TechnoGag

Symantec Protects Data Everywhere with Information Centric Security

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 22 Sep 2017 22:24:00 +1200

Symantec Corp., a global leader in cyber security, today announced the release of Data Loss Prevention (DLP) version 15 providing increased data protection automation and product integration to strengthen the Information Centric Security solution. These major enhancements provide a greater ability to discover, monitor and protect sensitive or regulated data even in unmanaged environments.

Organisations are losing visibility and control over sensitive and regulated data as it is shared with a wide range of users across multiple organisations and stored in various locations, including the cloud.

Nearly 1 in 3 IT security executives believes data loss is the greatest internal threat to businesses this year (Symantec CISO research 2016), with concerns about shadow applications and malicious users. The problem continues to grow, with data breaches in 2016 resulting in 1.1 billion identities being exposed — double the number in 2015 per the Internet Security Threat Report volume 22 published in 2017.

The upcoming General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) introduces new obligations for organisations and the information they handle, and comes with increased penalties and heightened scrutiny for compliance. Analysts believe that visibility and protection, which can follow data, will become the new imperative.

Symantec’s Information Centric Security solution allows organisations to store, use and share sensitive data outside their managed environment with external users or cloud apps. Greater protection is ensured because data access is limited to authorized viewers, reducing the risk of unwanted exposure. This Information Centric Security approach helps ensure safe collaboration and helps to enable compliance for stringent regulations such as GDPR. The release of Symantec DLP 15 extends this capability through enhanced integration with cloud access security broker, data classification, user-entity behavioral analytics and information-centric encryption to support a wider range of communication channels.

Symantec DLP 15 highlights include:

Protects sensitive data in managed and unmanaged environments and when handled by third-parties
Helps to enable compliance with GDPR
Helps ensure sensitive data doesn't get leaked through shadow applications.

“The sheer volume of data and the speed at which it moves around organisations has magnified the data loss problem. Sensitive data needs to be tracked everywhere – even outside the organisation – to ensure security and maintain compliance with a growing roster of industry regulations,” said Doug Cahill, Senior Analyst, ESG.

“With so much at stake, it is no longer possible to depend on manual tagging or any other process that invites the possibility of human error. With Symantec DLP 15, we’ve given IT managers the ability to automatically tag data as sensitive and automate security policies that follow that data everywhere it goes, regardless of channel,” commented Nico Popp, Senior Vice President, Symantec.

Symantec Information Centric Security is available through integrations between the following products, all of which are already available globally:

Symantec DLP 15 + CloudSOC (CASB)
ICT
ICE
ICA
VIP.

https://www.symantec.com/products/data-loss-prevention

https://www.symantec.com/solutions/information-centric-security

LAST NIGHT, AUSSIE KIDS BROKE THE WORLD RECORD FOR MOST NUMBER OF KIDS CODING IN ONE DAY

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 16 Aug 2017 21:40:00 +1200

Code Club Australia today announced that yesterday, Tuesday, 15th of August, 28,575 kids from all around the globe broke the world record for the most number of kids coding in one day.

First started in 2016, Moonhack is an annual event powered by the Telstra Foundation, to give an opportunity for kids to learn code and for coding whizz kids to flex some coding muscle and engage with their peers. The program aims to advocate for digital literacy, an important skill every child needs in the modern world, and to continue the conversations about the importance of kids learning to code.

Last year’s Moonhack set the world record with 10,207 Aussie kids all coding on the same day. This year, Moonhack went global with kids all over the world coding over a period of 24 hours. The event first started in Wellington and Auckland in New Zealand, the closest cities to the International Date Line, and continued around the globe for the day of August 15th in every country.

Every single continent (apart from Antarctica (but maybe next year!)) was represented in this year’s Moonhack, with countries including: Argentina, Bangladesh, Canada, Egypt, Estonia, Guatemala, India, Iraq, Nigeria, Russia, South Korea, United Kingdom, United States, and many others, joining the movement.

Kids took part in coding exercises from their homes, at Code Clubs in their schools, local libraries, and community centres. Participants were encouraged to complete one of Moonhack’s open source projects in Scratch, Scratch JR or Python, or create and submit their own coding projects that had a moon theme.

Code Club Australia General Manager Kelly Tagalan said, “Moonhack was an incredible success. What these kids demonstrated was more than just a great big show of skill and interest in coding and education, they showed that together, kids from different backgrounds, nations, abilities and support systems, can work together towards a common goal that’s bigger than any one entity. Code Club isn’t just about technical skill building, it’s also about strengthening the community, raising the aspirations of future employees, and creating enthusiasm around peer collaboration and achieving the impossible, together. We’re so astounded that we were able to break the world record that we set last year and that children from all sides of the world were able to join in on this momentous occasion.”

Among the hundreds of clubs around Australia that hosted the participating coders, Telstra’s Customer Insight Centre and Gurrowa Innovation Lab in Sydney and Melbourne, respectively, were Mission Control for Moonhack. Nearly 50 kids (assisted by teachers, parents and Telstra volunteers) completed their exercises inside Telstra’s high-tech rooms.

Jackie Coates, Head of the Telstra Foundation, Code Club Australia’s founding partner, said, “Through the wonder of space, Moonhack has inspired kids to create with technology, not just consume it. The Telstra Foundation shares Code Club’s mission to get every Australian kid coding. We’re blown away that this year’s Moonhack has connected with kids all over the world, truly demonstrating that code is the universal language of the 21st century.”

Quick Moonhack 2017 facts:

Number of kids coding on the same day: 28,575 (a RecordSetter world record!)
Number of participating clubs: 484
Number of participating Australian kids: 17,167
Number of participating countries: 56
Age groups represented:
Under 7: 11%;
7-8: 28%;
9-11: 54%;
12-14: 22%;
15-17: 8%
Gender split: 51% male; 49% female
Number of Twitter mentions: 3,679,359

Below are a few comments from participating kids about why they joined up in this year’s Moonhack:

“My dad does high tech coding at Envato (that's is where he works)! I've always wanted to code like him it Looks so cool! I know HTML tags all of them! My dad knows all tags AND IT IS SO COOL!!!🙀😱😎😮😯”
“Cause i can make cool games and animations.coding is important because we use coding to program robots”
"What I love about coding is that you can create your own games. Coding is becoming more important in the work environment and I want to understand it and write it."
“I want to create a robot that can do your chores. Moonhack is important to me because it lets kids all around the world code and learn about it.”
“I want to create anything that can benefit the life of one person, 100s of people, or maybe even thousands.”

Code Club Australia is a not-for-profit organisation that provides tools and support for teachers and volunteers to provide free coding lessons. Currently, there are more than 65,000 Aussie kids across nearly 2,000 Code Clubs in Australia, from Perth to Gold Coast and South-Western Sydney – Australia now has the biggest network of clubs outside the UK.

To check out some of the cool projects kids from all around the world created during Moonhack, please visit moonhack.com.

OPPO Camera Phones Arrive in New Zealand

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 15 Mar 2017 11:47:00 +1300

Global camera phone brand OPPO has launched into the New Zealand market bringing its F1s, A39 and R9s smartphones to New Zealanders for the first time.

Internationally, OPPO has a reputation for delivering high-quality and exquisite design, including mobile phones and accessories, Blu-ray players and personal audio products. It is currently the world’s fourth largest smartphone brand by market share and continues to experience dramatic growth as it expands into new markets.

“We’re excited to be launching our smartphones in New Zealand. We think that New Zealanders are going to appreciate how our phones stand up to the rigors of life in Aotearoa,” said Kuan Li, Head of Marketing, OPPO New Zealand. “We launched in Australia in 2014 and within two years we were in the top tier of smartphone brands in the nation.

OPPO’s innovations such as state-of-art mobile photography, VOOC Flash Charge technology and impressive design are winning over global customers. We’re confident more and more New Zealanders will realise that you can get a premium phone at a reasonable price.”

OPPO is partnering with telco 2degrees at launch, as well as entering a retail partnership with JB Hi-Fi.

“We’re really looking forward to offering OPPO in New Zealand for the first time and I think people are really going to love the range,” said Roy Ong, Chief Marketing Officer, 2degrees Mobile.

“OPPO makes high quality, high value mobiles that can be enjoyed without having to drop $1000 which I think is definitely going to attract attention - the R9s especially. Like 2degrees, OPPO is about pushing the boundaries of what’s possible so it’s great to be working with another challenger brand,” said Roy.

The full range of OPPO mobile phones will be available from today in 2degrees Mobile Stores as well as JB Hi-Fi stores.

Kuan added: “The three mobile devices we’re launching with were chosen because they fit the Kiwi lifestyle. The R9s brings premium design and performance without the price tag, the F1s is made for selfies and night shots, and the A39’s battery life is perfect for New Zealanders whether they’re living in the suburbs of Auckland or in rural Otago.”

OPPO R9s

The R9s, delivers greater camera features and improved technologies to provide consumers with an exceptional all-around photography experience. Its stylish design also boasts 16MP front and rear facing cameras, and OPPO’s industry leading VOOC Flash Charge technology.

