Smart Office

Menu

Oonagh Reidy

Telling Tales – Kids Gossip Forum Spells Trouble

by

Littlegossip.com, like a Facebook for teens, encourages schoolchildren to make up cruel gossip about each other – anonymously.
The website aims to set the rumour mill into overdrive claims it allows users to “find out the gossip in your university/college about someone you know, rate it, or make up your own!”

The new site, which requires users to be over 18, although audiences just have to click a button to confirm they are, appears to be a hit with school goers across the UK, spreading cruel and often crude tittle tattle about each other.

The rumour site appears not be used by Australian teens in big numbers
so far and most of educational institutes listed appear to have no postings.  

One posting from a fellow pupil about another, says he “practices crying in front of the mirror each morning before drama class in the hopes one day his acting will come in handy…when he is a binman.” 

It appears to be typical of the utterances on the site, which is no doubt encouraging cyber bullying and increases youngsters vulnerability to paedophilia.

A recent posting on the site has showed one school in Britain has banned pupils from using the site, with another also condemning it.

Some of the pupils from the UK’s most prestigious private educational institutions including Eton, St Paul’s, Harrow have been using the site in record numbers, according to the Daily Mail.

Gerry Harvey: After Flood, Comes The Boom

by

Harvey Norman CEO expects a “mini boom” in the northern state of Queensland as it struggles to pick itself up and dry off after the floods that has engulfed it in recent weeks.

Although several of its stores suffered severe water damage, it is not yet clear how much it will impact on profitability this year, he said yesterday. 

However, every cloud, however dark, has a silver lining and this is no exception for retailers.  

Electronics stores expect a huge surge in business following the disaster.    

“With people needing things and the amount of money that’s going up there from everything, all the people who put in money to help, state and federal money, insurance money, you would expect Queensland to be up,” he told the Australian Financial Review.   

 The Insurance Council of Australia also agrees claiming retailers and distributors will benefit from the huge hike in consumers durables including TV’s home entertainment and PC systems and other home appliances.   

At least two of Harvey Normans Qld stores have been damaged by the floods, one of which is among its most profitable in their network.  

 

Last week the Insurance Council said they anticipate around 4300 claims for around $150 million.

All the major electronics suppliers including Dick Smith, Harvey Norman who also trades in Queensland as Clive Peeters, JB Hi Fi as well as WoW Sight and Sound have all been hit by the floods.       

The total damage bill for the floods is expected to run into several billion.

Retailers Face Tidal Challenge As Qld Stocks Dwindle

by

Rising waters mean supplying Qld stores is a nightmare.With anywhere between 20 to 30 of its Qld stores closed for business in both Brisbane and Ipswich, the retailer also faces another massive problem maintaining stock supplies.

This problem has not only affected the Woolworths-owned Dick Smith but also its Big W and enormous supermarket network, which could also hamper efforts to return to business as usual for the stores that they hope to re-open this weekend.   

Trading activity has been brought to a total halt due to a combination of “flooding, shut down of the power-supply and staff shortages,” a Dick Smith spokesperson told Smarthouse.

Although store closures have been confined to the Queensland capital and Ipswich, no other regional stores have been closed but “stock delivery is a major issue” for those that remain open, he said.

Some of the affected company stores in the Ipswich area have been reopened although some are still underwater.

“Stores will re-open once power is restored and staff can return,” he said.

There are no clear estimates on how much the disaster will cost the company, although between loss of business and reconstruction is believed to be at a “significant cost.”

Whether existing inventories have suffered damage is also yet unknown although several vendors are now said to be looking to ship additional
stock into Australia to meet the heightened demand for “new gear” an OfficeWorks
spokesman said.

Dont Play Around: Asus Gaming Notebooks Arrive

by

Notebook kings aren’t joking when they say their new batch of notebooks are serious about gaming technology.


Click to enlarge

The laptop maker has gone into makeover mode in their workshops, unveiling new version of their Series G, K, N and VX7 machines with faster gaming and improved computing competenicies.

