorrow. I'll be delighted if it comes off, but for The Courier Mail to call it: 

...the biggest rumoured announcement expected this week at Apple's final Macworld expo

is probably stretching the truth a little. So what else is on their list? Well there is the first Android phone coming to Australia at the end of January from Kogan (yes - who?). Personally I think if you are in the market for an Android phone you might want to wait until one of the big manufacturers with some research resources puts their weight behind one. The also chronicle the long awaited (who was waiting) launch of digital radio in Australia which will happen in May. I'm not sure I listen to enough radio to go out and get myself a DAB+ wireless for $150+. Finally they look forward to the launch of the N97 in September, which Nokia hopes will let it catch up in the touchscreen phone market. Specs look good, but will it be too late? Who knows.

Of course today also comes with confirmation that Steve Jobs has a 'hormonal imbalance' which has meant that has has been losing weight. Obviously this is an attempt to quell the rumours that he has a recurrence of hispancreatic cancer. Lets hope he is indeed still in remission. It is kinda sad that his personal life needs to be paraded by media release in order to maintain the stability of AAPL stock. 

Time to head out for another walk I think. I could do with the fresh air having been cooped up all day nursing this head.