Key features:

· 16MP front and rear camera

· 4GB RAM and 64GB built-in storage

· 5.5inch FHD screen

· VOOC Flash Charge, 0-75% in 30 mins

· 0.2s flash touch access

NZ RRP $699

OPPO F1s

The OPPO F1s comes with a 16MP front camera and 13MP rear camera, and beautification features to help take perfect selfies. The F1s also features a 3075 mAh battery that gives consumers over a full day’s use. It features 3GB RAM, 32GB storage and ColorOS 3.0, delivering a fast and elegant user experience along with plenty of storage space for photos.

Key features:

· 16MP front camera

· 3GB RAM and 32GB internal storage

· Fingerprint security

· Full metal body

· 5.5 inch HD screen

NZ RRP $449

OPPO A39

The OPPO A39 features a 5.2-inch 720P HD IPS 2.5D curved glass display making it easy on the eyes. It is powered by a 1.5GHz octa-core processor, paired with 3GB of RAM for seamless multitasking. The OPPO A39 sports a 13MP primary camera with LED flash, F2.2, and a 5MP front-facing camera with F2.4 for selfies and video chats. It comes with 32GB of internal storage, which can be expanded to 256GB via microSD card.

Key features:

· 13MP rear camera

· 5.2inch HD screen

· 3GB RAM and 32GB internal storage

NZ RRP $349

Smart security simple as A..B.C.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 13 Mar 2017 20:12:00 +1300

I never knew that it was so easy to set up my own smart security system in my house.

Imagine a Doorbell like a human security guard, it would tell you who was outside and allow you to talk with them before you let them in. – Introducing the Ring Video Doorbell.

I’ve been using the Ring Video Doorbell and chime for almost one year now . Please see my previous blog post at Now you see me... and Always home .

The device streams live audio and video of a home’s front doorstep directly to a smartphone or tablet, allowing homeowners to stay connected to their homes whether in the kitchen or across town.

The other day , I received a another cool gadget this time from NETGEAR to add to my Smart home Security called Arlo Q .

The Arlo Q HD security camera has everything you need to start monitoring your home in just a few simple minutes. See and hear everything in extraordinary 1080p HD detail. Listen in and talk to anyone who’s there. Use night vision and motion alerts.

The Arlo Q HD is easy to set up just download the Arlo apps on your Android or iOS device of choice and follow the step-by-step instructions to get started.

The Arlo Q HD is also responsive and reliable, with a 1080p HD resolution, motion and sound alerts, two-way talk, night vision, activity zones with 130-degree lens is wide enough to take in the whole room if you position the camera well but make sure you have a strong WIFI network and trusted internet connection.

I’m using the latest Telestra Gateway Frontier with a hybrid technology. This ground-breaking all-in-one modem combines the power of Telstra’s home and mobile networks in one device, for a more reliable connection.

The motion and sound detection is fantastic, as well the video quality However, the sound quality in relations with the two way talk is not so good.

Sometimes, the person on the other end, unable to understand me maybe because Arlo Q have only a small speaker on the side of the camera.

The live stream between the apps and the actual camera delayed a couple of seconds just like the Ring Video door bell,due to communication between the internet and Arlo server.

Overall,This is a great home-surveillance camera that’s ideal for those seeking a one-stop solution for indoor home security and I loved the compact and crisp white which is blend into the background.

Arlo Q HD cost you $336 in Harvey Norman or $349 in JB Hi-Fi compared to the Telstra Watch and Monitor Starter kit $25 a month for 24 months. Min cost $600 which includes Indoor Wi-Fi HD Camera with built-in motion sensor without 2 way talk plus 2 x Door or Window Sensors.

The good things with these two gadgets they can communicate with each other via IFTTT platform. Just like what I did “if new Ring / motion detected at front door,then Arlo starts recording for 30 seconds”

I’am also very excited for the upcoming release of Ring Floodlight Cam with the world’s only motion-activated security camera with built-in floodlights, a siren alarm and two-way audio, so you can see, hear and speak to anyone on your property from anywhere.

This will be a good addition to my Smart Home Security system . What do you think JAMIE SIMINOFF?

Say Hello to The Future of Domino’s Innovation

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 5 Mar 2017 14:04:00 +1300

Domino’s is taking its first step into Artificial Intelligence, today launching a virtual, voiceactivated assistant, a first for the Australian retail industry.

DRU Assist will help customers place their favourite order faster, find out what’s new and get a great deal, while also adding personality to the online ordering process. Domino’s launched DRU Assist at the Company’s Abacus Tech event series, along with other innovations to make customers’ ordering experiences easier.

The Company also launched other innovations to ensure Domino’s customers receive fresher hotter pizza, faster, including to a park or beach. Domino’s Group CEO and Managing Director, Don Meij, said he was excited the Company was launching technology that would lead the Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) industry. “DRU Assist is the first ever virtual assistant available to help customers place their orders online in the Australian QSR industry,” Mr Meij said.

Available on desktop and within the Domino’s app, DRU Assist is the latest addition to the DRU (Domino’s Robotic Unit) platform, and is launching as a public beta* starting today. “Domino’s customers will be able to ask DRU Assist either via text on the web or voice recognition in the app to order their favourite pizzas and make customizations,” Mr Meij said.

“DRU Assist is on hand to help our customers streamline their ordering process with efficient and helpful service with a side of personality. “DRU Assist will continue to learn and improve recognition skills from every customer experience.” With a natural language voice engine powered by industry leader Nuance, DRU Assist can chat to Domino’s customers with his usual cheeky, fun personality and recognise customer’s orders verbally in the app. The launch of DRU Assist marks Domino’s transition to ‘AI-first’ technologies and one of the largest public betas in the country. “As of this year Domino’s as a Company will move from a ‘Mobile-First’ mindset to AI-First technology,” said Mr Meij.

“Allowing the beta to be open to the whole nation means that DRU Assist will learn faster, and provide a better service for our customers. “We encourage all Domino’s customers across Australia to order via DRU in the app or on the web, and be a part of the beginning of AI in Australia. “DRU Assist, and AI, will become the leading future platform for ordering, management, marketing and delivery as part of the DRU Platform, a machine learning and AI ecosystem.

“Domino’s plans to work with third party partners to integrate the DRU Assist platform into other devices and channels, including smart home devices – this is the way of the future.” Mr Meij said the Company’s new technologies were designed to make it even easier for customers, and announced plans to launch Domino’s Anywhere later this year.

Domino’s Anywhere, a first in Australia, will allow customers to drop a location pin using GPS locators, for stores to deliver to parks, beaches and other locations without specific street addresses.

“With Domino’s Anywhere, they will be able to order their piping hot pizza directly to their picnic blanket or beach towel. “We know that pizza is a social sharing meal and many of our customers want to enjoy it on a day out with the family, and not be limited to a house or office.” Domino’s Offers Bot, launched today, is integrated within the Facebook Messenger platform to offer customers on Facebook the best deals available, and builds on the Company’s popular Offers App.

“So many customers join us on social media because they are advocates for our brand, this will give back by rewarding them with special offers to tempt their tastebuds.” Domino’s also presented an update to autonomous delivery plans at the tech event, with further trials set for DRU Drone by Flirtey in New Zealand in the second half of this year.

Mr Meij said that Domino’s plans to expand its Autonomous Delivery fleet with land-based robotic units and air based drones a key investment into the future of delivery not only in Australia, but also in other countries. “The continued testing and expansion of our autonomous delivery systems demonstrates that Domino’s is committed to providing innovative, safer delivery systems across our network.”

Decibel: First Upgradeable, Long Lifecycle Bluetooth Speaker Launches on Indiegogo

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 5 Mar 2017 00:10:00 +1300

Today Module launches Decibel, a Bluetooth speaker, available on Indiegogo. This completes the company’s first step in delivering environmentally conscious and responsible technology to consumers. A short video of the project can be found here.

Decibel is beautifully designed, delivering powerful, high quality sound via dual cast alloy two-inch bass drivers and dual ultra-smooth soft dome tweeters. It also features USB-C fast charging and wireless charging for added convenience, but its greatest feature is longevity.

Decibel’s lifecycle, as with all future Module products, will far exceed any device in its category. It is modular, user upgradeable, customizable, repairable, and recyclable, a departure from the way traditional consumer technology is manufactured.

“I’m from New Zealand and we think about things differently,” said Ketzal Sterling, Founder and Managing Director, Module. “The global e-waste problem is gigantic. Millions of tons of e-waste is piling up and we’ve found a way, through advanced modular products, to greatly reduce the rate of destruction while still delivering world class tech.”

Decibel is not glued together or sealed shut, it’s made with quality materials and using a simple Allen key can be upgraded, repaired, and customized – with no voided warranties or risk of damage.

Each component, from the aluminum chassis to the lithium ion battery is replaceable, upgradeable, and will be supported by Module for years to come. Replaced components are returned to Module for recycling. Every component is available on the Module website.

