2012

Australian Businesses Collaborate in the Cloud

April 25, 2012 by Reporter Leave a Comment

An increasing number of businesses are making the move to the cloud in order to gain mobile access to email and documents. For Australian businesses, Google Apps, Google’s cloud service platform, is quickly becoming a top option thanks to the platform’s communication and collaboration capabilities.

Cloud computing catches on in Business

When it comes to moving your business to the Google cloud, you can purchase the Google Apps for Business product suite through Google, itself, or through a local Google Apps Authorized Reseller. Enlisting the help of a Google partner ensures increased training as well as more personalized migration and support. In July 2011 having help with your Google Apps migration became even easier when Cloud Sherpas, a Google partner based in Atlanta, Georgia since 2008, opened multiple offices in both Australia and New Zealand.

Here in Australia, Cloud Sherpas works closely with Google and has a headquarters in Sydney in addition to offices in Melbourne and Brisbane. After its summer 2011 launch, Cloud Sherpas quickly became a premier Google partner in the region, serving all types of businesses (small and medium-sized businesses as well as enterprises).

So what are Cloud Sherpas and Google Apps doing to improve the day-to-day functions of Australian businesses? From the initial Google Apps setupand everything that follows, businesses that make the switch to the Google cloud network have premier communication and collaboration tools at their fingertips.

Google Apps in the cloud

Because Google Apps runs on a 99.9% uptime guarantee and provides users with mobile access, it ensures that businesses will always have access to information – whenever and wherever necessary. With this guaranteed access, businesses can take full advantage of features like Gmail, Google Documents, Google Sites, and Google Groups to improve their communication and collaboration. For example, Gmail allows for storage that is 50 times the industry average, includes a Google-powered search function, and has instant-messaging and video-chatting capabilities. With Google Documents, users can create, edit, and store documents in the cloud and easily share these files with co-workers or customers. Google Docs even allow for real-time collaboration so multiple users can edit a file simultaneously, regardless of location. Applications like Sites and Groups enable larger groups of people to work together and communicate with one another easily by providing users with a central location to post files, deadlines, tasks, and other information (Sites) and by allowing users to communicate as one, cohesive body (Groups).

In addition to improving the communication and collaboration of businesses, Google Apps can also lower IT costs. Since Google Apps is an entirely cloud-based platforms, it runs without any additional hardware or software. This lack of equipment, combined with the fact that Google automatically sends out any updates, cuts down significantly on time and money spent on IT concerns. And businesses can also rest easy knowing their important information is safe, as Google Apps is verified in SAS 70 Type II audit.

As a result of the enhanced communication and collaboration tools – in addition to guaranteed universal access, cost-saving measures, and security – available through Google Apps, this cloud service platform is quickly becoming the top choice for Australian businesses of all kinds and sizes.

Cloud Sherpas is a leading cloud service provider and was named the “Google Enterprise 2011 Partner of the Year.” As one of the first Google Enterprise partners, Cloud Sherpas has migrated over one million users across a variety of industries from legacy, on-premise messaging systems to Google Apps, helping organizations adopt cloud computing to innovate and dramatically reduce their IT expenses. A Google Apps Reseller in Atlanta, GA, Cloud Sherpas has regional offices in locations including San Francisco, New York, Chicago, Austin and Sydney, and has more Google Apps Certified Deployment Specialists than any other partner in the world.

Mother dead, Daughter seriously Injured in Police car chase

April 12, 2012 by Reporter Leave a Comment

An innocent mother has died and teenage daughter seriously injured in a police car chase. A police vehicle on a car chase in pursuit of a stolen car rammed into innocent civilians causing death and serious injury.

Many people have been shocked by the result of this police chase and it emerged this afternoon according to media reports that the two officers did not have official permission to engage in the pursuit.

This police chase in pursuit of a stolen car claimed the life of a 50-year-old Dianella mother and left her 16-year-old daughter in hospital,

The Police car was chasing the stolen grey Audi sedan when they drove against a red light and hit the Toyota Corolla travelling south through a green light on Alexander Drive at 11am.

