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Lenovo Unveils ThinkPad Laptops Powered By AMD Ryzen 4000

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Lenovo has unveiled its new ThinkPad E14 and E15 laptops, which offer up to AMD Ryzen 7 4700U processors with Radeon Graphics, stating that they will become available from June 2020 starting at US$639. The ThinkPad E14 and E15 models offer consumers an updated design, with a screen-to-body ratio of 85%. In addition, they add … Read more

D-Link Launches Nuclias Cloud-Managed Networking Solution In OZ

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D-Link has launched its new cloud-managed networking solution – Nuclias Cloud – in Australia. Nuclias Cloud will allow managed service providers (MSPs) to remotely set up, configure, monitor, troubleshoot and manage their customers’ network infrastructure, including Wi-Fi access points and network switches across multiple sites. D-Link has said that Nuclias Cloud is suitable for small … Read more

Jabra Launches Engage 50 Headset

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Jabra is providing a solution to distracting noises in offices with the launch of the professional digital corded headset Engage 50, with inbuilt call analytics, and specifically designed with professionals in mind. Focusing on users in call centres or similar, the Engage 50 headset features impressive passive noise cancellation, plus a unique three microphone system with … Read more

Porsche To Go All Green

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Car Magazine in the UK has claimed in an exclusive story that Porsche’s next Cayenne and Panamera vehicles will get petrol-electric hybrid engines, as the firm strives to reduce CO2 emissions.

The sports car maker has gone on the attack, with tough new European Union guidelines on carbon emissions looming. The ECC has already announced it would like the average new car’s emissions to total 130g/km of CO2 by 2012, and is now haggling with the industry about implementing the target. The move will apply in Australia.

In an extraordinary outburst, Porsche board member Michael Macht hit out at small car makers for failing to make big steps to cut carbon. ‘The contribution made by European small car manufacturers in reducing CO2 since 2002 has been truly disappointing. They have reduced CO2 emissions in their segment by just two per cent.’

Porsche has reduced the Cayenne’s CO2 emissions by 15 percent this year, by introducing direct injection onto its petrol engines. And CAR Online can reveal that this fuel-saving technology will be rolled out on the 911’s flat sixes next year. That will help Porsche cut its carbon emissions by 20 percent, between 2002 and 2008.

That said, Porsche’s most efficient model – the Cayman – emits 222g/km of CO2, and the Cayenne Turbo a profligate 358g/km. The company is clearly feeling the pressure, especially if the 130g/km target is made mandatory and hefty financial penalties are imposed for non-compliance.

‘If the European Commission decides that every individual car maker must reach the 130g/km of carbon dioxide target, then Porsche will have to close its doors,’ a company insider told CAR Online this week.

Porsche is lobbying for an ‘ambitious’ percentage reduction in emissions, instead of a specific CO2 target of 130g/km.

As well as rolling out direct injection petrol engines, Porsche will introduce hybrid powertrains too. Porsche is working on hybrids with Bosch and Audi, and will introduce a petrol-electric V8 on the Cayenne Mk2 before the end of the decade. Expect this Cayenne to return 30mpg. The Panamera saloon, to be launched in 2009, will follow suit. Our source said: ‘The Panamera will also have a hybrid engine from a very early stage.’

However our insider ruled out a Porsche diesel. ‘A diesel is against Porsche’s philosophy. It’s heavier, arguably not as clean as a gasoline engine and not accepted in markets such as America and Japan.’

 

Business Software Updates Crucial Says Attache

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According to Attach_ Software, businesses are being urged to update their accounting software to reduce the risk of business failure resulting from inadequate financial systems.


Click to enlarge

Managing Director, Michael Rich said more than 300,000 Australian and New Zealand businesses are using accounting software they have outgrown resulting in enterprises being deficient of vital information they need to perform their core business activities.

“Our experience has indicated that in many instances financial reports are between four and six months old with inadequate stock and debtors control, poor system security, over-reliance on spreadsheets and too many manual procedures. Accountants’ auditing and banks relying on reports is also a potential danger”, Rich said.

“Most of these businesses employ more than five staff and often have managers who have never experienced a major downturn, which can make them complacent about their financial systems.”

 

He said the transition process for a business to update its accounting software is actually very simple and operations need not be affected during the installation period.

“Without such information, businesses are flying blind and are ill-equipped to make strategic decisions that could impact on the viability of their enterprise.”

“Being complacent about accounting software in the current economic climate could result in many businesses experiencing a downturn in their own activities,” he said.

As part of their duty of care, Rich advises all banks and accountants and IT Service Providers to ensure their clients are aware of the risks of inadequate financial systems and to suggest a review of their accounting software if they have any doubts.

Strong Growth For Ozzie Auction

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Melbourne-based eBay competitor, OZtion, is celebrating the results of its first year of operations.

Claiming to be the country’s second largest auction site, OZtion has found clothing, Jewellery and crafts were all big sellers over the busy Christmas trading period.

Everall listings have grown 296 per cent for the site in the second half of 2005 which now boast some 47,000 plus simultaneous auctions.
The site initially launched on January 1st last year using locally developed technology and a Zero Cost Listing service which only requires payment for items which are sold. The sale fee ranges from 1.5% to 3% of the sale price, with the fee capped at $30.