Decibel will allow you to stay up-to-date with advances in software, electronics, wireless standards, and speaker technology. When technology advances, Decibel keeps up.

“Decibel is our first step toward solving a problem. Currently, large technology companies sell consumers replacement devices by promoting incremental upgrades and limiting lifecycles,” said Ketzal. “It shows complete disregard for consumers and the environment. We want to change the way people use, think and feel about the devices they love.”

Decibel is available on Indiegogo from US$195.

Aussie Mum Designs Great New Supermarket Shopping App, but ‘Who Will Help to Bake the Bread?’

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 4 Mar 2017 20:07:00 +1300

Just like The Little Red Hen, Roo has been busy; she has designed a Supermarket Shopping App called “Just Get Bread?”. It will help you get your shopping organised, done in half the time and make sure you never miss anything you need – and that’s just for starters!

This App is now all designed and ready to be coded. But she needs help with a Kickstarter Project which has been set up and is ready to fund the coding.

As soon as the target funding is reached, then the App can be coded and everyone who has helped will receive their own download of the App to get themselves organised with their grocery shopping.

For broadcast quality video, audio grab and high-res images, please visit the Multimedia News Release:http://news.medianet.com.au/rab-enterprises/aussie-mum-designs-great-new

So how do you use the ‘Just Get Bread?” App?

Do you just want a simple Shopping List App?

The “Just Get Bread?” App can be used as a simple Shopping List.
• Sorts Items in the Aisle Order you have set for your Supermarket.
• Collected items 'fall' to the bottom, so the item at the top of the list is always the next item to collect, so you won't miss anything.
• Running $ Total of what you have spent, and still need to collect.

OR, Do you want a Shopping List App which can Integrate with items you usually store in your cupboards?

The Pantry Lists in the “Just Get Bread?” App,
• integrate with the Shopping List,
• just tick the boxes in the Pantry Lists for what you need today,
• and that automatically generates your shopping list.
• Shows list in Aisle Order, with Total $ spent and 'to collect'

OR, ( THE BEST PART ) -
Would you like it to be Fully Integrated with a Menu Planner System too?

• Just set your Menu for the week,
• When you check your Pantry Lists, to generate your Shopping List, all the ingredients you have set for the dishes in the Week’s Menu are shown on the Pantry Lists - at their item’s line.
• So it’s easy to check if you already have what you need, or if you do need to buy some.
• Tick what you need to buy and the items are automatically listed, in their Aisle Order, in your Shopping List, with the $ totals.
• Save money because you don’t buy ‘all the ingredients for the recipe’ and then find you’ve already got 3 packets of ‘that’ in the pantry!
• And save stress wondering what to cook each night - you have a plan and you know you already have all the ingredients you need.

What else does the App do?

• Sticking to a Budget? It can show total $ Amount in your trolley. Saves stress because you know how much you are spending - no more awkward surprises at the checkout.

• Do you end up throwing out expired stuff? The App can track expiry dates and suggest dishes to make with what's about to expire. Save money by not wasting items.

• What if I just want to add one item now? It’s always quick and easy to add any item to your shopping list, at any time.

• Are you ever lost in an app and don’t know what to do anywhere? There are hint buttons in every section, so if you are not sure what to do, the answer can be found right there on the page.

• Is it possible to enjoy supermarket shopping? The “Just Get Bread? App makes your trip through the supermarket hassle free, fast and efficient, - so you might even enjoy it after all!

All that will be in the App when the Funding Target is reached.

And if the Second Target is reached, there are extra helpful features to add, all designed and ready to code!

1. Prescription Tracker,
2. Birthday and Christmas Gift Lists & Groceries Organiser,
3. To-Do Organiser,
4. Sharing & Backup Functions.

The App is fully designed, only needing the Kickstarter Project to fund the coding costs by a Sydney Coding Company – we have a firm quote so this Project will be done On Time and On Budget.

Anyone can back the project for just $5 and will receive their download of the App as soon as it is ready.

It will be done for both Android and Apple (iOS) systems.

For all the details, with a full explanation of how it all works, please see the Kickstarter page (link below).

But Hurry – the Kickstarter Project only runs until March 20th, so don’t miss out on getting your download as soon as the ‘Bread is Baked!

Kickstarter Link https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1468150350/just-get-bread-grocery-shopping-app-for-australia

Mates to Help Mates Make it into Work after Australia Day

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 26 Jan 2017 19:35:00 +1300

Australia Day preparations are in full-swing. But with the celebrations falling on a Thursday this year, there is one thing looming in the back of many Aussies’ minds – getting to work the next morning.

A national survey of more than 800 GoCatch passengers reveals that while 8 out of 10 will ‘most likely’ or ‘definitely’ be drinking alcohol on Thursday, 61 per cent say they have to be at work the next day. Only 5 per cent of those surveyed say they’ll definitely ‘chuck a sickie’ in the morning.

More than half say it is ‘unlikely’ or ‘very unlikely’ (56 per cent) that they will call in sick on Friday, even though they admit it might be a struggle to make it in.

That’s where GoCatch, Australia’s ridesharing and taxi-booking app, is stepping in. It will offer ‘Post-Party’ voucher codes for Aussies to share with the friends who have partied like there’s no tomorrow, only to face the harsh buzz of the alarm a few hours later.

“Every year, millions of people celebrate Australia Day with BBQs, parties and sometimes, a little too much exuberance. Our ridesharing and taxi drivers will be out on the roads, helping people get to and from their Australia Day celebrations safely. But we also know that getting into work on Friday will be a battle for some,” said Gen Liston, Head of Marketing and Partnerships, GoCatch.

“We were pleasantly surprised to see that so many plan on making it into work on Friday – that’s some Aussie resilience! The voucher codes will be sent to all GoCatch users on Australia Day, so we hope users will give their code to whichever friend is in for the toughest morning – a true Aussie ‘pay it forward’,” added Liston.

Nine out of 10 of those surveyed say they plan to celebrate Australia Day this year (90 per cent) and not surprisingly, more than half say they prefer celebrating with a BBQ (56 per cent). Others prefer heading to the beach or out on the water (19 per cent), while a smaller group typically heads to the pub (7 per cent) or takes in an Australia Day parade or ceremony (5 per cent).

The GoCatch app can be downloaded via the Apple Store or Google Play.

OPPO Launches Snap Happy R9s in Australia

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 22 Jan 2017 23:15:00 +1300

OPPO has today announced the launch of the new R9s in Australia. The latest addition to OPPO’s R series, the R9s, offers greater camera features and improved technologies to provide consumers with an exceptional all-around photography experience.

The R9s comes with 16MP front and rear facing cameras. The front facing camera has been paired with a large f/2.0 aperture and OPPO’s Screen Flash technology, to capture crystal clear selfies even in low light conditions.

At the centre of the rear-facing camera is the all new Sony IMX398 sensor. This has been coupled with an extra wide f/1.7 aperture, improving low-light performance and noise reduction. Additionally, the camera uses lightning fast Dual PDAF (phase detection autofocus), allowing users to snap clear and beautiful images at a moment’s notice.

“Camera technology is becoming increasingly important for Aussie consumers when choosing a smartphone, especially since we no longer carry around digital cameras wherever we go. Instead, we want to capture high quality images and videos on our smartphones at a moment’s notice. The upgrades we have made to the R9s allows users to do just that,” said Michael Tran, Executive Director at OPPO Australia.

“We have intentionally focused on our camera technology to ensure we provide premium features and functionality at a price that doesn’t burn a hole in your pocket. Only OPPO can deliver these flagship camera innovations at a compelling price and we expect the R9s will be snapped up by Aussie consumers.”

In addition to its camera features, OPPO has further enhanced the performance of the R9s. The device features a Qualcomm octa-core processor, 4GB RAM and 64GB ROM. It also has 64GB of on-board storage, which can be expanded by an additional 256GB, providing plenty of storage and power for photos, videos and multitasking. The R9s runs on ColorOS 3.0 (based on Android 6.0).

Further enhancing the performance is a stylish new take on the rear antenna design. The R9s sports a “six-string” antenna design, which operates on six frequency ranges, dynamically choosing the best one for 4G and Wi-Fi signals.

To keep you powered throughout the day, the R9s has a massive 3,010 mAh battery, as well as OPPO’s industry leading VOOC Flash Charge technology. Users will never have to be worried about running out of battery in those critical moments and can quickly charge the device in a matter of minutes for two-hours talk time.

OPPO’s ultra-fast Touch Access has also been given an upgrade. The fingerprint recognition system evolves over time, gradually refining its image of the user’s fingerprint. OPPO has seen an increase in the recognition rate, even when users have wet fingers, by up to 40 percent.

“OPPO saw significant growth in 2016 and we expect this to continue in 2017, with the launch of the R9s. We are quickly becoming the favourite affordable premium device amongst consumers, thanks to the high-end features, performance and functionality usually found on flagship devices. This has seen us add two new carriers to our ranks in Vodafone and Virgin Mobile, enabling us to get more of our devices into the hands of consumers,” said Tran.