Major Crash investigators are said to probe the crash, while internal affairs officers will examine the police conduct

In a previous incident Two officers were the subject of an internal investigation over a pursuit in Noranda last month, in which a 15-year-old male driver crashed a stolen Ford Falcon and died.he AVL recorded the police car travelling at 164km/h but this has been disputed by the officers.

Woman killed during Perth police pursuit‎ Ninemsn
Cops kill woman in high-speed chase‎ Adelaide Now
Woman killed during Dianella pursuit‎ The West Australian

Australian WIFI ( WLAN ) inventor wins patent battle against Microsoft , Toshiba

April 2, 2012 by Reporter Leave a Comment

Not many people know it , but one of the biggest inventions in the technology ( WIFI ) used all over the world in millions of devices was invented in Australia.

Wifi – An Australian Invention

WIFI or WLAN as it was known when it was invented by a group of scientists John O’sullivan , Terry Percival, Diet Ostry, Graham Daniels, John Deane working for the CSIRO.

In 2009, it received A$205 million after reaching settlements with 14 companies. The latest settlement is worth more than $220 million with lap-top makers, mobile carriers and wireless chip makers which represent around 90 percent of the Tech industry including companies including Lenovo, Acer, Sony and AT&T. The CSIRO has license agreements with 23 companies with these new settlements.

(Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) is Australia’s national science agency )

This invention was patented in the US in 1996 and the first products using the wireless WLAN technology entered the market in 2001.

WIFI WLAN Patent War

Major big technology companies like Microsoft , Hewlett-Packard, Intel , Toshiba started using this technology but ignored the patent until CSIRO took legal action to defend its patent and invention

The Australian government-run Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) said the settlement for the Wireless local area networking (WLAN) patent was worth more than A$220 million ($229 million).

About Wifi from wikipedia

Wi-Fi ( /ˈ w aɪ f aɪ /, sometimes spelled Wifi or WiFi) is a popular technology that allows an electronic device to exchange data wirelessly (using radio waves) over a computer network, including high-speed Internet connections.

Ref-img:http://www.bestnetbooksreview.com/wi-fi-bluetooth-information-and-advice.html

The Wi-Fi Alliance defines Wi-Fi as any “wireless local area network (WLAN) products that are based on the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers’ (IEEE) 802.11 standards”.^[1] However, since most modern WLANs are based on these standards, the term “Wi-Fi” is used in general English as a synonym for “WLAN”.

Links for Wi-Fi Info:

Australia settles patent suit in U.S. wi-fi case

How wifi Works

Australian “Men’s magazine FHM” Closes down

March 16, 2012 by Reporter Leave a Comment

Australia’s Favourite men’s magazine “FHM AUSTRALIA” has decided to close down its doors. FHM Australia HM, which stands for “For Him Magazine” was launched in Australia in May 1998. The closure of FHM is one of the first acts of ACP’s new chief executive, Mr. Matt Stanton, who took the top job at ACP Publishing late last year.

ACP publishers recently also started publishing another budget MENS magazine “Zoo Magazine” which also has a online presence. They launched the magazine with a very attractive $2 price range for a short introductory period.

FHM Australia is also on Facebook and has 41,467 fans on facebook.

ACP is owned by the Nine Entertainment Co, which has attempted to sell its magazine division but with little success so far.

Another men’s magazine Ralph, also closed in 2010 because of the global downturn

FHM – now owned by German company, Bauer Media Group – is published in 21 territories, including China, Czech Republic, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Latvia, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Norway, the Philippines, Romania and the United Kingdom.

