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Mendelson Tiu

Fuji Xerox Printers Aim For A Greener Office

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Fuji Xerox has released two new colour laser printers designed for small to medium work groups, which the company says offer superior business productivity to users and is environmentally-friendly.

According to Fuji Xerox, the DocuPrint C2200 and C3300 DX uses a colour Emulsion Aggregation-High Grade (EA-HG) toner which does not contain fuser oil found in conventional laser printers.  The toner also emits 35 percent less carbon dioxide in its production process compared to conventional toners. The DocuPrint C2200 and C3300 DX are Energy Star compliant and have a power safe mode to reduce the device’s overall energy consumption.


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The DocuPrint C2200 is designed for small to medium work groups while the DocuPrint C3300 DX is ideal for large enterprises and busy workgroups.  Both devices claim to print fast, full colour First Page Time Out speeds of less than 17 seconds and outputs of up to 30 printed pages per minute.

The units also come with smart printing features that produce impressive graphics, photos and text with Adobe PostScript 3 and PCL6.

Fuji Xerox Printers Australia and New Zealand’s Marketing Manager, Tom Lewis said, “The DocuPrint C2200 and C3300 DX are a perfect match of speed and beauty.  The ability to print superior colour documents at lighting speed makes these printers the perfect companion for small businesses and large enterprises who demand quality and productivity from a networked printer.” 

 

Cost conscious businesses will appreciate the Auditron feature in the DocuPrint C2200 and C3300 DX which allows network administrators to limit access to colour printing or set usage limits by user. 

The DocuPrint C2200 and C3300 DX is bundled with CentreWare Internet Services management tools to simplify the installation and management of these network ready printers.  This browser-based software allows administrators to manage the printer remotely and can be easily configured to alert administrators and users of events such as low toner levels via e-mail. 

The Docuprint C2200 and C3300 DX have comprehensive networking features for complex business needs and security conscious work environments. These printers support wide area network printing in ERP applications including Citrix, SAP or Fuji Xerox ERP solutions.  Printing over office networks and the Internet is secured by tools such as the IPv6IPSec, IEEE802.1X authentication and SNMPv3 for TCP/IP.

The DocuPrint C2200 and C3300 DX are available immediately at recommended retail price of AU$1,209 and AU$1,649 including GST respectively through authorised resellers. 

See: www.fujixeroxprinters.com.au

Navman Sets New Standard With Platinum GPS

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The Navman S300t brings a lot of clever features to the table and sets a new benchmark in portable navigation. It has a large and bright touch screen, sports a small and compact design, and simplifies the way we go from one place to another.


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Shelling out $699 for a navigation device seems steep, especially now as we are heading towards tough economic times. But be rest assured that Navman has included a lot of features that make it well-worth purchasing.

Besides its built-in TMC receiver, FM transmitter, 3D lane guidance, 3D landmarks, and hand-free connectivity via Bluetooth, the S300t also comes with functions like Local Live Search and tons of safety and speed alerts to keep you safe.

The S300t has a dimension of 130 x 78 x 13.5 mm and sports a brushed aluminium finish, which adds a nice touch to the exterior. The unit is bundled with a DVD (NavDesk and Manuel), a suction cup, a mounting bracket, a USB port, and a cigarette adaptor that second functions as an external antenna.

 


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Unlike the S90i we reviewed last year, the S300t makes do without all the unnecessary jacks (antenna, microphone, and headphone) and only has a single power button on top of the unit. A microSD card slot used for storing files and the charging/USB port is located at the bottom of the unit. Finally, the unit’s speaker is located at the rear part of the unit, which can go loud when set to the maximum volume.

The unit will ask you to select a default language (12 available) on start-up, helping users who do not speak/read English. A short tutorial pops up right after the language selection, but users can opt to skip this process altogether and dive straight in.

Users must press the blue strip located at the bottom right of the screen in order to access the main menu. The main menu consists of 12 icons (Go, Find, Explore, Connect, Driving Map, My Places, Settings, Traffic, Petrol, Parking, Phone, and Media) that makes navigating straightforward.