The new device will be available for pre-order from select OPPO retailers from the 19th January and generally available from all partners from 30^th January, including JB Hi-Fi, Optus, Woolworths Mobile, as well as new partners Vodafone and Virgin Mobile.

EMBARGOED: Affinity Photo goes on sale for Windows – and gets amazing new features

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 11 Dec 2016 21:49:00 +1300

Bestselling professional picture editing app Affinity Photo is now available to buy for Windows - and boasts a huge update for Mac, too.

Today’s Windows launch coincides with developer Serif releasing Affinity Photo 1.5, which represents the biggest single update to the app since it was launched over a year ago.

Chosen as Apple’s ‘App of the Year’ 2015, and ‘Best Imaging Software’ 2016 by the Technical Image Press Association, Affinity Photo on Mac has received thousands of 5-star reviews from professional photographers, editors, artists and retouchers around the world.

Speed, power and accuracy are at the heart of Affinity Photo’s peerless workflow, with non-destructive editing, RAW processing and end-to-end colour management as standard. Tools work in real time, so there’s no waiting to see results.

Now Affinity Photo 1.5’s enormous update takes its renowned power to another level with an array of new features that users will love, including:

Macros to record and replay a set of commands
Advanced HDR merge producing deep unbounded 32-bit images
A full tone mapping workspace for both HDR and LDR images
Focus stacking to achieve large depth of field from multiple images
Full batch processing to process large folders of images in one go
An all-new way to edit 360 degree images
Direct PSD write-back
32-bit editing including OpenEXR import & export
Automatic lens corrections based on profiles of thousands of lens & body combinations

The Windows version matches the Mac version feature-for-feature and goes on sale for all platforms at a discount $39.99 / £29.99 / €39.99 until 22 December, with no subscription. Existing owners of the Mac version can download the 1.5 update free of charge.

Ashley Hewson, Managing Director of Affinity developer Serif, says: “There are two genuine reasons to celebrate today for professionals who want a powerful, high-end image editor.

“The launch of Affinity Photo for Windows means we’ve fulfilled our ambition to become a truly cross-platform presence, which was one of the core targets for us when we started developing Affinity apps over seven years ago.

“Almost all our back-end code was designed to work regardless of the operating system, which delivers 100% perfect file compatibility between the two platforms.

“And with the release of version 1.5, we’ve given Affinity Photo its biggest update yet, guaranteed to have enormous appeal to professional users on Mac or Windows.”

Affinity Photo is the second in a new trio of applications from Serif. Affinity Designer, a high-end vector graphics tool, is already available for both Mac and Windows. A layout tool, Affinity Publisher, is due to complete the suite in 2017.

Affinity apps share the same file format on all platforms, allowing users to switch seamlessly between them both as individuals and in a professional environment, where colleagues work on different systems.

The update also introduces support for the Touch Bar on the new Apple MacBook Pro.

The usual price will be $49.99 / £39.99 / €49.99 for the software with updates included – there’s no ongoing subscription.

Affinity Photo for Windows now in free public beta

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 14 Nov 2016 20:13:00 +1300

Windows users can now download the long-awaited Affinity Photo, with the launch of a free public beta.

It’s the first opportunity for PC users to experience the speed, power and precision of the award-winning professional image editor.

Chosen as Apple’s ‘App of the Year’ 2015, and ‘Best Imaging Software’ 2016 by the Technical Image Press Association, Affinity Photo for Mac has received thousands of 5-star reviews from professional photographers, editors, artists and retouchers around the world.

The Windows version matches it feature-for-feature and the public beta offers users the chance to try it free of charge before the full version goes on sale.

For more information about Affinity Photo: https://affinity.serif.com/photo

Ashley Hewson, Managing Director of Affinity developer Serif, says: “When we started developing our Affinity apps nearly seven years ago one of the key aims was to be cross-platform, so this is a huge milestone for us. Because we did plan this from the beginning we made nearly all of our back-end code – the core engine of Affinity, if you like – completely operating system independent.

“This not only means that file compatibility between the two platforms is 100% perfect, but all the power, performance, tools and accuracy which have really set us apart on Mac are there for Windows users to enjoy now too.”

Affinity Photo’s awe-inspiring range of tools work in real time, so there’s no waiting to see results. Non-destructive editing, RAW processing and end-to-end colour management are standard, so Affinity Photo has all the accuracy and quality necessary to make beautiful images spring to life.

Participants will be excited to know that the beta version includes a host of powerful new features to be made available in Affinity Photo’s next major update, v1.5.

They include:

Advanced HDR merge producing full 32-bit linear colour space images
Focus stacking to bring depth to multiple combined images
Batch processing for smoother, faster workflow
An all-new way to edit 360 degree images

The beta period also offers Affinity’s developers the chance to perfect the product before its full launch, and users are encouraged to share their feedback.

Naturally, Affinity Photo works perfectly with Serif’s stunning graphics editor Affinity Designer, sharing a common file type and shared save history. Affinity Designer for Windows is on the verge of full release.

Windows prices will match Affinity’s subscription-free Mac pricing ethos, with a one-off payment of $49.99 / £39.99 / €49.99 covering future updates.

For more information about Affinity Photo: https://affinity.serif.com/photo
To sign up for the beta: https://affinity.serif.com/photo/windows

CURING CANCER? THERE’S AN APP FOR THAT

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 30 Oct 2016 19:18:00 +1300

Imagine being able to press fast-forward on efforts to cure cancer while you sleep. Seem impossible? Well it’s not.

This ground-breaking idea has earned the creators of DreamLab a nomination for Research Australia’s newest award, the Data Innovation Award.

Vodafone Foundation’s DreamLab app uses the collective processing capacity of smartphones to crunch numbers and compare genetic profiles of tumours.

The DreamLab app operates only when a phone is fully charged and charging, and analyses data for breast, ovarian, prostate and pancreatic cancers.

The app then sends the information back to the Garvan Institute – one of Australia’s foremost genome mapping organisations.

CEO of Research Australia, Nadia Levin, said the DreamLab project was a great example of how technology experts in diverse fields are helping advance health and medical research.

“Data is a key pillar of all health and medical research, and our Data Innovation Award is about recognising the potential of outstanding contributions in the health and medical research sector,” Levin said.

“DreamLab is an example of a simple and ingenious new solution to utilise an everyday device and turn it into a supercomputer of sorts - assisting researchers and enhancing research outcomes.

“The calibre of nominees in the award’s first year has been incredible. Each has made an immense contribution to health and medical research, and we are proud to recognise their work.”

After reaching more than 70,000 downloads, the ordinary people who use DreamLab have helped collectively process data at speeds of up to 1,500 faster than Garvan’s in-house computer and has so far slashed nine months off the time needed to complete this vital research.

Professor David Thomas, Director of The Kinghorn Cancer Centre and Head of the Garvan Centre’s Research Division says the impact of the app on their research has been highly significant.

“There are finite supercomputing resources available at Garvan, and the processing power from DreamLab has already alleviated a bottleneck of research and sped up the process of genetic information analyses,” he said.

“If we can reach 100,000 users, this project could be completed three years faster than originally anticipated, which in turn will deliver tangible benefits to patients sooner.

“With one in two Australians affected by cancer by the age of 85, research breakthroughs are urgently needed.”

“This remarkable collaboration combined Vodafone’s network power and technical know-how with the Garvan Institute’s research and algorithms to not only fast track cancer research, but open the minds of Australians as to how they can show support for medical research by doing what they do every day – charging their phones,” said Leonie Walton of the Garvan Research Foundation.

Vodafone Foundation’s Alyssa Jones said she is proud to see the positive contribution mobile technology is having on cancer research.

“Almost every Australian has a heartbreaking story to tell about cancer and we all want to play a part in the fight against this disease and now, with more smartphones than people in this country, we have an opportunity to make a tangible difference,” said Ms Jones.

“Australians are inherently generous and it’s fantastic to see so many people embrace this new way of giving back, which is essentially putting the smartphones we carry in our pockets to good use, when they’re not in use.”

The Research Australia Health and Medical Research Awards will be held on Wednesday 16 November. Tickets available at:http://researchaustralia.org/events/hmr-awards/

LazyAz Founder Ditches Harvard Acceptance, Launches Crowdfunding Campaign Instead

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 22 Oct 2016 17:11:00 +1300

New Zealand company, LazyAz is looking to revolutionise retail with its application based on-demand delivery service that connects with brick and mortar shops. They are seeking to raise between $75,000 and $200,000 from the sale of shares. The offer is being made through AlphaCrowd's equity crowd funding platform which can be found here.

Founder Aryaman Taore was just 17 years old when he developed the first version of the LazyAz mobile app. Aryaman, now 18, who recently finished Botany Downs Secondary College, came up with the idea when he was craving a fast-food burger but neither he nor the restaurant had transport. This craving launched a sequence of events that resulted in him developing his first mobile app with $1000 in savings and a $750 contribution from his parents.