Philip Druce, General Manager for OZtion commented, “OZtion is a community of Australians buying and selling online. Membership for our site is free, and has grown 103% in the last 3 months thanks to the support of our existing members. In December 2005, one individual member sang our praises so loudly, that she managed to convince 45 friends to join.”

In the Christmas period of November and December 2005, the top 5 categories of items sold by volume were: 1) Clothing, 2) Jewellery, 3) Crafts, 4) Books & Magazines, 5) Toys. These top 5 categories accounted for 66% of total sales by volume for November and December 2005.

www.oztion.com.au

MYOB Not Just A Flash In The Pan

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Flash Advertising has landed account software provider MYOB in a $2.5 million advertising deal that will significantly boost the agency’s revenue.

It is understood MYOB’s incumbent agency Spinach may continue to undertake some work on the account.
MYOB develops IT service and support to more than 500,000 businesses and has some 10,000 accounting practices worldwide.

Symbol Cops a Suit

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Struck by litigation over its accounting practices before, barcode scanner specialist Symbol Technology has been hit by a class action lawsuit in the United States District Court.

The federal class action lawsuit has been filed against the Company and two former officers of the Company in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York.
The suit placed on behalf of purchasers of Symbol Technologies, Inc publicly traded securities between May 10, 2004 and August 1, 2005, acquired shares through Symbol’s acquisition of Matrics, Inc., or through the employee share schemes.
The Complaint alleges that Symbol, and certain of its officers and directors, violated federal securities laws by issuing misleading public statements. Specifically, throughout the Class Period, defendants issued numerous positive statements about the Company’s performance and future prospects.
The complaint alleges that defendants failed to disclose and/or misrepresented the following adverse facts: (i) that Symbol had inadequate and deficient internal and financial controls; (ii) that Symbol’s reported expenses were understated; (iii) that Symbol had massive overcapacity, inefficient operations and obsolete assets; (iv) that Symbol was experiencing declining demand for its products; and (v) as a result of the foregoing, defendants’ statements concerning the Company’s financial prospects were lacking in a reasonable basis at all relevant times.
In a company statement Symbol said it is reviewing the complaint and intends to defend the suit vigorously.

 

OZ Workers Demand Facebook Access

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One in five job seekers would turn down a job if it did not provide access to social media such as Facebook, according to a paper released by recruitment company Hays.
The paper, Tomorrow’s Workforce, says 44.3 per cent of Down Under employers believe that allowing staff to access social media at work will help retain them.

However 23.7 percent of Aussie employers still ban social media at work.Of those people who do access social media at work for personal reasons, almost half (43.7 per cent) bring their own devices to do so.

But 56.3 per cent do not, which means they are using the employers’ equipment for access, Hays says.Australia is also lagging behind many other countries in the uptake of teleworking, according to the report.

One report says 6 per cent of workers (or 650,000 people) have teleworking arrangements of any form with their employers.

Only 9.9 per cent of employers make telecommuting available to all employees, though 69.1 percent of organisations do make it available to “certain employees”.

Claims That Marketers Wanted Vista Delay

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Is it quality concerns that have pushed back the consumer release of Microsoft’s new operating system, or are the marketers the real strategists?

It would make a lot of sense, if Microsoft is able to get the business version of the new OS out in November, what are they going to do in the weeks over Christmas to prep the consumer version of Vista for release. Surely with CD production taking some time in the equation it makes sense to ask the question.

That’s what Mary Jo Foley of Microsoft Watch did and the answer she came back with was that marketers were as much behind the delay as anyone.

Jim Allchin, co-president of Microsoft’s Platforms & Services Division, announced this week that the upgrade code required for Vista would be available to volume licensers on time, but that the full consumer version for OEMs was going to take a little longer.

It seems odd because you can bet tomorrow’s lunch that there isn’t a huge number of IT managers eager to line up at midnight in November to get their hands on the new operating system. Most business users are likely to wait six months to a year before considering a platform change of that magnitude.

Foley confirms that the code will be released to manufacturing this year, but the release to market won’t happen till some time in 2007. That remains to be seen.

“Volume licensing customers can cycle in (Vista) in a couple of weeks,” explained Brad Goldberg, general manger with Microsoft’s Windows Client Product Management team. But it typically takes PC makers longer to take the final RTM bits, test them and preload them on new machines, Goldberg told Foley – yeah right!

Dig a little deeper and you get a fuller picture. Allchin reportedly acknowledged that some of Microsoft’s partners were not happy about the delay while others felt that a November or December rollout “might have less impact” due to the holiday distractions.

Or take this comment: “We decided it would be better if you could have a big launch where we’re clearly the focus for the whole industry,” said Goldberg.

Both Goldberg and Allchin have tried to downplay the impact this will have on pre-Christmas PC sales, with Goldberg saying January is the new Christmas thanks to the big sales most retailers indulge in during the month.

“January has emerged as almost a second Christmas, with gift cards, sales, etc. It’s a new trend,” Goldberg said.