The unit is easy to place in the cradle: it is all a matter of just aligning the cradle slots of the S300t to the mount. This particular model comes with TMC built-in, so users can receive live information with the help of the in-car charger that acts as an external antenna.

 

There are a couple of ways to input your destination: you can find an area, find a place by keyword, find a street address, find a postcode, and find nearby. To go to QVB, for example, we had to type Queen Victoria Building on the ‘Find by keyword’ option. Two results were shown (parking garage and Shopping Centre) and all we had to do was to choose which one we wanted to go to. The screen was also responsive and it was easy for us to browse and scroll through the menus and glide around the maps.

The Map screen’s layout is simple and free from clutter, making it easy for us to know exactly where we are and where we need to turn. Various features like 3D Landmarks, 3D Lane guidance, and text-to-speech found on the S300t enhanced the device, making navigation simpler.

The built-in TMC receiver allowed us to connect to Suna’s traffic messaging network. The unit displays ‘traffic events’ on your route, with users having the option to avoid an event by creating a detour. While the traffic system worked well most of the time, we have encountered several occasions when the traffic in our route (along M5) was not picked up.

 


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Navman has also included a DVD that contains the user’s manual and the NavDesk Software. The NavDesk program lets a user to purchase new maps, purchase accessories for the S300t, register the product, tweak the unit settings (My Navman), check and search photos for the NavPix feature, customise POIs (points-of interest), and even edit and transfer audio files using My Media. It may take a while to get used to the interface, but once a user familiarises him/herself with the functions, it is smooth sailing from there.

The Navman S300t lasted for an hour in our ‘Pedestrian Mode’ test. Charging the unit requires a user to hook up the unit to the computer (via USB) or inside the car (in-vehicle charger), as there is no AC adaptor included in the package.

With a great mapping software, clear spoken street names, 3D Landmarks, built-in TMC receiver, and Bluetooth connectivity, the Navman S300t is well-worth its price. If you want the best portable navigation device money can buy, then take the plunge and purchase this device.

See page over for product specifications and pricing:

 

Navman S300t Platinum Specifications:

Hardware:
Memory: 2GB
RAM: 128MB
Processor: 400 Mhz
Card Slot: microSD

Key Features:
– 4.3-inch Flat Wdiescreen
– Red Light / Speed Cameras
– Premium Safety Alert: School Zones, Railway Crossings, Black Spots
– Bluetooth Hands-Free
– Voice Instruction via FM
– 3D Landmarks
– 3D Junction View
– Extended Lanes Information
– Mileage Reporter
– SUNA Traffic
– Intelligent Destination Keyword Search
– Instant Location Capture Button
– Live Local Search (via Bluetooth)
– Fuel Efficiency Mode
– Pedestrian Mode
– Points of Interest: 580k
– Road Toll Alerts

Map Data Supplier: Navteq 2008 Q2
Product Dimensions: 130x78x13.5mm
Net Weight: 150g

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Navman S300t | $699 |  | www.navman.com.au

For: Large screen; Form Factor; Simple Interface; Built-in TMC; 3D Landmarks and Lane Guidance; Good TTS
Against: Occasional problems with TMC service; Unit has a hard time picking up a signal in the city; Only lasts one hour on pedestrian mode
Conclusion: Navman’s best navigation device to date.

Regulate Social Website Usage In The Office Says AVG

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While social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook can be used by companies as a valuable marketing channel, AVG has urged business owners to monitor how employees use the websites.

Security expert and professor in the Computer Science department at Columbia University, Herbert Thompson said that people may post personal details such as their Mother’s maiden name, which is often used by secure web sites as password prompts.

“People are posting indiscriminately – they throw weird information out there. What has happened is there has been a growth in the technology for information sharing but not a commensurate education in what information we should share,” says Thompson.

Companies should then consider creating and enforcing regulations on how social networking sites should be used, especially in relation to company business.