Off the back of some self-launched publicity and PR, Aryaman fielded multiple offers for first-round investors. He decided to join forces with Toss Grumley, Director of Wolf and Fox. Toss became the company’s first investor and provided seed investment for LazyAz as well as mentoring and resources to grow the business.

“I was intrigued by what I read about Aryaman,” said Toss. “But after our first meeting I was blown away, his vision, passion and preparedness isn’t something you see in a 17 year old very often. Eleven months on Aryaman is every bit the definition of entrepreneur.”

Aryaman recently turned down entry into the prestigious Harvard University in favour of launching his start up while studying engineering full time at the University of Auckland.

Aryaman evolved his initial craving into a fully operational business with 1500 customers on the data base, 20 partner stores around the Auckland CBD, and others rapidly signing on.

“The company’s evolution hasn’t just been by growth, but also our direction and business model,” said Aryaman. “After starting operations, we moved quickly to get past delivery as a standalone service, it was only the starting point for our overall business plan.”

The growth of the company’s business model is driven through their mobile app and online platform currently in build. It fully catalogues all partner products and services, creating a mobile aggregator to bridge the gap between e-commerce and in store retail. It combines the reliability and familiarity of local stores with the convenience of online shopping and within-the-hour delivery.

"We are so much more than a delivery service. We are creating a platform that local Kiwi stores can use to sell and consumers can use to buy. Our courier fleet simply acts as a medium to get products to the customer's door, our business case goes far beyond that. Our model allows us to assist with retail sales in just about any industry while delivering additional revenue though advertising, commissions and fees," added Aryaman.

“We recently ran a successful investor evening and were able to raise almost $40,000 in committed investments on the night,” added Toss.

Investments begin at $200 for asset class, ordinary shares and the first closing date is 10 November 2016.

Travelling ICT and AV Show Finalises Impressive Seminar Lineup

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 22 Oct 2016 16:35:00 +1300

The inaugural ICTech Roadshow, a unique and innovative touring trade event for the converged AV and ICT industries, has recently revealed two major additions to its seminar program.

Known as ‘The AV Roadshow’, ICTech Roadshow is the only trade show of its kind in Australia, with a unique and innovative format, showcasing keynote industry speakers and exhibitors to bolster knowledge of the ICT and AV industry.

Helping to deliver hands-on product, software and issue-based seminars from leading industry experts will be Lightware’s Technical Support Engineer, József Szvetnyik from Hungary, who will explore the detailed operations and theories of HDMI and HDBaseT technologies, exclusively to the Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane events.

In another ICTech exclusive, Lightware and InfoComm have confirmed that InfoComm CTS, CTS-D and CTS-I qualification holders who attend their ICTech seminar ‘Behind the scenes of HDMI and HDBaseT’ will earn 2 Renewal Units, expiring 30 Sept 2018.

Also joining the line-up is an explosive seminar from Julius Grafton of CX Network, on the story of Total Concept Projects’ (TCP) collapse. In the comprehensive presentation, Grafton explores how TCP went wrong and what could have been done differently on a journey of hubris through the boardrooms and dark spaces of audio visual contracting.

Designed for ICT professionals looking to expand their knowledge and creativity in audio visual products and technologies, the ICTech Roadshow’s comprehensive seminar program will address the major information gaps ICT professionals are experiencing in the industry.

Jason Allen, Show Director, ICTech Roadshow says the touring roadshow format and educational focus is a fantastic opportunity for ICT professionals.

“Our AV Roadshow’s seminar program is the best way for ICT professionals to upskill in the demands of AV technology in a practical, interactive environment. It’s not only about learning, it’s also a great way for professionals to network and share their own opinions with the tradeshow floor open from 11.00 am to 6.00 pm.

“Our industry is always in rapid change. By touring the show to major cities across Australia, delegates all over the country can learn and benefit from the convenient and unique format,” says Mr Allen.

Touring Australia, ICTech Roadshow will visit Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth in October 2016. The dates and locations for the show are:

PERTH - Thursday 13 October at Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre, Perth WA
ADELAIDE - Monday 17 October at Adelaide Convention Centre - North Terrace, Adelaide SA
MELBOURNE – Wednesday 19 October at Melbourne Par
k Function Centre - Olympic Boulevard, Melbourne VIC
BRISBANE – Monday 24 October at Royal International Convention Centre - RNA Showground, Bowen Hills QLD
SYDNEY – Wednesday 26 October at Australian Technology Park, Eveleigh NSW

To register to attend or for more information on exhibiting at ICTech Roadshow, please visit: http://www.ictechroadshow.com.au

Mobile Electronics show opens today with 2,600 booths showcasing latest mobile gadgets and accessories

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 18 Oct 2016 22:12:00 +1300

Mobile Electronics show opens today with 2,600 booths. Running from Oct. 18 to 21 at Hong Kong's AsiaWorld-Expo, the show focuses on smartphones, tablets, wearable devices and mobile accessories.

The show features a wide selection of products from the hottest mobile categories including virtual and augmented reality, sports and health wearables, mobile speakers and headphones, wireless charging, cases and covers, smartphones and tablets. The Brand Zone showcases 400 booths of suppliers manufacturing their own designs and brands.

President of Global Sources Electronics Group, Tommy Wong, said: "Our show is the world's largest mobile electronics sourcing event and draws strong attendance from the world's top buyers. This is because the show focuses on innovative products in emerging and high-growth categories from quality suppliers."

VR/AR/MR Ecosystem Summit to offer industry insights into fast growing market

The virtual reality market is expected to reach US$33.9 billion by 2022. To address increasing interest and consumer demand, the show hosts Hong Kong's first-ever VR/AR/MR Ecosystem Summit.

Topics at the full-day Summit range from technology to applications and from software to hardware in the VR/AR/MR industry. Speakers include industry experts from Intel, Microsoft, HTC Vive, AMD, NVIDIA, ARM, EmdoorVR, Rock Chip, Invensense, Haier, LetinVR, Liason Interactive and Nibiru.

Other highlights at the show

Multiple experience zones give attendees a closer look at new and creative products across different categories:

Mobile VR Experience Zone allows attendees to see and try the latest and most immersive virtual reality and gaming products.
Sports & Health Wearables Zone features the latest fitness, outdoor and personal care wearable technology products.
Korea Pavilion showcases latest mobile gadgets and accessories from Korean manufacturers.

Startup Launchpad expands to showcase a broad range of innovative products

The Startup Launchpad is the largest collection of consumer electronics startups in Asia with 150 emerging hardware startups showcasing their latest products. It is integrated within both phases of the show to help electronics startups find effective distribution channels, and to help buyers identify the latest innovations and be first to market with shelf-ready products.

Attendees can also gain insights from 34 industry thought leaders who will share their knowledge of market trends and concepts. More information is available at http://www.launchpadhk.com/.

Asia's first Smart Living Pavilion
Smart Living is a brand-new pavilion co-located with the Mobile Electronics show and covering smart home security, lighting and energy management, entertainment, and appliances and gadgets. The fast-growing smart home market sector is expected to reach US$121.73 billion by 2022.

In collaboration with Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP), the Smart Living Experience Showcase is a "live" on-site smart home that incorporates advanced automation systems to provide inhabitants with sophisticated monitoring and control over various home devices.

Value-added services to enhance buyer and supplier efficiency

Conferences on hot topics including virtual reality, smart home, as well as insights on the four stages of the startup life cycle: ideation, validation, manufacturing and distribution.
Global Sources Summit offers participants the chances to learn the best practices for selling on Amazon led by sourcing and Amazon experts.
Buyer app helps buyers maximize efficiency at the show with a range of pre-event and on-site benefits. The app enables buyers to locate exhibitors, create exhibitor profiles and take notes and product pictures. Users can also manage communications with exhibitors.
Supplier app enables exhibitors to obtain buyer information, sourcing history and to submit quotations efficiently.
VIP Buyer Offices provide selected buyers with fully-equipped offices.

The Global Sources Electronics show is expected to attract more than 60,000 buyers from 150 countries and territories, including purchasing decision makers from Acer, Amazon, Best Buy, Brookstone, Canon, Dolby, eBay, El Corte Ingles, Foxconn, Groupe Auchan, Hitachi, Huawei, IBM, Intel, Kesa Electricals, Logicom, Metro, NTT Docomo, Office Depot, Panasonic, Qualcomm, RadioShack, Samsung, Sony, Target, Tesco, Unilever, Woolworths and Yamaha.

The show is complemented by six electronics industry websites accessible from GlobalSources.com. Updated daily, each site delivers exclusive content, including Analyst's Choice, an unbiased selection of new and innovative products from exhibitors, advertisers, non-advertisers, startups and leading brands in the region.

Opening hours for the show are:

Oct. 18-20 from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Oct. 21 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Buyers can find more information about the Global Sources Electronics show and pre-register to attend at http://www.globalsources.com/exhibitions.

Norton Study Reveals More Than Half of New Zealand Men Experience Online Harassment

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 3 Oct 2016 20:27:00 +1300

Norton by Symantec (NASDAQ: SYMC) today released the findings of its research into online harassment and its impact on New Zealand men. The Norton research reveals three quarters (72 percent) of New Zealand men under 30, and more than half of all New Zealand men (58 percent), have experienced some form of online harassment.

