Smart Office

Menu

Martin Kovacs

Sennheiser’s New MB 660 Series Provides Open-Plan Office Headset Options

by

Sennheiser has introduced its MB 660 Series wireless adaptive active noise cancellation (ANC) headset line, designed for knowledge workers in open-plan offices.The MB 660 delivers a choice of ANC settings, with users able to choose from either ANC fully on or Sennheiser’s NoiseGard hybrid adaptive ANC, which “constantly monitors the background environment for ambient noises and adapts the level of noise reduction in the headset”.

Sennheiser states that NoiseGard “actively prevents the tiring sensation of being ‘stuck-in-a-barrel’ – the unpleasant effect that standard ANC headsets can create”. With the MB 660, adaptive ANC can be adjusted via Sennheiser’s CapTune mobile app.

The MB 660 is certified for Skype for Business, with it optimised for all major UC and softphone brands.

“With state-of-the-art microphone and noise-filtering technologies, MB 660 provides a crystal-clear communication experience for the user and listener alike,” Sennheiser states.

The MB 660 is decked out with a fully integrated, three digital microphone array, working in conjunction with Sennheiser technologies including SpeakFocus, Advanced Own-Voice-Detector and WindSafe, delivering “superior sound, speech intelligibility and comfort – regardless of how noisy the environment”.

“The headset delivers Sennheiser’s renowned high-quality stereo audio and CD-quality streaming using aptX,” Sennheiser states. “With a choice of pre-set sound effect modes – Club, Movie and Speech – the audio experience can be optimised for different listening situations.”

The MB 660 can connect wirelessly to a mobile phone or via an included UC-certified BTD 800 USB dongle to a PC, with an audio cable also included, allowing for users to continue using the MB 660 if it runs out of battery, with the foldable headset supplied with all accessories in a carrying case.

An ear-cup-mounted touchpad controls calls and media, operated by users with a swipe or tap, while, when it comes to putting the headset away, the MB 660 automatically powers down when folded for storage.

Sporting a lightweight and sleek design and decked out with “pillow-soft leather ear-pads”, the MB 660 provides battery performance of up to 30 hours.

“Research shows that noise and distractions in open-plan offices can have negative effects on productivity,” Andreas Bach, Sennheiser Communications president, commented.

“With MB 660, we can now upgrade the work experience for office workers, help them take control of their environment and create a disruption-free workspace for increased productivity and well-being.”

The MB 660 will be priced at $699.95 RRP.

Sony Introduces Xperia X Series Smartphones At MWC

by

Sony has given its Xperia line-up a new look, unveiling its first “X” series smartphones, along with a number of accompanying smart products, at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.Three smartphones make up the X series line, comprising the Xperia X, Xperia X Performance and the Xperia XA, with each model sporting a curved 5″ display, in the case of the Xperia X and Xperia Performance full-HD and HD for the Xperia XA.

All three smartphones run Android 6.0 Marshmallow, while under the hood, the Xperia X is powered by a Snapdragon 650 processor, the Xperia Performance a Snapdragon 820 processor and the Xperia XA a MediaTek MT6755 octa-core processor.

The Xperia X and Xperia Performance come with 3 GB RAM and up to 32 GB of flash memory, and the Xperia XA 2 GB RAM and up to 16 GB of flash memory, with all three smartphones providing capacity for up to a 200 GB microSD card.

The Xperia X and Xperia Performance each sport a 23 MP main camera with predictive hybrid autofocus, allowing the user to choose their subject, then predicting its motion, and a 13 MP front camera. The Xperia XA sports a 13 MP main camera with hybrid autofocus and a 8 MP front camera.

In terms of design, Sony states each of its X series smartphones “brings a curved glass display within a rounded, continuous frame for a familiar form that feels comfortable in your hand”.

“The unified design concept is also extended to Xperia XA, which features a stunning edge-to-edge display to integrate seamlessly into your life,” Sony states.

– Xperia accessories

Sony has additionally unveiled a range of smart accessories, including its Xperia Ear wireless ear-piece, which connects to Android smartphones via NFC or Bluetooth.

“It provides you with useful information, such as your schedule, weather and the latest news to keep you up-to-date on the go,” Sony states of the Xperia Ear.

“Powered by Sony’s voice technology, it responds to verbal commands, so you can ask it to make a call,

perform an internet search, dictate a message or navigate to a certain location. It enables you to face forward and get things done, for a convenient hands-free experience.”