“Ignoring the increased usage and influence of social networking and Web 2.0 tools leaves organisations at the risk of misuse, potentially leading to the disclosure of sensitive information or misrepresentation of the company,” said Evgeny Kaganer, Ph.D., lead researcher and assistant professor, IESE Business School.

 

According to Lloyd Borrett, AVG (AU/NZ) Marketing Manager, in addition to developing high-level policies for the use of social networks, there are some simple guidelines that managers can provide to staff to minimise the risks.

“The fact that they are so user friendly makes them dangerous. You don’t mind your friends knowing where you live, or when your birthday is, or what your mother’s maiden name is, but if the bad guys manage to hack into your friend’s account, then they find out that information as well,” said Borrett.

Borrett advises that something as simple as creating separate passwords for each site, that are also different from log-ins for company systems, can be effective. Being generally cautious about who staff interact with and what applications they install is a good guideline.

“Your mother advised you to never talk to strangers. The same goes for social networking sites. If you don’t know who they are, don’t talk to them,” he added.

“Finally, be careful what applications you agree to install. There are a million people developing applications for these sites and something tells me they are not all good guys,” concluded Borrett.

Telstra Overhauls Business Mobile Broadband

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After slashing its mobile broadband plans for consumers, Telstra has announced its new business mobile broadband prices and new Acer notebook bundles.

According to the company, the new mobile broadband plans for business will offer: double the data allowance on some subscription plans with the $39 Standard plan offering seven times more data than previously; $0 upfront Telstra Mobile Broadband “elite” devices for the first time on some 24 month contracts; casual plan options starting at $5 a month for businesses wanting flexibility and no lock-in contracts; price reductions of up to $20 per month compared to Casual plans when customers connect their existing device on a 24-month contract; and a higher usage plan of 120GB to cater for growing demand for high bandwidth applications.

Telstra Business will also be launching three new ‘all-in-one’ business laptops, in partnership with Acer Computing, with built-in mobile broadband capability, low upfront costs and affordable repayment options.

Telstra Business Group Managing Director Deena Shiff said, “These landmark plans are designed to not only give small business owners and managers mobile working capabilities with Telstra’s superior network coverage, but make it affordable to equip more staff with high-speed productivity tools.”

“The surge in mobile broadband take-up shows it’s no longer just a tool for senior executives. Mobile broadband subscribers now account for 22 per cent of all Internet subscribers and usage is up 162 per cent across all networks up to June last year. Remotely monitoring worksites and infrastructure and sending and receiving multimedia files from home or in the field are just some of the ways small and medium sized companies are rapidly becoming digital businesses,” added Shiff.

In addition, Telstra Business will also offer access to the Aspire One A0531 10-inch Netbook with a $19 data pack, plus monthly laptop repayments starting from $28.29 per month for 24 months.

The Acer 8371 13.3-inch Notebook and the 8571 15-inch Notebook are available with data packs starting from $59 per month for 6GB of data, with a upfront payment of $149 and $249 respectively plus monthly repayments of $62.46.

BenQ Rolls Out Green Netbook

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BenQ announced its new 11.6-inch green netbook which is mostly made out of recyclable materials.


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BenQ Joybook Lite U121
The company says that the Joybook Lite U121 Eco draws 40 percent less power than previous generation netbooks because of its new Intel Atom processor and mercury-free, low-energy LED display.  In addition to this, 75 percent of the mechanical elements and 70 percent of packaging are also recyclable, gaining EPEAT recognition.

The Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (or EPEAT), is an online tool helping institutional purchasers select and compare computer desktops, laptops and monitors based on their environmental attributes.

The Joybook Lite U121 Eco weighs 1.3kg, lasts for up to 8 hours, and comes with a ‘quick charge’ feature which recovers 80 percent of battery life in just an hour of charging. It is powered by Intel Atom processor, runs on Windows XP, and has four USB ports, microphone in and headphone out sockets, a 4 in 1 card reader, 1.3-megapixel camera, and built-in speakers.