Common forms of online harassment range from abuse and insults (35 percent), trolling (27 percent), threats of violence (21 percent), and death threats (14 percent).

Mark Shaw, Norton Security Expert at Symantec, Pacific region, said the research uncovers the prevalence of harassment against men in the online world and reveals that online harassment is an everyday trial for specific members of our community.

“The Norton survey reveals there are some risk factors that make some men more vulnerable to online harassment than their other male counterparts. Men from minority religious beliefs are attacked because of their faith in 21 percent of cases; gay, bisexual and transgender men are targeted because of their sexual orientation in 23 percent of cases, compared with 8 percent of heterosexual men; and men with disabilities are attacked because of their physical or intellectual disabilities in 15 per cent of cases,” said Shaw.

“The Norton research shows that men are actively experiencing negative interactions and that they are vulnerable online. We’re hoping that New Zealand men recognise they have options, and can and should speak up about their online experiences, report serious harassment and threats when they occur, and take reasonable precautions while online.

“The survey findings indicate that New Zealand men take the Kiwi ‘she’ll be right’ attitude towards negative online experiences. Most men ignore (45 percent), block (37 percent) or unfriend (28 percent) perpetrators, but this approach doesn’t address the emotional impact these experiences may have on them. Ten percent of men indicated they felt powerless to do anything, 8 percent reported the activity to the police, and 8 percent sought legal advice and 4 percent threatened legal action,” said Shaw.

The impact of online harassment

Men may be attacked online for a range of reasons. In nearly half of cases no specific aspect of a person’s lifestyle or circumstances are singled out. When aspects are targeted, top issues include physical appearance and weight issues (14 percent and 10 percent), race and ethnic background and religion (13 percent and 10 percent), sexual orientation (11 percent), and learning difficulties and mental illness (six percent).

“I get it, I put myself out there for all to see, but that doesn’t make the things people say to me hurt any less,” said Kris Fox, a local online celebrity.

“If I told you half the things I hear on a daily basis you’d curl up and cry. It’s just sad how many people want to attack you for who you are, how you look, or the way you identify. The haters out there need to back up and realise they’re wrong, and get off their little power trips because real people are getting hurt. They also need to understand that threats of violence are never ok.”

In cases of harassment, feelings of anger are the most common response (36 percent). Depression and anxiety were also common at 14 and 13 percent. Less common were feelings of violation and abuse (10 percent), feeling helpless and vulnerable (9 percent), and suicidal feelings (7 percent).

Online crossed into the physical world in two interesting areas. About three percent of men resorted to physical violence in response to online harassment, and threats of violence and death threats prompted police involvement in 25 percent of cases.

"There are real consequences to online harassment which can have long lasting impacts, no matter your gender," said Martin Cocker, NetSafe Chief Executive Officer. "As online and offline activities become more connected than ever before it's important everyone adopts safe and secure online behaviours and understands their options if they are threatened. NetSafe has a variety of information and how-to guides at netsafe.org.nz.”

Online harassment experiences of New Zealand men and women

Earlier this year, Norton released the results of its Online Harassment: The New Zealand Woman’s Experience research and, when comparing the two, Norton found that the overall online experiences of men are not dissimilar to women. However, there were striking differences with online harassment:

· Gender-based online harassment is more common in females than males. 18 percent of New Zealand women are more likely to be attacked online because of their gender, compared with 8 percent of New Zealand males.

· Despite men acknowledging a broad range of behaviours which qualify as harassment – abuse, threats of physical and sexual violence as well as death – men (56 percent) are less likely than women (70 percent) to identify online harassment as a serious problem.

· New Zealand men and women (about 60 percent) generally agree that the problem is getting worse, and both believe that the problem has got worse since last year.

How to Tackle Online Harassment

For many forms of online harassment, both New Zealand men and women often unfriended, blocked or asked website owners to censor or ban offenders. In addition, many New Zealanders felt that authorities needed to take online harassment more seriously and that more laws were needed to deal with all forms of online harassment.

Privacy settings set on social media accounts were widely used (75 percent), but about a quarter of men (24 percent) are still unaware, don’t know how, or haven’t found the time to use them. The survey found private settings were favoured over public by 58 percent to 17 percent respectively. 20 percent of New Zealand men used their privacy settings to prevent people from bullying them while 35 percent used them to prevent people from stalking them.

Nearly 44 percent of New Zealand men had been approached by someone online with a false identity – yet 35 percent of New Zealand men accepted friend requests from strangers.

Some ways to prevent and address online harassment include:

· REVIEW your online presence. Check your security and privacy settings on all devices and regularly change passwords.

· RECOGNISE the problem if it happens and move quickly. Do not respond to the perpetrator; keep all records and evidence of the harassment by making a copy of the message, photo or video; and if you witness to online harassment, offer support to the person being targeted.

· REPORT online harassment to the relevant authorities immediately. If inappropriate content is displayed online, contact the website operators by phone or email requesting the content be removed or blocked. Reporting a crime can be done direct to the police or via The Orb website. If you, or someone you care for, need advice on how to deal with online harassment, please reach out to Netsafe for help on 09-362 0971.

An infographic highlighting the key survey findings can be downloaded here.

Sunverge Customer AGL Launches World's Largest Virtual Power Plant

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 5 Aug 2016 23:09:00 +1200

Sunverge Energy, a leading provider of intelligent energy storage systems for residences and small businesses, today announced it is partnering withAustralia energy retailer AGL and the federal government's Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), to develop the world's largest Virtual Power Plant (VPP).

"This project is the world's largest, the first of its kind and an innovative solution to both help customers manage their energy bills and at the same time contribute to grid stability," said AGL Managing Director and CEO Andy Vesey. "This project is core to AGL's strategy of being a manager of distributed energy resources. It also leverages our investment in Sunverge and helps us to continue to improve the digital customer experience."

How a Virtual Power Plant Works

Using cloud-based software, the VPP directs energy storage units to operate in unison to meet peak energy demand across an entire community or service area, helping consumers utilize their own rooftop-generated solar or stored solar power during peak demand periods and reduce their power bills.

Energy storage systems not part of a VPP are unable to provide services to the grid or to benefit from the intelligent energy management provided by the grid. By contrast, when storage systems operate as part of a VPP the ultimate result is a stronger and more reliable power grid, more efficient energy management and greater value and long-term bill reductions for consumers.

The AGL virtual power plant will be capable of storing 7 megawatt hours of energy, with an output equivalent to a 5-megawatt solar peaking plant, enough power for 1,000 homes. It will also provide greater grid stability, demonstrate alternative ways to manage peaks in demand and support the higher penetration of intermittent, renewable generation on the grid.

The project will be rolled out in three phases over a period of approximately 18 months. In the first phase, running until April 2017, the first 150 customers in metropolitan Adelaide will be eligible to purchase a discounted Sunverge SIS 5kW/7.7kWh energy storage system for AUS $3,500, which includes hardware, software and installation.

For customers with sufficient excess solar generation, this is expected to result in a seven-year payback period. Consumers currently without solar will be able to purchase a solar system of the appropriate size for their needs with their battery.

Later phases will see an offering to narrower zones within metropolitan Adelaide where peak demand management and other network support services can be demonstrated.

It is also hoped the project can demonstrate how relationships between electricity networks, retailers, consumers and the market operator can create new sources of value and stability in a renewable energy future.

The overall project cost is approximately AUS $20 million, with ARENA providing conditional approval of$5 million as part of its Advancing Renewables Program, which aims to support the penetration of renewables on the grid.

"The AGL and ARENA Virtual Power Plant is remarkable today, but in five years' time large-scale VPPs will be everywhere," said Ken Munson, co-founder and CEO of Sunverge Energy. "By helping to build a stronger, more efficient and more reliable grid, VPPs deliver tremendous value to utilities, their customers and the environment."

Sunverge has deployed hundreds of Solar Integration Systems in Australia and New Zealand, reducing peak load 48 percent and providing more than 6,100 hours of backup power over the past 12 months. Sunverge and AGL have partnered on storage installations in Australia since 2015, and earlier this year AGL became an investor in Sunverge.

Pokémon per person peaks in Dunedin

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 4 Aug 2016 19:36:00 +1200

New Zealand’s Pokémon population is currently in excess of 446,000 a day, according to Statistics New Zealand. Around 6,200 Pokémon are active across the country at any given moment.

Dunedin tops our Pokémon per person scale, with around 15 Pokémon per 10,000 people.

“While Statistics NZ does not collect population information on Pokémon types, we believe this peak may be due to Dunedin’s varied terrain attracting a wide range of Pokémon types,” Pokémon statistical analyst, Bridget Snodgrass said.

“Within Dunedin is Otago Harbour for Water Type Pokémon, Otago Peninsula for Rock Type Pokémon, and Larnach Castle for Ghost Type Pokémon, not to mention the cooler winter temperatures attracting Ice Type Pokémon.”

