So remember when people started saying that we would be seeing jetpacks sometime in this century - before everyone realised that it would be the same mundane world as before? Well, turns out, they do actually exist, but not in the way The Jetsons envisioned them to be.

Called the Martin Jetpack, you are basically putting two jet engines (albeit smaller than the jet engines) on your back. For aeroplane lovers: it features a 2.0L V4 2 stroke engine and has two 1.7ft wide rotors made from a composite of carbon and Kevlar. It is reported to fly up to 8000 feet and has a flight time of just 30 minutes while it only measures at 5 ft high, 5.5 ft wide and 5 ft long. There is a drawback - you must be between 140-240 lbs.

It isn't available commercially yet, but after nine prototypes, it will cost around $86,000 (according to Gizmag) - and even that, you have to follow a training course on using the jetpack. However, there is a payment option just like a car - paying a 10 percent deposit and you have to pay off the payments for twelve months before the final payment is due on delivery.

Oh, did we also mention the company is from New Zealand? No? Well, now you know what they have been doing other than playing with sheep.

Doctor Who fans will be able to watch the first episode of the new series, starring the Eleventh Doctor Matt Smith, on ABC's iView service when the clock strikes at midnight on April 16 before it makes its debut two days later on ABC1 - and all this within two weeks of the BBC's debut of the new series.

"View is a fantastic offering, an additional way for Australian audiences to watch ABC TV’s content – generally after, but in this special case before, its television broadcast," Kim Dalton, Director of Television said.

"We hope the lure of Doctor Who – and what a fun and exciting lure it is – will provide incentive for more viewers to discover iView, and experience how convenient and easy-to-use it is."

However, don't get all too excited in seeing the series online before TV, because the subsequent episodes all air after their TV premiere. It returns to the ABC on Sunday 18 April at 7:30PM.

Think Windows was the only product from Microsoft that would give you a free upgrade (in a certain period of time)? Well, you're wrong. Microsoft has announced a similar program for Office 2007 users who purchased the software between March 5 and September 30, which will see users getting a free upgrade to their equivalent Office 2010 package (if done online, it will cost extra if you want to save your internet cap).

Also announced that Business users will be getting Office 2010 on May 12, and this applies worldwide; while consumers will get it in June. RTM versions of Office 2010, Sharepoint 2010, Visio 2010 and Project 2010 will be out in April.

Apple has published a new teaser commercial for the iPad during the Academy Awards today. The new ad basically highlights the features of the new Apple device - including watching a Star Trek film, reading an eBook from the iBooks app and working on documents with iWork.

The iPad is set to launch on April 3 for the Wi-Fi model, while the 3G model will come out later in April. Australian availability for both is also said to be "later in April".

BREAKING NEWS: Wanting to know when the Apple iPad was going to be released? Well, now you have your answer. Apple sent out a press release today announcing that the tablet will be on sale from April 3 for the Wi-Fi models. If you want some 3G connectivity, you will have to wait until later in that month. Pre-orders start on March 12.

If you're in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, Switzerland and the UK, you will be getting the Wi-Fi and 3G models "in late April" as well, so no long waiting period between the two models. New Zealand and other territories haven't been announced yet.

Also, hidden in the press release reveals that the iBooks application will not be included in the iPad, and you will have to get it as a download. Don't worry though, because the app is free. It will hit the App Store on the same day as the iPad is launched, and additional countries will be added later in the year.

Full PR is below.

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This week saw Nokia hold a developer day in Sydney; and before the event took place, TECHGEEK.com.au managed to get an e-mail interview with Purnima Kochikar, the Vice President of Forum Nokia - the developer community. We talked about Ovi and Nokia's embrace of open source technology - as well as Symbian and Maemo/MeeGo.

So, hope you enjoy this little interview.

Editor's Note: The questions were sent before MeeGo's announcement; the answers, however, arrived after the announcement.

Q: Nokia is currently embracing the open source community - like contributing to Linux in terms of Bluetooth. What does Nokia see in open source in helping its development?

Nokia is making significant use of open source software, as well as contributing to the open source community. Our open source approach is key to engaging a broad community – developers, operators, chipset vendors, OEMs etc. We believe that the larger the ecosystem, the greater the innovation and thus the richer the user experience. We also see that the greater the scale, the greater the opportunity for value creation.

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An audit commissioned by Apple on its suppliers has found that three facilities had hired employees that were 15 years old in countries where the minimum age of employment is sixteen; along with eight facilities charging agency recruitment fees in excess of legal limits.

While not named, it is assumed the factories that have failed in Apple's audit were in China, the home of where most of Apple goods are assembled.

Apple also has factories in Taiwan, Singapore, the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, the Czech Republic and the United States.

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Taiwanese manufacturer Wintek, the manufacturer that makes LCD screens and components for Apple and Nokia, has confirmed that more of its workers in China have become ill after being exposed to chemicals than it previously reported.

According to Global Post, 62 of the employees have became ill after a report that ran on state-controlled media - 15 more than it was reported - that were exposed to chemicals last summer; with 41 of those affected still being hospitalised, according to a spokesman in Taiwan. The spokesman told Global Post that the newest cases of poisoning emerged through its health testing as symptoms tend to appear months after the initial exposure.

The employees were exposed to a chemical known as hexane, and caused nerve and muscle damage to the exposed workers when they used it to clean touchscreens. Wintek has since stopped using the chemical.

While Apple has made no comment, since they tend to be secretive with its manufacturers, Nokia told the Guardian that they are aware of the allegations and have put in a series of corrective measures.

"We became aware of the allegations regarding the use of n-hexane in July 2009 and started our investigation immediately." The Finnish mobile maker also said that the chemical was not used on its production lines.

"Nokia firmly believes that all employees have the right to ethical and legal treatment. The health, safety and wellbeing of our employees are vital to the success of our business," it added,