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What a week: New products and global expansion...

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 06:42:59 -0000

It’s been a massive week for the team here at Kogan. We kicked it off with a media event on Tuesday to launch seven new products and have seen dozens of media articles come through with views and opinions on all of them. On Wednesday morning, Ruslan also flew to the United States to secure a warehousing deal that will assist with plans to launch Kogan in the North American market by the end of 2009.

We’re also planning to enter the European market by opening operations in the United Kingdom.

Perhaps the most exciting product launch this week was the announcement of a Wi-Fi capable digital photo frame that has attracted interest from as far away as the UK with a story in The Mirror. The Wi-Fi photo frame is a great tool to share photos with people from anywhere in the world – it can link to Flickr, Facebook photos and other social networking sites like Twitter and display these on the frame. This product is on pre-sale now for a mid-July dispatch.

Other products launched this week include:

- Kogan Wi-Fi Digital Radio
- Kogan Blu-ray player 2.0
- Kogan 1080p-22 –22” Full HD LCD TV
- Kogan Full HD 1080p Camcorder with HDMI-out
- Kogan EVINAVG3 GPS
- Kogan Multi-function Digital Photo Frames

Before week’s end, Ruslan also landed a spot in the Business Review Weekly (BRW) Fast Starters for 2009 – at number 37 out of 100. BRW Fast Starters profiles the top 100 fastest growing start-ups in Australia.

There is a lot happening at the moment and we are - as always - interested to hear what you guys think of the new products. We also want to know what you think about Kogan launching in America and the UK?

Kogan @ Twitter: A quick-fire way to score free Kogan products...

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 06:21:41 -0000

Kogan Technologies has clicked on to Twitter with KoganTech and we’re inviting you to join us for an opportunity to win some of the latest LCD TVs, Blu-rays and Kogan products launching this year.

Twitter seems to be attracting mass media attention and we thought we would get in on all the online action by sharing Kogan news, views and products with you.

I've seen some breaking news posted through Twitter before it even hits the official newswires - it's great. From what I've seen, it's the only service capable of challenging Google as a leading information portal. The great thing about Twitter is it gives you live information and views about any topic - it's the only tool in the world to do that… so far!

We’ve already given away a couple of Blu-ray players and 32” LCD TVs through @KoganTech and plan to offer you regular freebies when you retweet our messages – so be quick!

If you’re not signed up with a Twitter account, it’s very easy to get started and follow us. All you need to do is follow this link and log your email address with a password and you’re away!

Another part of Twitter I’m are beginning to explore is all the useful apps available through Twitter Downloads for your Google desktop, Linux system, iPod, iPhone and more.

We wanted to ask, how you use Twitter and if you think it’s here to stay? I personally think it’s a great news feed to gather useful info on consumer electronics.

Keep an eye out for the most up to date insights on product we’re working on @KoganTech.

Happy Tweeting!

Digital Radio to hit the Aussie airwaves: Will digital revive the radio star?

Fri, 29 May 2009 05:02:00 -0000

Australians for the first time in history will be able to access digital radio broadcast [DAB / DAB +] through the commercial radio industry from May 2009. Many of us are also streaming high quality radio online with internet radio feeds via our computers.

Access to broadcast digital radio is promising improved quality of sound, better reception and an improved overall audio experience for Aussies listening to their favourite radio stations.

As a result it appears that the poor sound quality and lack of variety in programming, factors that have decreased radio’s appeal in recent years, have had a digital makeover and just might be what entices listeners back as the digital revolution catches up with the media airwaves.

We plan to launch a digitally enhanced radio with the latest DAB / DAB+ technology and WiFi capabilities to provide listeners with the ability to tune into any radio station from around the globe via a wireless network – just take a look at the options here.

The radio will also include a solid interface to guide listeners through the thousands of radio stations now available – something similar to an iTunes menu. Whether you want Hip Hop, Classical, break radio stations down by region, you will be able to search the local and international airwaves for the highest quality listening.

There are now - what seems to be - hundreds of digital radios on the market as manufacturers seek to cash in on demand.

Digital radios now come in all shapes, sizes and at many price points, we here at Kogan wanted to ask people about their views on digital radio and whether you plan to buy one.

I’ve been looking through catalogues on digital and internet radios and most appear to be selling for around and above the $200 mark and I think that is far too much – especially when most don’t offer WiFi, an iPod dock, or an iTunes-like function to search for the best radio stations around Australia and the world.

Our best value “spec for buck” model at this stage would look like this:

- Wi-Fi Digital Radio with iPod docking station
- Internet Radio, Podcasts, PLL FM/AM radio
- DAB / DAB+ Radio
- iPod connectivity with charger function
- USB slot to play music from USB drives
- More than 10,000 internet radio stations pre-programmed, with searches by country, state or genre
- Podcasts with 9,000 programs
- Support Real Audio ,MP3, WMA
- Streaming music directly from your PC
- Clock and Alarm function
- with Music port function (AUX-in connection for iPod or audio speaker)
- Output power: 7W RMS
- Unit Size: 250 x 135 x 130 mm

Do you think digital radio could signal a return to tuning in to the latest news, views and music with top quality audio?