Pokémon GO for iPhone and Android was released in July 2016. An ‘augmented reality’ game, it sees gamers interact with real-life locations to find and catch Pokémon. Around 9.5 million players across the world use the game each day.

While Dunedin has the highest Pokémon number per person, Auckland Central East area and Lambton Quay in Wellington are the country’s hot spots for Pokémon catching during daytime hours, with 41 and 40 Pokémon per square kilometre, respectively.

For night-time hunters, Auckland Central East and the Willis Street to Cambridge Terrace area in Wellington are the best spots – with 18 and 12 Pokémon per square kilometre, respectively.

The South Island hot spot is Riccarton South in Christchurch during the daytime – with 10 Pokémon per square kilometre. At night, it’s Riccarton West – with nine Pokémon per square kilometre.

“The Pokémon population maps show that the Pokémon population correlates with our human population across New Zealand,” Ms Snodgrass said. “Each of our three major centres – Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch – have several hundred active Pokémon at any one time.”

Population estimates of active Pokémon found in our six largest centres:

Auckland – 2,100
Hamilton – 200
Tauranga – 150
Wellington – 300
Christchurch – 500
Dunedin – 200.

Data source

The above provisional Pokémon population figures were devised with a model incorporating data from Statistics NZ, Research NZ, and Frost & Sullivan. The model was corroborated using observational data. Our usual privacy and confidentiality standards were maintained.

Samsung Delivers 12,500 Galaxy S7 edge Olympic Games Limited Edition Phones to Rio 2016 Olympians

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 4 Aug 2016 19:33:00 +1200

Just days before the Opening Ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Worldwide Olympic Partner in the Wireless Communications Equipment, in collaboration with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) presented 12,500 Galaxy S7 edge Olympic Games Limited Edition mobile phones to athletes competing in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

The commemorative smartphones are meant to help Olympians enhance their experiences in Rio and communicate with friends and family around the world more conveniently.

U.S. Olympic gold medalist Kayla Harrison snaps a selfie on her new Samsung Galaxy S7 edge Olympic Games Limited Edition, the official Olympic Games phone, during a visit to the Samsung Galaxy Studio in the Rio 2016 Olympic Village in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Olympians from the Brazilian women’s water polo team receive their Samsung Galaxy S7 edge Olympic Games Limited Edition at the Samsung Galaxy Studio in the Rio 2016 Olympic Village in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Samsung began its Olympic Games involvement as a local sponsor of the Seoul 1988 Olympic Games. Beginning with the Nagano 1998 Olympic Winter Games, the company extended its commitment to the Olympic Movement as the Worldwide Olympic Partner in the Wireless Communications Equipment category, providing its proprietary wireless communications platform, called Wireless Olympic Works (WOW), and mobile devices.

These innovative mobile phone technologies provide the Olympic Family with real-time, user location-based information service, interactive communications, and Samsung Pay. Samsung hosts various Olympic campaigns to share the excitement of the Olympic Games with people around the world and enable everyone to participate in the Games through its innovative mobile technology. Samsung’s commitment as a Worldwide Olympic Partner continues through to Rio 2016, PyeongChang 2018, and Tokyo 2020.

Converged IT and AV Show unveils unique education program

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 4 Aug 2016 19:20:00 +1200

The inaugural ICTech Roadshow, the only trade show of its kind in Australia addressing the convergence of AV and IT in a unique and innovative roadshow format, has today announced details of its educational program.

The program will deliver hands-on product, software and issue-based seminars from leading industry practitioners in five cities across Australia in October 2016.

Designed for IT professionals looking to bolster their knowledge and creativity in audio visual products and technologies, the ICTech Roadshow and comprehensive seminar program will tour Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth addressing the major information gaps IT professionals are experiencing across the converged AV and ICT fields.

Jason Allen, Show Director, ICTech Roadshow says the ground-breaking roadshow format with practical seminar component aims to deliver a national, accessible, affordable and educational trade event.

“The ICTech seminar program will provide a fantastic opportunity for IT professionals to upskill in the demands of AV technology in a practical, interactive environment.

“With sessions covering a range of industry issues, new technologies and the convergence of AV and IT, we have one of the most exhaustive and relevant seminar programs available. This, coupled with the added convenience of bringing the event to delegates’ hometowns nationally, makes ICTech Roadshow a truly unique and a not-to-be-missed event on the industry calendar,” says Mr Allen.

Highlights of the ICTech Roadshow program include:

SynAudCon training presented by Matt Vance, Technication – SynAudCon training leads the field in providing practical, in-depth training seminars on the principles of audio and acoustics via interactive, multimedia presentations. Matt Vance, co-founder of Technication, is an experienced educator who shares his passion for AV through a love of teaching and sharing new technologies with others
- Soft Codecs – A new platform for old audio problems (Or; achieving great results for conferencing audio) presented by Matt Vance. Examine how the rise of soft-codecs has revolutionised conferencing and how to address common audio problems
- Introduction to electroacoustics presented by Matt Vance. Learn the principles behind the operation of all sound systems – from microphones to room acoustics and the psychology of human hearing.
SVSi Training – Introduction to Networked AV presented by avt
Industry Transition from Dedicated AV to Networked AV and Cloud Controlpresented by avt
Life of PY – Powerful System Control Solutions for AV and IT Professionals, presented by Extron. One of the world’s fastest growing programming languages, Python is used extensively. Extron demonstrates how they are increasing the productivity of AV programmers and delivering with ease more powerful features to control systems
Behind the scenes with Lightware (Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne) presented by Lightware. Lightware’s, József Szvetnyik (Hungary), MSc Electrical and Electronics Engineering, explains HDCP 2.2, HDMI 2.0 and HDBaseT.
Ampetronic and A.F.I.L.S. presented by Jands. Ever wondered why hearing loops and their components have so many different names? Unravel the terminology and discover how to ensure compliance with Australian standards.

ICTech is also pleased to announce that industry leading manufacturers and distributors, Axis Audio Visual, Jands, Midwich Australia and New Zealand and Panasonic Australia have joined the list of already confirmed high profile exhibitors – Extron, avt (formerly AMX Australia) and Lightware.

Touring Australia, ICTech Roadshow will visit Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth in October 2016.

To register to attend or for more information on exhibiting at ICTech Roadshow, please visit: http://www.ictechroadshow.com.au

THE TESLA POWERWALL IMPACT ON ENERGY BILLS

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 2 Aug 2016 12:20:00 +1200

The true power of the Tesla Powerwall has been felt by one of the first Australian residents to install the highly anticipated home battery power storage unit. The Pfitzner family have received their first quarterly energy bill since Natural Solar installed the Tesla Powerwall and solar system in January 2016, with the price for their power plummeting from $660, to a mere $40.46 in energy charges.

“Australian homeowners are used to power bills surging year on year with an average increase of 120% nationally in electricity prices over the last 10 years. It’s extraordinary to see such a significant decrease for the Pfitzner family and clearly demonstrates why we are experiencing such strong demand for our home and commercial battery storage solutions,” says Chris Williams, Managing Director of Natural Solar.

“As one of the first residents in Australia to have their Tesla Powerwall installed by Natural Solar, we can safely say the proof is in the figures. The Pfitzner family have revealed to the world the massive impact the Tesla Powerwall combined with a full solar solution can have on both the environment and their hip pocket, paying an average of just $0.59 per day for their power. The utility companies will be hurting from this disruptive technology as it puts the power back into the consumer’s pocket and we now have data to support the benefits,” added Mr Williams.

“This result is one of the first in-market experiences that shows the Tesla Powerwall in action. Consumers have been drawn to the Tesla Powerwall as it represents energy independence, and they want to know what the real life return on investment would be for solar and a Tesla Powerwall,” commented Mr Williams. “In this case, should energy consumption remain at a similar the Pfitzner family should expect to see a complete payback period of between 6-7 years, whilst also having a positive impact on the environment and adding considerable asset value to their property.”

Based in Sydney’s Hills District, the Pfitzner family home includes four bedrooms, internal laundry, a pool and outdoor entertaining area. Their personal renewable energy solution includes the Tesla Powerwall, an array of 5kWp of solar panels, a SolarEdge inverter and fully integrated, bi-directional cloud-based monitoring software to see the direct output of energy from the entire system and the Tesla Powerwall.

As one of the first regions globally to receive and install the Tesla Powerwall there has been an unprecedented volume of enquiries to purchase and install the Tesla Powerwall in Australian homes. “Thousands of Australians have made the move and have embraced the shift to battery power. Our belief at Natural Solar is the uptake over the next 12 months will continue to increase as more battery storage solutions become available in market, and the price of power continues to soar nationally. We are proud to be at the forefront of what now appears to be an inevitable transition in the renewable energy industry from traditional solar to complete home energy storage IT solutions, integrated with household appliances and even electric cars,” said Mr Williams.