BenQ General Manager for Australia, Chee F. Chung said, “The market for netbooks – or mini notebooks – is in a state of rapid growth, and BenQ is well placed to capitalize on this trend with the release of the U121 Eco as it boasts superior features and benefits such as the unique 11.6 inch screen, long-life battery with ‘quick charge’ and of course, the fact that the product is designed and engineered for minimal environmental impact.” 

Joybook Lite U121 Eco is now avaialble for $899.00.

Speedy Next G Toshiba Notebook

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A notebook with a wireless broadband connection is essential for on the go users who want set up a virtual office anywhere. The Toshiba Portege M700 can be converted to a Tablet PC and comes built-in with a BigPond Wireless Broadband for instant access to the Internet anytime.

Explosive Sennheiser Earphone For Music Lovers

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Sennheiser has won our hearts once again with its new range of noise-isolating earphones. The IE range claims to deliver ‘pure professional performance with perfect stage sound’ and is part of its professional portable line.

The IE 8 is a set of high-end, in-ear earphones that come with a unique ‘bass response tuning’ screw that gives a user they the ability to let the ‘phones sound how they want it.

Out of the box, the IE 8’s come with three pairs of standard plugs, three pairs of double-flanged plugs, two pairs of foam plugs, two pairs of mushroom form plugs, a cable clip, a pair of ear hooks, a cleaning and adjustment tool, a dry salt pad, and a storage box.

The earphones can be worn in two ways: over the top of the ears with the use of the ear hook or traditionally. The medium-sized silicon plug is perfect for most people, but to achieve that perfect fit we advise users to take some time to exchange and test the plugs for themselves. Having the perfect fit will not only result to better noise-isolation, but will also deliver better bass response.

 

The 1.2 metre cable makes it possible to carry the unit in your pocket, while the detachable earphone enclosure allows for the replacement of the cable if any problems occur.

As previously mentioned, the enclosures come with a ‘bass response tuning’ screw that can be adjusted. By using the cleaning and adjustment tool, users can increase or decrease bass intensity. If you love your dance music, then we recommend you set the response level to maximum to hear that hard-pumping bass.

The Sennheiser drivers deliver a frequency response between 10 Hz to 20 kHz, an the aforementioned bass response. As soon as we pressed play, we immediately heard (and to a certain extent, felt) the deep thumping bass. Setting the response to maximum takes it even further, although it may not suit everybody.

 

Besides dance music, the IE 8 is also able to handle R&B, heavy metal, rock, and rap. Tracks from artists like Mary J. Blige, Slipknot, Metallica, and Dr. Dre sounded powerful, with the bass once again giving us a full-on experience. Mids were also rich, strong and detailed, with vocals being warm and full all-throughout.

The earphone was also able to produce crisp and detailed highs, although it won’t be as noticeable if the bass response is set to maximum. If you like it ‘balanced’, then we recommend users to just keep the bass response level at the lowest setting.

Overall, the Sennheiser IE 8 is a great set of earphones that will not disappoint. It sounds great, has a wide soundstage, and can handle just about any track you throw at it. If deep, rumbling bass is your kind of thing, then this set of ‘phones will most certainly not disappoint. The IE 8 is available now with an RRP of $539.95.

See page over for product specifications and pricing.

 

Sennheiser IE 8 Specifications:

Frequency Response: 10 Hz – 20 kHz
Cable length: 1.2 m, symmetrical (earphone to separator: 0.4 m; separator to plug: 0.8 m)
Impedance: 16 ohm
THD, total harmonic distortion: < 0.1%
Sound pressure level: 125 dB (1 kHz, 1 Vrms)
Attenuation (Passive): Up to 26 dB (95%)
Connector: 3.5 mm, angled
Ear coupling: Intra-aural (Ear-canal fit)
Transducer principle: Dynamic
Weight: 5g

Sennheiser IE 8 |$539.95 |  | www.syntec.com.au

For: Design; Noise-isolation; Comfortable for hours on end; Detachable earphone enclosure; Bass Response control; Great lows and mids; Wide soundstage
Against: Setting the bass response on maximum ‘drowns’ the highs; Not for users who like their treble
Conclusion: The perfect earphones for those who like their music with oomph.

