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PC Thief Pinches Top CEOs Details

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Some of Australia’s top business heads could have their details compromised after a PC was taken from offices last weekend.The computer nicked from the Australian Institute of Company Directors during a scheduled power outage which affected the whole George Street building in Sydney and “temporarily disabled the office’s normal premises security,” the Institute said today.
 
The body has a 28,700-strong membership from public and private entities across the country although says the data held on the device which includes personal details and “in some cases”  those of personal assistants and their email addresses, was protected. Credit card or banking details were not included, it added. 

However, police are investigating the incident.

“We understand that the risk of its being accessed and used for fraudulent purposes is low and that its utility is minimal, as much of the information is publicly available,” Company Directors’ CEO, Mr John Colvin, said.

“The stolen computer did not contain data about credit card numbers, banking details, personal email addresses of members and clients or passwords.”

“While we are of the view that the risk is low, we take this matter and the privacy of our members very seriously,” Colvin said.

 

“We have assured our members and clients that we have strong data security precautions in place and that our data storage and other systems, including our website, are not compromised in any way.”

David Jones Sales Slump 4.6%, CEO Admits ‘Challenges’

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Even Miranda Kerr couldn’t save DJ sales


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Full year sales for the high end retailer slipped 4.6% and like-for-like sales dipped 4.3% in 2012 trading year, compared to FY11.

David Jones’ sales slump continued in its most recent fourth quarter falling 1.3% to $455.8 million (29 April-28 July 2012), however this marked a lesser decline than the FY result, noted said CEO Paul Zahra.

“Whilst trading conditions continued to be challenging throughout the quarter we did see a continued improvement in our sales tracking, with sales in 4Q12 down 1.3%,” said Zahra.

DJs also reaffirmed its downwards profit guidance of 35% – 40% for the 2012 financial year.

But Mr Zahra insisted “we are making good progress in implementing our Future Strategic Direction Plan.”

DJs’ ‘Home and Electrical’ categories continued to be “challenging” while the best performing categories in 4Q were Womenswear, Menswear, Beauty and Accessories.

The best performing states in the quarter were Victoria, the ACT and Western Australia, while performance in Queensland was adversely impacted by the Toowong Village store refurbishment. The department store also commenced the refurbishment of its Sydney Elizabeth Street store in July.

 

The Company said it has addressed the excess inventory issue it faced in FY12 and is “well positioned” with new inventory for FY13.

David Jones decreased the duration of its Winter Clearance by two weeks during Q4 which Zahra said ” is consistent with our strategy to reduce the length of our discount events and to focus on new inventory.”

Whilst admitting the trading environment remains “challenging,” Zahra sung off his retailers positives including:
a strong business model, clear business strategy, strong balance sheet, good cashflows, ownership of Sydney and Melbourne CBD stores and the best national and international brand portfolio in Australia.

The retailer will release its full year results in September.

Harvey Norman Baddies V Cuddly Koalas

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Gerry Harvey’s giant accused of endangering koalas by eco group.
An investigation by eco group Markets For Change has found the native koala is “being placed at greater risk of extinction due to the unsustainable logging of native forests it depends on for survival,” and sold to unsuspecting customers as ‘Naturally Australian’ flooring by Harvey Norman.

The eco group made the accusation at the furniture retailer yesterday as it released its latest report, which also accuses Forests New South Wales of facilitating the crimes against koalas at Boambee State Forest located at NSW North East

The remaining koala populations of coastal NSW are being placed at greater risk of extinction due to the unsustainable logging of the native forests that are home of the already endangered animal listed as a ‘vulnerable’ species in Queensland, ACT and NSW.


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Harvey’s can source timber from native forests, as it does not have a publicly available procurement policy that prevents the purchase of such timber products.

“There is also insufficient labelling on the wood products the company sells,with extremely limited information detailing the timber species that products are made of, where such products are made andwhether or not they originate from plantations or native forests,” the report states.

Markets for Change’s says Harvey sells furniture made from native timber from Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia forestry through cheap manufacturing operations in China, yet claims its flooring products are sourced from “sustainable and renewable natural resources”.

Gerry Harvey declined to comment on the accusations but told the ABC the group was seeking to take advantage of his high profile.

The Australian Senate has called for much stronger protection measures for the koala, and although the recognition koalas are ‘vulnerable’ species offers a further “administrative layer of protection”, where logging operations are conducted under the Regional Forest Agreements (RFA’s), the Federal listing will have no meaningful effect.

 

Markets for Change is calling on the retailer to phase out selling such products and to sell wood products made from sustainable sources.

Harvey Norman also needs to give their customers clear and accurate information about the source of their wood products.