FHM Australia magazine features a mix of general trivia , sex, gags, grog , gadgets,men tips and raunchy and sexy looking International and local models. Publisher ACP , who publishes this men’s magazine and many other Australian magazines like the The Australian Women’s Weekly, Woman’s Day yesterday announced the May issue of FHM would be the last and the magazine’s website would close at the same time

Get a Free yoga class with Miranda Kerr by supporting earth hour

March 13, 2012 by Reporter Leave a Comment

The first 500 Lucky people to upload their own “I Will If You Will” challenge, on www.youtube.com/earthhour, will be awarded with a free yoga class conducted by Miranda Kerr.

Miranda Kerr to give free yoga class for Earth Hour

The class is planned to be held in sydney. Miranda Kerr has pledged to conduct this free yoga class for 500 fans to support the “Earth Hour campaign”.
Miranda has been supporting this cause and been the Earth Hour global ambassador for the second consecutive year.

Sachin Tendulkar pledges to ‘Switch Off’ for Earth Hour 2012

Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar has joined hands with WWF-India and has pledged his support to the Earth Hour – WWF’s global campaign to raise awareness and inspire individual action towards a better environment.

About Earth Hour

The first-ever Earth Hour had a humble start in Sydney in 2006 and has now grown rapidly to a 5251-city-strong global movement, last year reaching 1.8 billion people in 135 countries across all seven continents.

website : http://www.earthhour.org/

Earth hour 2012 :

This year’s Earth Hour takes place between 8.30pm and 9.30pm on Saturday, March 3

The earth hour campaign encourages people to take more positive action for the environment by setting a personal challenge to to switch off their lights and go without lights for a set time when people all around will be doing the same thing in support of the cause

Australianbusinessreport.com.au supports the Earth Hour 2012

Are the wealthy taking over Australia ?

March 3, 2012 by Reporter Leave a Comment

Australia is losing its “fair go” culture and is under threat from a elite and rich group of wealthy business people – including Andrew forest, Gina Rinehart and Clive Palmer – who are using their riches to undermine good Policy and threaten our democracy –says Treasurer Wayne Swan . Mr swan has steered most businesses in Australia through the GFC with much less impact than has been felt throughout other economies.

Image Reference: The Monthly – Full Article

Mr Swan said Australians should be concerned about the excessive and increasing power of vested interests with power and wealth to back up their agenda to their own benefit.

This was evident when major Mining companies said they were cutting down expansions and staff due to the Mining tax and GFC and other factors, but soon as the Rudd led cabinet was shafted in favour of Julia Gillard they went ahead with their million dollar project expansions.

There was bitterness after the mineral resource rent tax and carbon price was introduced with the purses of the wealthy being hit. The big miners Invested millions of dollars in opposing these taxes and policies by advertising in TV and print media , saying it would hit the common man in Australia. It is unusual that this direct method was used by the wealthy corporations rather than politicians being influenced and lobbying being done which is often the case at times.

Mr swan has urged Politicians to cater to and look after the common mans benefit , and supporting the workers rather than succumbing to the lobbying of the wealthy and to give Australia the sense of fairness and decency it deserves.

The government is said to be in the midst of considering a report on media law reform. This could be the result of Gina Rinehart taking a large shareholding in The seven news media network , making her even more powerful which could be a cause for concern for many only not only within the media industry but also outside the media industry.

Radio , TV and Newspapers due to the power they wield have often have been claimed to support and make and break governments in other countries , deciding on who they decide to favour.

Mr swan goes on to write that the mining campaigns brought out by the wealthy people against the tax damaged the government , brought on instability and resulted in prime minister Mr Rudd being toppled. With this proposed Mining tax not going through, the government will be short of $110 Billion to use towards taxpayers benefit.

Mr swan said "It is the tiny 1 precent, or even 0.1 per cent (you know who they are) who are trying to drown out the others, who are blind to the national interest and pour their considerable personal fortune into advertising ,armies of lobbyist, dodgy modelling,and corporate and commercial manoeuvring designed to influence editorial decisions.

POLITICS OF A RATE CUT

February 7, 2012 by Reporter Leave a Comment

Damned if you do , Damned if you don’t, pardon my English but that seems to be the situation with rate cuts , RBA and banks.