The Xperia Eye, meanwhile, “is a conceptual vision for an ultra-compact, wearable wide-angle lens camera”, which can be attached to clothing or worn around the neck.

Sony states that it represents a proof-of-concept exploration to bring its camera and sensing technology to its smallest ever form-factor, decked out with a 360-degree spherical lens for a natural field of view, with intelligent shutter technology using facial and voice detection to capture images.

The Xperia Projector concept employs “a natural and interactive interface projection on any clear surface”, responding to touch, voice and gestures, the same as a smartphone screen, while the Xperia Agent concept is Sony’s vision for a personalised assistant, responding to voice and gestures, providing information,

communication assistance and home appliance controls, decked out with a built-in camera and projector display for projecting content onto surfaces.

Meanwhile, Sony is also set to rollout its RM-X7BT in-car Bluetooth commander, enabling wireless music streaming and using Sony’s voice technology to activate smartphone functions while driving.

It consists of an adaptor module, enabling wireless audio streaming and hands-free calls, and a commander, facilitating smartphone functions such as navigation.


D-Link DIR-895L Ultra Wi-Fi Router Launches In Oz

by

D-Link’s DIR-895L AC5300 MU-MIMO Ultra Wi-Fi Router, decked out with eight high-powered antennas to maximise coverage and speed, has launched in the Australia market.The DIR-895L delivers combined wireless speeds of up to 5,332 Mbps (1,000 Mbps in 2.4 GHz, plus 2,166 Mbps in 5 GHz, plus 2,166 Mbps in 5 GHz).

It also sports gigabit WAN/LAN Ethernet ports for high-speed wired connectivity, and is enabled with WPA2 security and Wi-Fi Protected Setup to ensure network integrity and ease-of-setup.

“Following on from the success of our DIR-890L AC3200 Wi-Fi Router, which was the first from the Ultra Performance Series, the DIR-895L continues D-Link’s philosophy of innovation by being built with the best speed, coverage and processing power available,” D-Link ANZ managing director Graeme Reardon commented.

“One feature particularly worth mentioning is Multi-User MIMO, which, when combined with Multi-User MIMO-enabled devices, provides the next level of Wi-Fi performance.

“Anyone who has ever lost their Wi-Fi signal while gaming or streaming movies on Netflix can benefit immensely from the advanced features and chart-topping wireless speeds and coverage this new router offers.”

DIR-895L key features:

– 1.4 GHz dual-core processor: faster processing power for supporting enhanced network speeds
– 4×4 Data streams: supports four simultaneous data streams for increased throughput
– MU-MIMO technology: provides a high-bandwidth Wi-Fi signal to multiple devices simultaneously

– Smart Connect: automatically assigns devices to the best possible wireless band available for optimal performance
– Advanced AC SmartBeam: tracks connected devices for enhanced Wi-Fi speed and range
– Tri-Band Wi-Fi: two 5 GHz bands and one 2.4 GHz band for faster Wi-Fi speeds
– Intelligent QoS: traffic optimisation to help prioritise network traffic so video streaming, gaming and VoIP calls run smoother over both wired and wireless networks
– Intuitive UI: controlling the network with an easy-to-navigate user interface
– Eight high-power antennas: maximum coverage throughout the home
– mydlink Cloud: monitor the network from any PC, smartphone or tablet
– USB 3.0: up to 10x faster than USB 2.0
– Easy setup: easy installation with web-based setup wizard or Quick Router Setup (QRS) app

Available now, the DIR-895L carries a price tag of $699.95 RRP.

Further information can be found here.

Desktop PCs Still A Key Tool For Businesses

by

While the move to mobile computing is widely documented, new International Data Corporation (IDC) research reveals desktop computers still remain the main PC form factor for businesses.Ultraslim notebooks, convertibles and tablets provide an ever-evolving range of mobile options, however desktop PCs are still a priority for businesses, with an IDC survey of 600 executives at SMBs and large enterprises in France, the UK and Germany finding 84 per cent of respondents would consider purchasing desktop PCs for their organisation.

The IDC found that the most important factors in the decision for businesses to buy a desktop PC are higher performance, better durability, longer lifespan and lower prices.

“The survey confirmed that the average lifetime of a desktop is one year longer than that of a laptop, reducing total cost of ownership for the company,” Maciek Gornicki, IDC EMEA personal computing research manager, commented.