But its not just retailers like Harvey that has raised the ire of the eco group:

Forty Winks, Snooze, Focus on Furniture, Everyday Living, Sleep City, Domayne, Freedom Furniture, Furniture Court, Furniture One, Bedshed and OzDesign all sell products made from native forest wood.This is not the first time the eco group has declared war on Harvey’s operation though.

Snap! Facebook ‘Camera’ Hits iPhone

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Facebook Camera for iPhone, lets you share multiple photos instantly with mates.
“Today, we’re introducing Camera, a new mobile app that makes using Facebook photos faster and easier,” Facebook’s Dick Stoop announced on a blog.

Facebookers with an iPhone can now get snap happy and take, upload multiple photos all at once instead of having to post one at a time – all within the app.

After you take your shots, select those you want to share by tapping the check-mark on each image and then hit ‘post’.

Facebookers on iOS can also add a caption, location and tag friends before they share.

When users launch the Camera app on iPhone, you’ll get a feed of photos of your mates.

You can swipe to see any more of any album or tap to enlarge individual images.

And Facebook imaging has also gone hi-tech allowing you to edit photos with new tools like the ability to crop, rotate and add filters to any picture in your camera roll.


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And one of the best things about this is you don’t have to post dodgy images of yourself and can pick and choose which ones go on the social network.

SmartHouse asked Facebook if ‘Camera’ is coming to Android, and a spokesperson said:

“While we don’t comment on future products, we are always looking into ways to make user experience better across Android devices.” (That’s a probably, then).

 

And it seems Facebook are getting serious on imaging after forking out $1 billion for imaging guru Instagram last month.

Camera will be available for iPhone later today.

You can get a link to the app texted to your phone or just search for ‘Facebook Camera’ in the App Store.

Appy New Year! Telstra “Message The Bridge & Mates” NYE Madness

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Message the bridge and 50 of your mates at midnight on 01-01-13. For Free. 
It’s an Australian first: Telstra have announced a free interactive Sydney New Year Eve app allow users send messages to appear on the Sydney Harbour Bridge pylons. 

The app for iOS and Android allows telco users – on any network – to send 50 texts for free at midnight.

And the best bit is you load 50 texts prior to 6pm on New Year’s Eve which Telstra will then send out from 12 am.

So no matter what state you’re in, come 12 am 01 January 2013, be sure in the knowledge your texts to loved ones will be sent (error free), leaving you to party on down at one of the biggest New Year’s events in the globe.

Revellers will also be able to “message the bridge” and see their celebration message up in lights on the Sydney Harbour Bridge pylons.

Pretty damn cool.

The app will automatically sync with your smartphones and the screens will light up with the colours and patterns of the show the biggest lightshow Sydney has ever put on, in four “colour moments” at 10:15pm, 11:00, 11:30 and 11:45.

Telstra will be live streaming Sydney New Year’s Eve celebrations on Telstra’s YouTube channel.

Six cameras will capture all the action from 8pm until after the midnight fireworks. The app was developed in conjunction with the City of Sydney.

 

It will also provide venue capacity updates and other safety advice for people attending the Sydney new year event.

The app is designed to allow all Australians to connect to each other and the fireworks and light shows in Sydney,” said Telstra’s Chief Marketing Officer, Mark Buckman.

“From Darwin to Darling Harbour, anyone with this app can preload 50 texts that we will send to their family and friends for free as they kick off the New Year.”

“New Year’s Eve is a time for resolutions and celebrations with friends and family. Sharing messages with people we care about is a key component of any New Year?s Eve celebration so we wanted to make these connections easier than ever before – no matter which network you are on,”Buckman said.

Over one billion people watch Sydney New Year’s Eve in Australia and around the world, contributing $156 million to the local economy – not bad for one night only.

 To download the app on iTunes go to: https://goo.gl/vrTfy and on Google Play http://goo.gl/i2kuY

Orange IT Rebrands To ‘IT Station’

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From orange to blue: Orange IT has rebanded to ‘IT station.’

The newly blue branded ‘IT Station’ store is now located at North Sydney at 141 Walker St, having shut down its previous ‘Orange IT’ Walker St store in February.  

The store closed just days before rivals JB Hi-Fi opened up a new store just doors away. 

Advertised as the ‘one stop shop for IT’, the ‘IT Station’ in North Sydney is the only store listed on its website, despite previously operating several Orange IT shops in the Sydney CBD. 

Several customers were not happy when Orange IT closed earlier this year, and took to Twitter to express discontent.

Channel News visited the new IT Station last week and found it was selling mainly computer accessories, headsets, storage and networking solutions from the likes of Asus, Samsung and Seagate.