The functionality of the Tesla Powerwall is simple, with this device storing solar energy during sunlight hours allowing homeowners to use it at night, avoiding the need to sell excess energy back to the grid. The Powerwall, which carries an impressive 10-year warranty period, has such a range of new and varied functionalities. It is also extremely affordable, with a number of payment plans and options from Natural Solar allowing customers to be cash flow positive from day one. Australians can have the chance to have their very own Tesla Powerwall installed with or without solar panels. Full Tesla Powerwall and solar panel solutions from Natural Solar start from $13,590.

“At Natural Solar we are committed to leading the charge to a battery powered Australia and making this accessible to all Australians. Our number one mission is to educate the Australian public on the advantages this truly disruptive technology offers. This real life consumer example of the Tesla Powerwall in action shows the true impact that battery power can make to the average Australian family and home. There is no doubt, as we continue to work with Tesla product, that we are moving further toward a bright and renewable future - this is only the tip of the iceberg.” concluded Mr Williams.

New Mums don’t Bond instantly with their baby

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 2 Aug 2016 12:16:00 +1200

Experts are urging new mums to alter their perceptions around bonding with their baby, upon the release of a new national survey. Almost 70 per cent of mothers expected to bond with their baby at birth, while in reality, almost 60 per cent took longer to form that connection.

A new mum can take anywhere from birth right up to 6 months or more before they feel fully connected to their child. Deviating significantly from society’s portrayal, this reality can leave mums feeling disappointed or inadequate.

Over 500 mums responded to the survey commissioned by WOTBaby, an Australian-first technology releasing on 25 July. The research found that mothers are putting pressure on themselves or feeling the pressure externally to bond with their baby at birth.

Jen Hamilton, a mothercraft nurse with over 27 years’ experience, and founder of WOTBaby says, “It’s all you see in advertising and the movies. Mums are depicted as forming an immediate bond, when in reality it can take much longer to form a true rhythm with their baby.”

“There are some key fundamentals that result in a successful bond between parent and baby, and so many out-of-control factors can effect that experience, including labour, health, support systems, relationships, personality and personal history or adjustment with things like feeding. In my experience, I generally find on average, mums truly bonding with their child at four to five months.”

Jen is a published author, mum of three and in her mothercraft career has helped thousands of parents and caregivers adjust to their baby including Business Chicks founder, Emma Isaacs with her four babies.

WOTBaby, serves as a real-time ‘mid-wife in your pocket’ for parents and caregivers. It’s a personalised app that supports the journey of raising babies from newborn to six months.

Tailored to the child’s name and age, the app provides the caregiver or parent with week-by-week development milestones and tackles the myriad of challenges parents might be navigating through at that particular stage such as feeding and settling. What sets the technology apart from anything else on the market, is that it acknowledges that every baby and every parent is different, and so offers an instant step-by-step flow of tips and tricks parents or carers can try to find what works for them as well instructional videos.

While night nurses charge upwards of $60/hr, WOTBaby will be available for purchase at the App Store for $2.99. WOTBaby can be downloaded from the app store.

Hash receives $1 million in funding, launches Hash 2.0 with personalised daily news video

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 26 Jul 2016 21:49:00 +1200

Agenda-free catch-up news platform Hash unveiled fresh functionality as well as a stunningly simple new look and feel today, using a portion of the $1 million in seed funding they received from private Australian investors earlier this year.

Available on iOS, Android and web, Hash aggregates tweets about the day’s most topical headlines in a simple, visual way. Founded and created by Australian digital ventures studio Josephmark, Hash 2.0’s standout feature is a personalised daily news video.

Stitching together a number of short audio and visual clips from news publishers around the world, Hash’s daily round-up video gives users a quick and easy way to see what stories people are talking about in under a minute.

New Hash 2.0 features include:

Daily round-up: Hash delivers a personalised video round-up of the world’s biggest stories every morning, which greets you wherever you are in the world, before showing the most important stories of the day.
Story developments: Users can follow stories to be notified when there’s a new development on an event they care about.
Weekend chat text message: Hash sends users an sms every Friday afternoon, which lists a handful of timely talking points – giving users interesting things to discuss at that Saturday night dinner party.

“Our goal with Hash is to allow our users to consume the most important stories, from all angles, in as little time as possible.The simple, yet highly visual design we’ve incorporated is beautifully distilled, allowing the user to quickly decide what to explore further and what to skim past,” said Jessica Huddart, Josephmark CEO. “We hope Hash 2.0 will build on the success of Hash’s initial launch and we intend to use the funding to refine the product, test and add functionality, grow the team and scale the business.”

Hash was conceptualized, built and funded in Australia.

With Facebook’s latest algorithm update to the news feed there will be an increase in the visibility of posts from “friends” and “family”, and a reduction in content from news outlets. Aggregating Twitter, Google News, Wikipedia and YouTube, Hash offers users a simple, agenda-free feed that surfaces running commentary as well as multiple, global perspectives. Unlike Facebook Hash doesn’t favour viewpoints.

Using a unique algorithm that pulls in trending stories people are currently talking about as well as human curation to maintain a high level of quality, Hash is the most visually compelling, agenda-free way to consume the world’s top storie

Pokemon Go could hold key to better research

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 16 Jul 2016 21:53:00 +1200

One in five Australians use an activity tracking device daily or nearly daily.

This was according to the data from a forthcoming poll from Research Australia,an alliance of health and medical research.

Of the people who use activity trackers, three-quarters are prepared to share that data, on the proviso that it is anonymously used for health and medical research.

The annual Research Australia Opinion Poll was conducted by Roy Morgan from 30 May to 4 June, with a sample of 1040 people. Data is now being collated. The poll will be released in coming weeks.

This is where Pokémon Go – the wildly popular app that gets users out and about instead of behind their tablet or TV – has got the attention of the Australian health and medical researchers.

“There are a couple of things running in parallel here,” explains Research Australia CEO Nadia Levin.

“Firstly, you have an app which is getting gaming – often a sedentary affair – out of the living room and into the world, and that can only have immediate health benefits.

“Walking has been described as the nearest thing to a perfect exercise as it costs nothing, can be done almost anywhere and is suitable for people of all fitness and skill levels.

“But more broadly, the interactive and inherently social nature of Pokémon Go has implications for walking and running apps which often don’t really give back.

“Our survey showed that 19 per cent of the population currently actively tracks their exercise, and three quarters of those would be willing to share that data with health and medical researchers.

“Collecting mass data of a diverse segment of the Australian population is no easy feat – but with a mainstream app to do the heavy lifting, furthering that collection for research purposes is feasible.

“That’s why an app like Pokémon Go has got our attention, because if the statistics translate to gamers then we have a whole dataset that we can catch (pun intended) for research.

“A lot has been said up until now about the privacy implications from Pokémon Go, but not the incredible potential applications for the health and medical community. This is our Pikachu.”
Ms Levin said obviously people need to be safe and aware of their surroundings, and the excitement from researchers is not about one specific product or game, but the broader possibilities.

“What we are excited about is highlighting the possibilities of personalised medicine, and the power to be derived from harnessing technology to understand personal and global health,” she said.
Levin explains that personalised medicine will be the way of the future, so we will need personalised health data, which will involve participation of patients and the public outside laboratory settings.

“Researchers are investigating innovative methods for collecting data from ordinary people going about their day-to-day activities, and this kind of technology holds promise,” says Levin.

“At the moment, the data that could construct a picture of Australian exercise and health trends is somewhat constrained to people who actively engage with exercise apps and tools.

“If you can take away the markers of personal identification, then suddenly we could have a resource that could be used in the planning of personalised medicine.”

Lifeliqe Partners with HTC Vive to Expand Virtual Reality into Education

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 14 Jul 2016 20:04:00 +1200

Lifeliqe, a visual learning platform incorporating interactive 3D, virtual reality and augmented reality programs, announced its partnership with HTC Vive to become their strategic partner in the field of educational content.

"We're pleased to have Lifeliqe as an education content partner, developing high quality room-scale educational experiences on the HTC Vive," said Joel Breton, Vice President of VR content, HTC. "From walking among dinosaurs to exploring the internal organs of a shark, Lifeliqe offers truly innovative premier content for immersive discovery and learning on Vive."

Historically, virtual reality has been viewed as an upcoming expansion to the gaming world. Now with Lifeliqe, virtual reality is used effectively for education as well, broadening the impact of this new technology.

"It's such an honor to become strategic partners with HTC Vive when there are so many other incredible virtual reality competitors out there. The fact that HTC Vive chose to work with us, proves that educational content is an important area for virtual reality to conquer. We're excited to bring our content to life with this new technology and distribute across classrooms," said Ondrej Homola, co-founder and CEO of Lifeliqe.

Lifeliqe officially started demoing the content at the ISTE 2016 conference from June 26-29, with other events in San Francisco to follow. "Our goal is to begin piloting the content in schools at the start of the new school year (Fall 2016)," added Homola.

Some of the unique experiences for users include being able to "fly" into space and see the Hubble telescope, travel back in time to take a walk with a dinosaur, or dive into the ocean to examine the body of a shark from the inside out. All of Lifeliqe's content is scientifically accurate and approved by the world's most renowned universities, like Stanford University.