RBA today kept the cash rate on hold with no changes to stay at 4.25 per cent

The politics of rate cuts ,Banks and Media bashing

The situation is getting out of hand come every time when the RBA has to make a announcement for rates to increase or decrease. ITs become a big media circus come every rate announcement by the RBA , Banks get thrashed even before a rate announcement is made and held guilty , analysts and economists have a hey day predicting what they think will happen , and the media adds to the frenzy by amplifying all the news with wicked twists to their benefit having a go at banks, Lenders and raising a ruckus giving banks much negative publicity .

Luckily punters took a sigh of relief this time, as they was no rate increase.. but nor did people get a discount as well. The RBA did not heed any economists prediction or media hearsay and chose to do what they though was right and let the rates stay the same

RATE Stays Put while banks stay neutral

The rates staying the same has put the banks in a bit of a predicament, while they raised the gauntlet last time (ANZ) saying they will wait a bit before they decide how they react to the rate announcement . RBA by not changing the rates have not given them an excuse anyway. Its is going to be a tricky situation for the banks , because the first bank to pass on a decrease always sticks in the mind of the consumer as a good bank.

The waiting game if pursued by the banks could be the difference between good PR and Bad PR for the Bank. . So we will wait for the next rate announcement . Until then good luck for the next rates announcement by the RBA.

Predictions by media

February 07 –

Reserve Bank is tipped to cut the official cash rate to 4 per cent today _ Herald sun

Reserve Bank board meets this morning in Sydney to consider whether to cut the official cash rate a further 0.25 points to 4 per cent- theage.com.au

The Reserve Bank of Australia is tipped to cut the official cash rate to 4 per cent at 2pm today.- http://www.theaustralian.com.au

Punters believe Reserve Bank will cut, but banks won’t pass on in full – www.news.com.au/my

Article by sheldon singh

IS Facebook Ipo going to set the Tech ipo trend of 2012

February 4, 2012 by Reporter Leave a Comment

Facebook has filed for its IPO and with that filing, a lot of new information about the company was revealed. Facebook is rumored to be going public this week in a deal that could value the social-networking site at an astonishing $100 billion

Facebook IPO reveals information

845 million monthly active users,

483 million daily active users,

Over 425 million monthly active users using Facebook’s mobile products.

In its filing Facebook appears to consider growth in mobile use among the key risks to the company.

You can view the filing in its entirety, as well as a letter from Mark Zuckerberg here.

Via: Cutencomfy

People are increasingly using their smartphones (and tablets) to access the web which should Increase mobile Facebook use and Facebook isn’t currently monetizing this use (with ads), but that is likely to change soon.

In fact with timeline facebook’s new planned FrontPage format, many users are already saying its probably going to make another MySpace of Facebook, as not many users like the new look of Facebook the once loved. Google G+ and twitter at the same time are getting better day by day adding new features to their own websites

some of the Tech ipos from last year

ZYNGA – Zynga went public in December at $10, but closed down 5 percent to $9.50.Zynga now trades at around $10.50 and remains a gaming force to be reckoned with

GROUPON – Daily deals giant Groupon went public last Nov. 4. Its stock debuted at $20 per share and hit a high of $31.14 before closing at $26.11 by the market close.

LINKED IN – LINKEDIN (NYSE:LNKD)

Professional social network LinkedIn probably had the biggest IPO in terms of hype this year because it was one of the first big social media companies to go public. The ipo was prices at $45 per share on the New York Stock Exchange, LinkedIn began trading at $83.00 per share on May 19.

Previous B IG TECH IPO Debut’s

Google: 2004
Google filed for its IPO in April 2004, with Morgan Stanley & Co. Inc. and Credit Suisse First Boston LLC.The search giant raised $1.2 billion for a market value of $23 billion and Shares were offered at $85, but opened to $100.