“As a result, lower price and better resilience definitely make desktop the best choice for companies that have limited budgets and that require solutions for non-mobile office employees. On the other hand, desktops’ higher security will benefit businesses that operate in industries such as insurance, finance and banking, as well as government agencies.”

Small form factors and mini-PCs are of interest for businesses, with smaller options becoming more popular as companies increasingly look to save desk space and energy, with the IDC finding 43 per cent of respondents would consider a small form factor device and 35 per cent would be willing to purchase a mini-PC.

The deployment of Windows 10 is also a priority for businesses looking to increase productivity, with as many as 40 per cent of respondents stating that they are looking to upgrade in the next 12 months. The IDC notes that, with the move to Windows 7 now largely complete, while most businesses skipped the migration to Windows 8, the need to upgrade becomes increasingly urgent.

“The majority of companies are expected to rollout the new operating system without purchasing new hardware initially, especially as a large proportion of desktops in the commercial PC installed base should fit the requirements of Windows 10,” Gornicki commented.

“Some companies are likely, however, to consider rolling out new hardware at the same time due to the new Intel Skylake platform coming into the market, as it is expected to bring manageability and security benefits, as well as enhance efficiency compared with older platforms.

“Together with Windows 10, this may be enough to trigger a moderate renewal wave at the beginning of 2016.”

Tablet Shipments Fall, Detachables Are Going Strong

by

Total tablet shipments for 2015 were down 10.1 per cent year-on-year, according to the International Data Corporation (IDC), however detachable tablets are growing in popularity.In total, shipments for 2015 were 206.8 million units, according to the IDC, while in the fourth quarter shipments of 65.9 million units were down 13.7 per cent.

While pure slate tablets experienced their greatest annual decline to date of 21.1 per cent, detachable tablets more than doubled their shipments since the fourth quarter of last year.

“This quarter was unique as we had new detachables in the market from all three of the major platform players,” Jitesh Ubrani, IDC Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Device Trackers senior research analyst, commented.

“Despite lukewarm reviews, the iPad Pro was the clear winner this season, as it was the top selling detachable, surpassing notable entries from Microsoft and other PC vendors.

“It’s also important to note that the transition towards detachable tablets has presented positive opportunities for both Apple and Microsoft. However, Google’s recent foray into this space has been rather lackluster, as the Android platform will require a lot more refinement to achieve any measurable success.”

Jean Philippe Bouchard, IDC research director, tablets, noted that “one of the biggest reasons” for the fast growth of detachables “is because end users are seeing those devices as PC replacements”.

“We believe Apple sold just over two million iPad Pros, while Microsoft sold around 1.6 million Surface devices, a majority of which were Surface Pro and not the more affordable Surface 3,” Bouchard commented.

“With these results, it’s clear that price is not the most important feature considered when acquiring a detachable – performance is.”

Apple ended the year as the top vendor, shipping 49.6 million units, down 21.8 per cent year-on-year, and capturing 24 per cent of the market, with Samsung in the number two spot, shipping 33.4 million units, down 16.1 per cent, and claiming a 16.2 per cent market share.

Lenovo came in in third position, shipping 11.2 million units, up 0.4 per cent year-on-year, capturing a 5.4 per cent market share, followed by Asus, shipping 7.1 million units, down 39.9 per cent, claiming a 3.4 per cent market share, and Huawei, shipping 6.5 million units, up 116.6 per cent, capturing a 3.1 per cent market share.

In the fourth quarter, Apple shipped 16.1 million units, down 24.8 per cent year-on-year, claiming a 24.5 per cent market share, with Samsung in second position, shipping 9 million units, down 18.1 per cent, capturing a 13.7 per cent market share.

In third position, Amazon shipped 5.2 million units, up 175.7 per cent year-on-year, claiming a 7.9 per cent market share, followed by Lenovo, shipping 3.2 million units, down 13.5 per cent, capturing a 4.8 per cent market share, and Huawei, shipping 2.2 million units, up 124.6 per cent, and capturing a 3.4 per cent market share.

Amex And Apple Pay: “A Good Strategic Fit”

by

New research from Roy Morgan Research has found that with Apple Pay launching in Australia on American Express the potential turnover is more than $1 billion a month.Roy Morgan has found that Amex cardholders have the highest ownership of iPhones compared to MasterCard, Visa and all the major banks and have the highest spend on credit cards overall.