We think digital radio should help revive Australian radio and think anything that adds to our nation’s arts and culture is a good thing, right?

Getting the best out of open source and gOS: How do you use yours?

Sun, 19 Apr 2009 23:48:30 -0000

As you know, we chose user-friendly Linux operating system gOS for the Kogan Agora netbook range.

There has been some great feedback from customers familiar with the benefits of using open source Linux operating systems.

There has also been feedback from customers new to the open source game that were a little unsure about how to take full advantage of the thousand of free tools and apps available for Linux operating systems.

To add or remove a program from the Kogan Netbook, simply choose "Add/Remove" from the menu:

This will present you with a marketplace of applications - you can search through them and see how other users have rated them. To install a new app, simply select the check box next to it and then click "Apply Chnages".

gOS will then go out on the internet, find the latest version of that app, download all the files and install it...without you having to do anything:

The app is then ready to use:

You can potentially spend hours searching through thousands of online apps at sites such as Linux.org, Sourceforge and Linuxlinks, which can be a little daunting for those new to the open source game.

By adopting gOS for the Kogan Agora range we have made it easier for Linux newbies. gOS is based on Ubuntu – another Linux distribution – and opens the door to a range of free apps and tools for use on the Kogan netbooks.

The apps are easy to find and install. Users choose from thousands of applications in the repository or catalogue, all of which can be downloaded at the touch of a button.

Whether you are using a Kogan Agora netbook or not, we want to ask about your favourite applications for Linux and what you can like using for day to life and what you would recommend others.

What makes a good app? What sites do you use to search for the best Linux apps?

Australia's cheapest netbook

Tue, 17 Mar 2009 04:52:56 -0000

Today we're proud to announce the launch of the Kogan Agora netbook range. We're the first company in Australia to crack the $500 barrier for a 10-inch netbook. We have two units on sale as of today:

The Agora Netbook (AU$499) comes with a 1.6GHZ processor, 1GB RAM, 3-cell battery, gOS operating system and weighs only 1.2kg.

The Agora Netbook PRO (AU$539) includes 2GB RAM, a Bluetooth module, and 6-cell battery.

As we mentioned in our last post on why we chose gOS for the Agora range, we believe it provides the best platform to support netbook users to harness digital, online, web 2.0 tools. The ease of use and capabilities gOS provides makes cloud computing a reality.

The Kogan Agora brand is based on open source principles. I'm a strong believer in the values of open source, which is where the Agora naming orginates. We have actively listened to you every step of the way in the design process for the Agora Netbook range. In doing so we've been able to balance the features you requested with the ongoing need to offer the best value for money product on the market.

Netbooks stormed onto the market with open source operating systems and cheap price points. Since then, they've adopted more demanding operating systems and crept up in price. The original promise of netbooks has been lost -- we're hoping the Agora Netbook brings it all back.

The key areas we have focussed on when designing the Agora Netbook range:

Keyboard: We heard you loud and clear! A good, spacious keybord is key to the usability of a netbook. We looked at smaller chassis designs, which were very sleek, but the inclusion of an edge-to-edge keyboard in the Agora Netbook range means the product is very easy to use.

Bluetooth: While most said they wanted Bluetooth in a netbook, we also noticed you use it very rarely. Because of this, we chose to include a separate Bluetooth dongle in order to save on power. Instead of having your Bluetooth unit constantly scanning while you’re hooked up to WiFi, you can use it when you need it. This dongle is absolutely tiny!

Battery life: Between the smaller 3-cell and slightly larger 6-cell batteries, we believe buyers have a good choice in terms of meeting their power requirements. From our tests, the 3-cell last for 2-3 hours for general use while the 6-cell lasts for around 4-6 hours.

Netbooks and operating systems like gOS bring us one step closer to cloud computing as we no longer use hard drives to store most of our information. Having said that, we have included 160GB of hard drive space as well. The Agora range also runs very well on Windows 7™ and we are happy for customers to use any operating system they like. Our support team will guide you through the installation process if you wish to install other operating systems. So far, we’ve successfully tested Windows XP™, Windows 7™, Ubuntu Linux™ and Netbook Remix™, as well as KDE 4™.

We’re very interested hear what you think about the final product, and anything else netbook related. Your input through our blog was invaluable in allowing us to provide a solution that meets your needs at an affordable price point.

And the winner is...

Tue, 10 Mar 2009 03:01:06 -0000

...gOS!

Thankyou all for the very helpful suggestions in the Kogan Netbook post. It was great to get detailed, insightful feedback.

We've taken all the advise very seriously and many of the requests have made it into the final product design. We'll be releasing details about the Kogan Netbook over the coming days and weeks.

For now, I want to talk about the operating system. Claudio, David Mulder, and Greg all suggested gOS would be a good option. I tried it out myself, and played with Ubuntu Netbook Remix, KDE 4, and a few others as well. At the end of the day, gOS was clearly the best flavour of linux for the Kogan netbook.