Microsoft: 1986
Microsoft went public in March 1986 at $21 per share, closing at $27.75 a share its first day. Microsoft is currently valued at $248.45 billion.

Amazon: 1997
Amazon went public in May 1997 with 3 million shares of common stock for $18 per share.

Amazon is currently valued at $87.38 billion

Apple: 1980 IPO
Apple went public in December 1980 at $22 per share. It was one of the the largest IPO of its times. Apple is currently valued at $422.37 billion.

Yahoo: 1996
Yahoo’s April 1996 IPO were priced at $13, opened at $24.50, and closed at $33. The ipo created a frenzy at the market with many investors looking to cash in on the dot-com boom. Yahoo is currently valued at $19.3 billion.

Technorati Tags: facebook,Zillow,yelp,Yandex,Pandora,Linkedin,kayak,homeaway,groupon,Glam media,fusion io,Zynga

Iran gets tough, Australia gets tougher

January 24, 2012 by Reporter Leave a Comment

Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd has said Australia will follow the European Union in banning Iranian oil imports, after talks with his British counterpart in London. Iran has been reported in the press widely to have made a threat to block the strait of hormuz through which oil passes through to the rest of the world. Blocking this could result in a oil price hike affecting us immediately with increase in prices to fill and drive our cars.

China and India Oil imports with Iran

A leading state-run Chinese daily warned on Monday that Moscow and Beijing were seriously concerned over US attempts to go to war with Iran, IANS reported from Beijing.

The EU and the United States are pushing major importers of Iranian oil such as China, Japan, South Korea, India and Turkey to join the economic embargo. The US has been trying to pursue India and china to lessen their reliance on oil exports from Iran and putting pressure on Iran. China and INDIA have major oil imports agreements from Iran and India recently had payment routing problems to Iran for payments for oil that was routed through US based firms.

Some 65 percent of Iranian exports go to Asia. This step joins Russia and Iran’s announcement to begin trading in their own domestic currencies rather than use the US dollar – a reserve currency. China has rebuffed Western entreaties to reduce oil imports from Iran. When one Chinese oil firm, Zuhai Zhenrong, was recently placed on the financial sanctions list for trading with Iran, Beijing reacted furiously and conveyed "strong dissatisfaction and adamant opposition".

India has decided not to heed the West on abandoning Iranian oil imports, and it is proceeding to negotiate alternative payment processing mechanisms to continue trading with Tehran. Currently, India depends on the volatile Middle East for 70% of its oil and gas imports.

A senior member of Iran’s parliament said on Monday the Islamic Republic would close the entry point to the Gulf ( Strait of Hormuz ) if new sanctions block its oil exports. This news has been reported widely in online and News media with the affect of it creating a atmosphere of distrust towards Iran and creating a scenario of justifying an attack on Iran.

Any bid by Iran to block the Strait of Hormuz at the entrance to the Gulf, through which 20 per cent of the world’s oil exports pass could result in a big oil price spike and ensuing chaos and distrust between countries.

What are these sanctions imposed by the EU ?

EU nations have formally adopted an unprecedented set of sanctions against Tehran – which include a bloc-wide embargo on Iranian oil

Iran’s blocking threat of the strait of Hormuz was a reaction to the European Union decision to impose sanctions on the Iranian central bank.But with no defined central power figure in Iran , it cannot be confirmed whether this threat is legitimate and backed by the powers that run Iran or as specified just a comment made by a member of the parliament which has been blown out of proportion , for the selfish propaganda needs of some western countries that are safeguarding their interests.

The EU embargo or sanctions on Iranian oil exports, amounts to the most significant package of sanctions yet agreed. They are also likely to impose a partial freeze on assets held by the Iranian Central Bank in the EU. The reasons for these sanctions is aid to arise from concern that Iran is developing nuclear weapons under the guise of a nuclear energy programme.

The strait of hormuz and its importance !