It is also offering phone repairs including iPhone 4/4S screen servicing. 
However, it no longer sells hardware, netbooks or PCs, which may be in light of the new competition from JB Hi-Fi, which is selling a massive range of tablets and Macs just down the road. 
The store is open Monday-Friday from 9-6, so it appears to be targeting the office crowd based in North Sydney. 

Myer Up 0.5%, Calls In Big Spenders

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Slight rise for high street retailer as it calls in the big spenders

Myer reported third quarter sales of $652.5million, up 0.5% on last year. 

On a comparable basis, sales for the thirteen weeks to 27 April rose 0.4%, marking the “fourth consecutive quarter of positive comparable store sales growth,” Myer said in a statement.  

However, Bernie Brookes CEO remains cautious, alluding to “external factors influencing consumer confidence.”
Key categories were Menswear, Cosmetics, Womenswear, and Childrenswear during the quarter, with no mention of homeware or electronics.  Exclusive Brands and concessions continued to grow. 
The best performing states were Victoria, Queensland and New South Wales, although boom state Western Australia was not included in the list.
Hey Big Spender
However, CEO Bernie Brookes remains cautious about the outlook for retail, but talked up its omni-channel efforts and the ‘five-point strategic plan’ which includes a new MYER one loyalty scheme for big spenders. 
“Notwithstanding the external factors influencing consumer confidence and discretionary spend, we remain focused on executing our well-established five-point strategic plan, and continue to make progress on all five pillars. 

“These are improving customer service, enhancing our merchandise offer, optimising our store network, strengthening our loyalty program and building a leading omni- channel offer”.

This month, Myer’s 2,000 biggest MYER one spenders were invited to join the new ‘platinum tier’ of its loyalty program. 
Myer says building its omni-channel offer is a major “priority” alluding to its new order management system that will deliver productivity benefits to the business and consumer.
Myer is also refurbishing three of its 20 stores in Queensland, Adelaide and Miranda, New South Wales.
Myer said its newest store opened in Shell Harbour, New South Wales earlier this month, with a “very positive response” from customers.

Super Regulator To Alter Classifications?

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A new report out today says a News Press Council and Super regulator should be set up in Australia.


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The report, the Independent Inquiry into Media and Regulation by Hon R Finkelstein QC and and Matthew Ricketson from Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC), recommends a News Media Council be established “to set journalistic standards for the news media.”

The Media Council as envisaged by the report, would govern news across all platforms – print, online, radio and television and ensure high standards in the media:

“One function of a News Media Council should be to chart trends in the industry, and particularly to see whether there will be a serious decline in the production and delivery of quality journalism,” the report states.

Another of the ALRC recommendations (there’s over 50 in all) is a new super regulator to oversee the classification of all content in Australia -everything from print, TV, films, to video games, and web content – meaning identical age classifications across all platforms.

This means taking powers off the Classification Board, Australian Communications and Media Authority as well as Attorney-General’s Department and Dept of Communications.

However, the Classification Board would still be retained as an independent body.

“A single regulator, that incorporates classification and media content regulation within a wider portfolio of responsibilities, may be more responsive to the challenges of media convergence,” the ALRC report states.

The News Council would also seize control for online news currently held by Australian Communication Media Council and handle complaints made by the public when standards are breached and would be government funded.

“New technology, particularly the internet, has revolutionised access to the news,” the report states.

However, no major new standards for media would be created, it appears, rather “those [new] standards will likely be substantially the same as those that presently apply and which all profess to embrace.”

A Media Council won’t be another way of censoring the press, the report states, and should be comprised of “community, industry and professionals.” However, whether any changes will occur if the report’s recommendations are enforced, remains to be seen.

“The establishment of a council is not about increasing the power of government or about imposing some form of censorship. It is about making the news media more accountable to those covered in the news, and to the public generally,” the ALRC report states.

“A free press is a powerful institution which can, and does, affect the political process, sometimes in quite dramatic ways.”

And the current system of media self-regulation appears to be inadequate the report notes, with “only one or two” newspaper appointing an ombudsman or reader rep, the report continues, and criticised the present system where newspapers largely fund and control regulation.

“The mechanism currently in place these mechanisms are not sufficient to achieve the degree of accountability desirable.”

 

The Minister for Communications Senator Stephen Conroy welcomed the ALRC report stating:

“I’d like to thank Mr Finkelstein QC and Professor Ricketson and their team for their efforts. I would also like to thank all the individuals and organisations that contributed to the Inquiry.”

The report has been forwarded to the Convergence Review Committee for its consideration, which will take a broad look at a range of regulatory issues across the communications sectors and is set to present its final report to Government by 31 March.

Finkelstein QC, the principal author of the report, is refusing media interviews at present.