“With 221,000 holders of Amex-issued credit cards owning an iPhone and spending an average of $4,560 across all their credit cards each month, the potential turnover on Apple Pay is more than $1 billion per month,” Roy Morgan states.

Roy Morgan found that 52 per cent of Amex credit card holders (non-bank issued) have an iPhone, compared with MasterCard holders (36 per cent) and Visa (35 per cent).

ING Direct leads the banks with 47 per cent iPhone ownership, with Westpac and ANZ on 36 per cent, followed by NAB (35 per cent) and CBA (34 per cent).

Amex card-holders are nearly twice as likely as other card-holders to have made a purchase with a mobile phone, Roy Morgan states, making them likely candidates to take up Apple Pay.

Over 80,000 Amex card-holders currently own an iPhone 6, capable of accessing Apple Pay, with this “likely to grow rapidly, given that another 48,000 Amex card-holders intend to buy or upgrade a mobile phone within the next 12 months”.

Amex card-holders (non-bank issued) spend an average of $4,560 per month on cards overall, ahead of Mastercard ($2,870) and Visa ($2,940), Roy Morgan figures show, with the challenge for Amex being to capture more of their cardholders’ spend, currently amounting to $1,980 per month (around 43 per cent of their total card spend).

“There is an obvious synergy between the type of high-end, affluent customer who holds an Amex card and Apple’s customers, who tend to be early adopters of the latest technology,” Norman Morris, Roy Morgan Research industry communications director, commented.

“This is evident in the fact that Amex-issued card-holders have the highest iPhone ownership of all the major banks’ customers and other cardholders.

“Another positive factor for the potential success of Apple Pay is that Amex card-holders are already more familiar than the general population with using their phone to make purchases, doing so at twice the overall population level.”

Morris noted that for Amex card-holders “the full potential of business likely to be conducted on Apple Pay will depend on achieving a greater share of their spend”.

“At present, Amex is only gaining 43 per cent of their customers’ card spend, leaving a big opportunity for growth from existing card-holders,” he commented. “It will also be interesting to see how many Amex customers with their cards issued by a bank might drop their cards for one that can use Apple Pay.”

Windows 10 Will Not Halt PC Market Slide

by

The release of Windows 10 will not be enough to halt the decline of the global PC market, according to the International Data Corporation (IDC).The IDC expects global PC shipments to fall 8.7 per cent in 2015, with growth declining through 2016 and shipments not stabilising until 2017, which will make five years of declining shipments.

The IDC had expected the 2015 second quarter to be a transition period, with vendors preparing for Windows 10 in the second half of the year, however “a stubbornly large inventory of notebooks from prior quarters and severe constraints posed by the decline of major currencies relative to the US dollar” proved a stumbling block.

Free upgrades of Windows 10 along with a relative dearth of newer models in the short term, combined with channels reluctant to take stock, also makes the prospect of growth unlikely through 2016, according to the IDC.

Interestingly, the IDC has found that blame can no longer be attributed to mobile devices as the sole culprit of the PC market decline.

While smartphones are still growing, the combined volume of PCs, tablets, and smartphones is expected to grow only in the single digits from 2015 through 2019, with saturation and “good enough computing” sentiments spreading even into tablets, which are expected to see further volume decline in 2015.

The IDC, however, remains optimistic of a “modest recovery” in 2017, stating the prospect of the next refresh cycle and the cessation of the free upgrade to Windows 10 should provide opportunities in the notebook and commercial segments, with purchases also expected to regain some interest in emerging regions.

“Although the shortcomings of the PC business are obvious, a silver lining is that the industry has continued to refine the more mobile aspects of personal computers – contributing to higher growth in convertible and ultra-slim notebooks,” Jay Chou, IDC Worldwide PC Tracker senior research analyst, commented.

“The de-emphasis of touch on Windows 10 also paves the way for a more familiar experience and continuing unit growth on large-screen systems, particularly all-in-one PCs.”

Global Handset Sales To Rise 4.9% in 2016, Refurbished Market Poised For Growth

by

ABI Research has forecast that global handset sales, including both smartphones and mobile phones, will rise 4.9 per cent this year, with the refurbished market poised to grow.The growth of the refurbished market will push OEMs to reconsider their branding options and portfolios as a whole, ABI states.