Get ‘Moov’ing With Mio GPS

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Mio is set to launch a new range of portable navigation device designed to move users anywhere in Oz.


Mio Moov 370: TMC Built-in
The new Mio ‘Moov’ series (Moov 300, Moov 360, Moov 370) all sport a 4.3-inch anti-glare widescreen to make viewing and accessing information simple and easy, a sleek new design, and comes with a two year product warranty.

The Moov range promises the most comprehensive map data available in Australia with its MioMap2008 feature, powered by Navteq On Board, giving users access to the most up to date map data, with 100 percent coverage of Australian roads.
 
Mio also says that its Moov series is also the first device in the Australian market to feature Live Points of Interest (POI) search powered by TrueLocal. In addition to the 600,000 built-in points of interest (like restaurants and bars) included with MioMap2008 software, users can now connect to over a million business listings and venues via live search using a Bluetooth compatible mobile phone. Convenience is guaranteed with the feature working straight out of the box – no additional downloads required.
 
National Sales Manager, Peter Ferrigno said, “The Mio Moov range delivers what consumers have come to expect from Mio – a product packed with more features but at a value for money price. The partnership between NAVTEQ and Mio also means our customers will have access to map features never before seen in Australia.”

 


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Moov 300: Out of the box and into your car
The new range also offers real time traffic updates via the Traffic Message Channel (TMC), provided by SUNA Traffic. Following on from being first in Australia to offer TMC in Melbourne, the Moov range extends coverage to include metropolitan Sydney and Brisbane. The Moov 370 is TMC enabled in-the-box while the Moov 300 and Moov 360 can be activated as an optional extra. With TMC technology, users can find out what’s causing a delay, approximate time of delay and a detour option to reach their destination on time.
 
Mio has also included a new text-to-speech (TTS) function that will give users turn-by-turn guidance in clear Australian pronunciation and spoken street names. The Mio Moov will also alert drivers to the locations of over 11,000 fixed red light and speed cameras, school zones, blackspots and railway crossings. Visual and audio warnings will alert the user prior to the location, so they can concentrate more on the road.

Users are also set to discover a whole new dimension to discovering new places with NavPix photo navigation. Drivers can choose to navigate to a destination using a photo, simply by downloading geo-tagged images from Flickr and the MioMore desktop software.

A quick start up is also guaranteed with Mio Moov Instant Fix, allowing the Mio Moov to hook up with satellites up to five times faster. It also intuitively updates the data every three days without the need for a PC connection.

In addition to the plethora of new features included as standard, the Mio Moov 360 and 370 include even more product features to offer the ultimate in convenience, with Bluetooth Hands-Free capabilities and 3D landmarks.

By simply pairing a Bluetooth compatible phone with the Moov 360 or 370, users can make or receive phone calls – the Moov becoming a hands free device. It also comes with a 3D landmarks feature that will highlight prominent landmarks in 3D.

 

Mio Moov 300 (RRP $349) – for the GPS beginner
Ready to go straight from the box, it includes the easy-to-use MioMap2008, a 4.3″ antiglare widescreen, enhanced safety alerts, instant GPS Fix and the handy spoken street names, for greater accuracy and ease in reaching your destination. The unit comes with a 2 year manufacturer’s warranty.

Mio Moov 360 (RRP $429) – for the intermediate user looking for added convenience
In addition to the high quality Moov features included as standard, users will love being able to make and take calls using a Bluetooth compatible mobile phone or undertake a Live POI search by connecting to over a million business listings. And more for even more value, the Moov 360 features the intricate detail of Australian landmarks in 3D with the option to rotate the view 360 degrees.