Shadow Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull said he supported some of the recommendations of the ALRC report, but the “recommendation to set up a new government funded super regulator, a News Media Council, with statutory powers to take over the role of the Press Council, the media regulation role of ACMA and have jurisdiction over the online world is not one which would appeal to the Coalition, believing as we do in a free press,” he said in a statement today.

Haier Play Hard Ball As F&P Directors Reject Takeover

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Take it or leave it: Chinese giant plays it tough as Fisher and Paykel Directors reject takeover bid.
The Haier Group’s cash takeover offer of NZ$1.20 per share for appliance giant Fisher and Paykel has been rejected by four F&P Independent Directors, today. 

Fisher and Paykel Applainces four Independent Directors have “unanimously recommended shareholders do not accept” Haier’s takeover offer of $1.20 ps, in a statement released today.

The Directors said the offer “does not adequately reflect their view of the value of FPA based on their confidence in the strategic direction of the company”

However, the China based white goods giant who already has a 20% stake in F&P says the cash offer represents “excellent value” for shareholders.

The offer for full control of F&P’s Australia and NZ operation was made through Haier’s New Zealand subsidiary last month.

But Haier is now playing hard ball, warning F&P’s Independent Adviser’s valuation range of $1.28-$1.57 per share price range, announced today, is “overly optimistic” and fails take into account the ‘risks’ contained in the company’s five year strategic plan.

Haier is warning F&P shareholders will need to decide between “the certainty of Haier’s offer or taking a significant risk on the achievability of the Independent Adviser’s valuation range.”

“The offer price is a significant 60% premium to Fisher & Paykel Appliances’ share price as at the close of trading on Friday 7 September, before the market was advised of the potential takeover ,” the company warned in a statement today.

Haier already has several of F&P’s large shareholders on board including Allan Gray Australia, which holds 17.46% stake, has entered into an irrevocable agreement to accept the offer.

Liang Haishan, Haier president and NZ Chairman said this agreement represents a strong endorsement of his company’s takeover bid of NZ$1.20 per share, which is a 91% (share) premium to the weighted average trading price over the three month period up to the takeover bid was announced.

Liang also warned that if Haier’s offer does not succeed, a large decline in the share price from current levels is likely, noting Fisher & Paykel shares has traded as low as NZ$0.33 in the past 12 months. F&P’s shares rose signifcantly in New Zeland after the bid was announced and are currently trading at NZ$1.22.

F&P shares have almost doubled in Australia since the takeover announcement was made last month, currently selling at A$0.97 on the ASX.

 

“This is appropriate and we also considered this information when determining our offer,” said  Liang.

“There is a high degree of risk regarding the implementation of the five year strategic plan and achievement of the goals set out in it.

“In determining the offer price we have applied our significant, first-hand knowledge of Fisher & Paykel Appliances and the highly competitive global white goods sector, together with a consideration of the economic environments Fisher & Paykel Appliances operates in.”

Haier and Fisher & Paykel Appliances have had a cooperative relationship for a number of years, extending beyond 2009 when Haier supported Fisher & Paykel Appliances’ recapitalisation, he added. 

Vodafone Kills Free Facebook, Twitter Party

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“Infinite” no more: Vodafone Kills “Infinite” Facebook,Tweeting as it prepares for a shake up of its mobile plans.
“From 13 February 2013, infinite surfing on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, FourSquare, YouTube and MySpace will be ditched and “won’t be part of any recharge or prepaid Mobile Internet Data Add-on,” Voda announced on its website this week.

If you currently have Infinite social networking on Voda recharge, obviously you still have access to social networks, but will be charged for the pleasure.

Charges will be taken from your recharge data allowance. So if you only have a 500MB allowance and are an avid tweeter, you may be in trouble. Additional Internet data usage beyond your allowance is $2 per MB, so it is far from cheap.

The telco has also shaken up how it charges for Internet data on prepay and now charges in 1MB increments.

“From 13th February, we will charge data usage in 1MB increments with a minimum session of 1MB on all recharge plans. The dollar amount we charge per MB of data is remaining the same.”

After that, you can purchase an ‘add-on’ from your ‘Flexible Credit.’ Vodafone Mobile Internet Add-ons cost $5 (150MB) and $8 (350MB).

However, the add-ons last 30 days only.

A Vodafone spokesperson said the changes “are largely reflective of the way our customers are using data today” and a part of its effort to reduce costs as users guzzle Internet data like never before.

The charges to mobile  data pricing “allow us to invest in a network that will enable the increased access to voice and data our customers are asking for while remaining competitive.”

 

Infinite social networking deals were a major pull for Generation Facebook, but this change may not win them any kudos among Gen Yers.

We’ve also heard Vodafone are planning an overhaul their postpaid plans plans in the near future, anyway, but BYO plans are apparently safe, for now.