We ended up choosing gOS because it's fast, easy to use, stable, and has a fantastic, intuitive interface. Here's a screenshot of gOS running a few gadgets:

You can see more screenshots of gOS in action here: http://www.thinkgos.com/gos/screenshots.html

We will of course include simple instructions for users wanting to install another version of Linux. As you may know, gOS is based in Ubuntu which is great news for compatibility and support.

Here's a video of David Liu, the founder of gOS, running through some of the newest features:

gOS has a number of great features and pre-loaded apps including:

Google Picasa™ with WINE 1.0™
Google Mail™ and Calendar™
Google Gadgets™
Google Documents™, Spreadsheets™, and Presentations™
3D Window Switcher™
Google Desktop Search™
Mozilla Firefox™
Open Office™

On top of all this, gOS also makes it extremely easy to install new applications through a easy to use marketplace app. You can read plenty more at the gOS website.

We're building this netbook on the principles of open source cloud computing. The future of everything we do is headed towards the cloud -- and this operating system is a major step in the right direction. So much of what we can do is stored online, and the combination of the Kogan Netbook and gOS will make cloud computing a reality, especially using a number of Google applications.

I'm keen to hear your thoughts, I hope you're as excited about this one as I am! Stay tuned for more details about the Kogan Netbook.

All trademarks are property of their respective owners.

High Definition Stimulus Package

Wed, 04 Mar 2009 22:58:54 -0000

Today we're launching the Kogan Technologies KEVIN37 HD LCD TV, our first 37" LCD TV. Coinciding with the government handout, it's going to be shipped to customers in April and costs only $900.

This makes it one of the best value 37" LCD TVs on the market, yet another example of us making technology more affordable. There are still many Australians who want to move into the digital age, and this is a great time to do it.

While other manufacturers are raising their prices, apparently due to the price of components, we're releasing new products that undercut everyone else!

We're also going to send out a free promotional t-shirt with each order, it'll look like this:

Kogan Technologies is 100% Australian owned and operated, so any profits are reinvested into the Australian economy.

You can get more information about the tax bonus at the ATO website.

Kogan Technologies is not affiliated with, nor endorsed by, the Government of Australia, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, or the Australian Labor Party.

Welcome ACA viewers

Tue, 17 Feb 2009 05:29:51 -0000

If you've come here for the first time after tonight's segment on A Current Affair -- welcome!

You would have already learnt what the Kogan business model is about, and what we offer for Australian consumers.

Some of our biggest specials at the moment are:

The Blu-ray player is discounted from $349 down to $249. This makes a great addition to any HD television, allowing you to take full advantage of a Kogan TV's 1080p resolution. GoodGearGuide recently reviewed it, when it was $349, awarding it 4.5/5 stars!

If you're looking for a smaller secondary set, or one that has integrated features (including USB for AVI video file playback, DVD, and HD digital tuners), the PRO16 ($299) and PRO19 ($399) are great value.

We've also slashed prices one our larger sets, the 42" 1080p set is now $1299 and the 47" 1080p is $1699.

If you have any questions about our products, our business, or any support issues, feel free to contact us through our contact page or through this blog!

What do you want to see in the Kogan netbook?

Tue, 17 Feb 2009 02:38:30 -0000

I've always said I like using this blog as a way to get ideas and input from you -- here's an example!

As I told APC Magazine, the Kogan team plans to be selling a netbook in the very near future.

We're in the process of developing the Kogan Netbook right now, and it seems that the 10.1" screen size is the sweet spot between screen real estate and portability. Furthermore, an Atom processor looks to be the best balance of computing power and energy consumption.

There are however many other things that make up a netbook, and we're very keen to hear your thoughts on some of these, such as:

Would you rather pay more for 2GB RAM or is 1GB enough?
What colour do you want the netbook to be?
What operating system do you want? I'm a big fan of open source -- which you will see when we launch the Agora -- so I'm leaning towards Linux. It would mean you get the netbook for cheaper (no licensing costs), and it would run faster! If you're on board with Linux, which flavour of Linux would you like to see? Or would you prefer Windows XP?
What software would you like pre-loaded on it? At the moment we are lining up:
- Open Office
- Firefox
- VLC Media Player
- Messenger software supporting MSN, Yahoo, etc
- An open source image editor like GIMP

I'm really eager to hear your thoughts on these and any other suggestions you may have, so we can bring you the best netbook at the most affordable price!

Cheers,

Ruslan

*Update* The Kogan Netbook will run gOS

Doing our bit for Victorian bushfire victims

Mon, 09 Feb 2009 03:48:05 -0000

We're deeply saddened by the devastating bushfires in Victoria, and our thoughts are with everyone who has been affected. As a Melbourne, Victoria based company, it hits us very close to home.

We hope individuals, companies, and Government can dig deep and do everything possible to help victims of the fires.

We will be making a contribution through the Red Cross. $10 from every sale over $200 till the end of this week through www.kogan.com.au will go to help victims of this tragic disaster.

For the next week you can grab some great new Kogan gear like the discounted Blu-ray player or a HDTV and help the Victorian bushfire relief at the same time.