Mio Moov 370 (RRP $549) – for the advanced user who likes to get there on time, every time
The Mio Moov 370 is the ultimate GPS unit packed with all the features including Live Traffic Updates activated in-the-box. Users can receive real time traffic information sent directly to the Moov 370, including updates on traffic congestions, accidents, road works and road closures (Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane). Live traffic Updates are also available optional with the Moov 300 and Moov 360.

Availability

The new Mio Moov series will be on shelf September 1 at Harvey Norman, Retravision, Myer and other national retailers

See: www.mio.com.au

Epson Ink Cartridges To Be Recycled

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Epson has launched an ink cartridge recycling program for its professional printing customers as part of the company’s ongoing global commitment to sustainable business practices.

Epson is reducing its environmental impact by introducing a recycling program that meets the expectations of its large format printing customers.

Epson’s Business Solutions Manager, Craig Heckenberg said, “Like Epson, our professional customers are concerned about the environment and are looking for ways to reduce their impact on the environment, so by introducing a simple way to recycle their ink cartridges we can collectively reduce waste to landfill. Encouraging recycling and providing services to enable our professional customers to recycle is just one way that Epson is demonstrating its commitment to the environment.”

In June, Epson Australia’s parent company, Seiko Epson Corporation, announced an ambitious multi-part program to address some of the most pressing environmental concerns facing the global community and how Epson intends to tackle them over the next 10 years.

 

The program commits Epson to a 10 year plan aimed at:

  1. Reduction of CO2 emissions by 90% across the entire product life cycle. 
  2. Inclusion of all products in the resource reuse and recycling loop. 
  3. Reduction of direct CO2 emissions by 90%, and elimination of global warming gas emissions other than CO2. 
  4.  Restoration and preservation of biodiversity as a member of the ecosystem, together with local communities.

Mr. Heckenberg said Epson Australia’s professional printing customers can now simply order their ink cartridge collection boxes from Epson’s Pro Graphics web site [http://www.epson.com.au/prographics/]

“Once the boxes are full (ready for collection) customers call the number on the box and the full liner bags will be collected by our recycling partner Close the Loop. We all want to do whatever we can for the environment, and now Epson is giving these high volume users a chance to turn their used cartridges to good use,” Mr Heckenberg said.

Close the Loop is the recycling company working with Epson, Planet Ark, and other printer vendors on the Cartridges 4 Planet Ark program to recover consumer and business laser and inkjet cartridges for recycling.

See: www.epson.com.au

Develop Printer Secures Your Data

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Imagetec has launched two colour multifunction printers from Develop that can print via Bluetooth and comes with security features to prevent unauthorised document tampering.


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Develop’s new ineo+ range (280 and 360) offer mobile printing via Bluetooth, a searchable PDF function that turns any scanned document into a searchable PDF, biometric authentication that prevents unauthorised access to the printer, copy security, and improved print quality.

The ineo+ range has also been designed to run quietly on very little power with lower fusing temperatures, ensuring the system consumes approximately 50% less energy than similar models whilst also having more than 90% recyclable components. The printers have received the Blue Angel Mark, Energy Star and meets WEEE and RoHS standards for low noise and emissions.

Imagetec’s General Manager for Sales and Marketing, Greg Heard said, “Businesses are looking for printing solutions that are high-quality, secure and sustainable. DEVELOP’s ineo+ range with its High Definition polymer toner technology, advanced data security functionality and energy efficient features meets all these needs. In addition to offering a sleek design, it comes with a competitive price tag which is sure to attract some attention in the market.”

“Imagetec has a substantial installed base of devices throughout Australia and these products, combined with our commitment to outstanding customer service, will enable us to expand our direct and dealership customer base even further”, added Heard.

The ineo+ 280 and ineo+ 360 deliver a scan speed of up to 70 originals per minute and an integrated 250 GB hard disk allowing users to store scans ready for future print and copy output. The printers can easily be integrated into any corporate network providing fast access, automatic status updates, remote maintenance and individually programmable authentication and account data for each user.