On an average day in 2011, about 14 tankers carrying 17 million barrels (2,700,000 m3) of crude oil passed out of the Persian Gulf through the Strait of hormuz. This represents 35% of the world’s seaborne oil shipments, and 20% of oil traded worldwide. More than 85 percent of these crude oil exports went to Asian markets, with Japan, India, South Korea, and China representing the largest destination

The strait at its narrowest is 54 kilometres (34 mi) wide. It is the only sea passage to the open ocean for large areas of the petroleum-exporting Persian Gulf and is one of the world’s most strategically important passageways through which major part of the oil exports to the world passes through.

Tensions near strait of hormuz

US Miliatary carrier Abraham Lincoln’s entry into the Gulf came in defiance of an explicit warning from Iran. Earlier this month, General Ataollah Salehi, commander of the country’s armed forces, threatened to respond with "full force" if any US carrier ventured into the region’s waters. "We don’t have the intention of repeating our warning, and we warn only once," he said.

USS Abraham Lincoln, a nuclear-powered carrier capable of embarking 90 aircraft, passed through this channel and entered the Gulf without incident on Sunday. HMS Argyll, a Type 23 frigate from the Royal Navy, was one of the escort vessels making up the carrier battle-group. A guided missile cruiser and two destroyers from the US Navy completed the flotilla, along with one warship from the French navy.

On Sunday, six naval warships including Abraham Lincoln that is based in those waters from the US and the UK started to patrol the Straits of Hormuz in a show of strength. The straits could be the chokepoint for global oil flows if Iran decides to take the battle to oil-dependent countries and stops oil tankers here. This could send oil prices soaring and would be a killer blow to the sluggish global economy.

With this current situation looking like a economic war brought on by US , EU and IRAN, there is always the danger of it escalating with dangerous consequences. China’s Prime Minister Wen Jiabao was has expressed concerns in this context of rising tensions over fresh Western sanctions against Iran and its consequences for energy security in Asia.

Links:

Europe buys oil from – http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1621003/Factbox–Whose-oil-does-the-EU-buy-

Australian Business Newspapers and News reporting to focus on building online presence

January 7, 2012 by Reporter 1 Comment

As The NBN gets launched nationally Australians are getting better broadband speeds and more people now are changing the habits rapidly to check the Australian news online rather than picking up a print newspaper or magazine. The advance in technology with the help of new gadgets like Ipads, Netbooks and Smartphones have made news easily available on the go and Australians no more need to reach out to the nearest deli or newsagent or then the telly to get the latest news.

Business Newspapers Australia

In fact according to IBIS revenue to Australian on-line retailers is expected to increase to a staggering 8.6 %per year over five years to be worth a whopping 10 Billion. Internet acess and speed have increased and will increase further with the teh NBN making it possible fopr the larger part of the population to go online and read newspapers or shop online.

The older methods of getting the latest breaking news like the TV and the Newspaper will soon become a thing of the past.

Below is a list of some of the “major Australian Newspapers” that have managed to get a sizeable online presence in this changing market.

Sydney Morning herald (SMH) – Sydney and Australian News @ www.smh.com.au

The Australian – www.australian.com.au

The Age – Melbourne & Australian News @ www.theage.com.au

Heraldsun – -Victoria and Australia News @ www.heraldsun.com.au

News Portal – www.news.com.au

Many of these newspapers have also released apps for smartphones in the apple and Android marketplace to make their news more accessible to people with smartphones on the go

The Australian financial review

Other than newspapers having online presence there are other dedicated online Business journals that have a had a major online presence since a some time back like the www.brw.com.au/ ( Business review weekly )and local players like www.wabusinessnews.com.au ( for WA business ) and the Business spectator at www.businessspectator.com.au/

The Business Review Weekly

If you are looking for a old article from a newspaper , it is likely that you can find it at www.trove.nla.gov.au which have a digitised version of the newspapers online or Archives

Technorati Tags: Australian newspapers,wall street,financial news,Business news,Business website australia