“We anticipate the refurbished market to grow significantly over the next five years, particularly as it starts to encompass devices with advanced feature sets and 4G connectivity,” ABI research director David McQueen commented.

“The spike in the refurbished market will cause a ripple effect, enabling companies like Apple to drive down pricing in their product portfolios without resorting to pushing through the next new, lost-cost product launch.

“This will be particularly useful for companies targeting emerging markets in the years ahead to help both expand their brand reach and addressable market.”

ABI notes that Samsung is the leading global smartphone and handset vendor, with its expansive portfolio allowing it to claim stake to a larger addressable market.

ABI, however, also notes that this range is putting pressure on Samsung’s margins, suggesting that this is the main reason behind its decision to scale back on the sale of old models, providing an improved mix of new launches to increase the blended average selling price this year.

The Asia Pacific region will continue to drive overall growth, projected to account for more than 50 per cent of sales through to 2020, while ABI states its research shows Africa will show the greatest growth rate over the next five years, while also becoming the second largest handset shipment region from 2016.

ABI states that, regardless of the region, “market leaders will need to take necessary, forward-thinking measures in the years ahead if they wish to retain healthy margins and stay on top in a market that is becoming increasingly commoditised and is clearly reaching saturation despite the billions of new handsets being sold each year”.

“Apple and Samsung are very successful in maintaining margins so far, but many others are beginning to fall by the wayside, notably Blackberry, HTC and Sony,” McQueen commented.

“It will be those that can control costs, create quick and sustainable differentiation, and establish new business models – such as those being touted by Xiaomi and Jolla – that will remain competitive and resilient to the expected ongoing market pressures.

“Support for reverse channel business models that embrace the refurbished market will be an important part of that mix.”

Touch ID Power Button For New MacBook Pros?

by

According to a report from 9to5Mac, Apple’s upcoming MacBook Pro models could be decked out with a Touch ID power button.9to5Mac has reported that it has been informed by a source who has provided reliable information in the past that the new MacBook Pros will feature the Touch ID button, along with previously reported OLED touch-sensitive function keys.

Touch ID, Apple’s fingerprint identity sensor, is a feature of the tech giant’s recent iPhone and iPad releases, having been introduced a few years back with the iPhone 5s.

A KGI Securities note which had first reported the OLED function key display had also suggested that the new MacBook Pros would offer “Touch ID support”, while not containing specifics, according to the report.

Having previously reported on the note, 9to5Mac had reported that along with upgrading the 13″ and 15″ MacBook Pros, Apple will introduce a new 13″ MacBook, and according to KGI analyst Ming-Chi Kuo plans to make the MacBook Air the entry-level model, the MacBook the mid-tier option, with the MacBook Pro the high-end variant.

9to5Mac had also previously reported that the new models are expected to come with USB-C support and Thunderbolt 3, with launch expected in the fourth quarter.

3D Printing Market Poised For Growth And Change

by

The 3D printing vendor landscape is on course for a significant shift in the coming years with the market poised for growth, according to Canalys.Canalys forecasts that value for the worldwide market for 3D printers, and associated materials and services, will reach US$4.9 billion by the end of the year.

The total market is expected to grow by a compound annual growth rate of 43.5 per cent from 2015 through to 2020, reaching a value of US$22.4 billion, while shipments are forecast to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 67.2 per cent, reaching 2.4 million units by 2020.

In 2015, vendors shipped 182,000 3D printers worldwide, up 37 per cent year-on-year, with strong performances in both the enterprise and consumer sectors. Canalys found that industrial expenditure on 3D printers fell, while educational establishments ordered thousands of systems for their students

Taiwanese vendor XYZprinting held onto the top spot as the world’s largest 3D printer vendor, making up 38 per cent of total shipments.

Canalys analyst Joe Kempton observed that it was “a tough year for many large vendors” last year, with many struggling to maintain growth rates, resultantly having “been forced to take stringent cost-cutting measures”.

“Some, such as 3D Systems, have even been forced to leave an entire section of the industry,” Kempton commented. “At the low end of the market, this has cleared the way for many new vendors to fill the gap, launching 3D printers at ever lower prices.

“At the high end, companies have been left vulnerable to attack from newer enterprise-focused vendors, such as HP, which are just starting to enter the market.

“As a result, Canalys expects to see a dramatic shift in the 3D printing vendor landscape over the course of the next few years, and we will likely see substantial consolidation occurring in the market as some vendors are forced to leave.”