The new slew of notebooks, launched at CES, are built using Intel’s ‘Sandy Bridge’ new second generation processors, which promise to significantly improve game play and speed video encoding on systems without the need for a graphics card.

Video displays are also set to run in sync with the processing.

They also include Intel’s Turbo Boost Technology 2.0, which enhances the performance of the machines and allows 8-way multitasking, Asus claims.

The new devices aimed at ‘Republic of Gamers’ include the new G53Sw and G73Sw models that come with built-in 3D HD display technology. 

The 17.3″ Asus G73Sw run on an Intel Core i7 2630QM 2.0GHz quad-core processor, comes with 8GB of RAM, backlit keyboard and a 1.5GB Nvidia Geforce GTX 460m graphics.          

It also has built-in Windows 7 Home Premium. However, the system won’t come cheap and starts at $2500.  

 

The G53Sw comes with a lot of the same features but offers a smaller screen size of 15.6″ and 6GB RAM.   

The laptop makers N series focuses more on audio capabilities, with its N73SV model summoning their SonicMaster tool for optimum sound, Bang & Olufsen’s ICEpower and Dual HDD bays, and retailing for around $2200.

The revamped K Series of notebooks uses IceCool thermal design to ensure better cooling and a new input experience for mobile users.  

The Taiwanese brand won two accolades at this year’s awards in both the notebook and tabs categories; – for their U43Jc Notebook and Eee Slate EP121.

It has yet to be confirmed by Asus when the devices will hit Australian shores.

Beware! Dick Smith DVD Player Fire Risk

by

Customers told to quit operation immediately.


Click to enlarge

DSE portable DVD players have been recalled.

The G7152 and G7153 models from Dick Smiths own branded range of players have been recalled due to some instances of overheating on the battery, the retailer has said. 

Customers have been asked to immediately stop using the DVD player and return it to the nearest Dick Smith Store for a replacement or full refund.   

The internal lithium-ion on the battery is at risk from overheating and could result in a possible fire hazard, although the likelihood of this happening is rare, the notice says.                       

Despite the small chance of actual fire occurring “Dick Smith Electronics takes product safety very seriously.”

Twitter Summons: Surrender Wikileaks Info

by

US authorities are seeking vital information on the elusive whistleblowers.
 San Francisco based Twitter Inc have been issued a subpoena by their government  demanding an immediate handover of names, contact details and messages of founder Julian Assange and his team of hackers, in a bid to close in on the internet wild child, who continue to refuse to cooperate with authorities.

Bradley Manning, the American soldier, who initially set off the leaks is also being investigated.

More internet companies including Facebook and Google have probably been contacted by government officials says Wikileaks as the probe hots up.

US Senator Joseph Lieberman previously warned he would be “asking Amazon about the extent of its relationship with WikiLeaks and what it and other web service providers.”

Both Amazon and Apple have since dropped the site from its service.

The US, who were exposed to a string of embarrassing exposes, revealing private diplomatic communications and other ‘classified information’ courtesy of the whistle blowing site, are investigating possible legal infringements.

 

WikiLeaks said it was “opposing the subpoena order and is currently taking action to instruct US lawyers” and criticised the Americans for “intruding into the private lives” of WikiLeaks supporters.

Twitter has given itself ten days to respond to the summons.

Australian-born Assange is currently on bail in the UK pending charges of sexually assaulted two women in Sweden.

Its Payback Says Logitech, Customers Cash In

by

It’s a lucky month for tech consumers – as Logitech gives a full cash refund on all goods bought.


Click to enlarge

The company has $300k to spare, and wants their customers to spend it. 

Any item from their wish list – from their wired mouse M100 to their wireless keyboard/ mouse combo which retails at $49.95 – sold during the month of February is entitled to full money back, the computer accessories giant has announced.      

“A budget of $300,000 is available for returning the cost of purchase to Australian consumers, available until the end of February 2011.”  

However, those that are wondering whether some one in head office has lost it, never fear.    

“Those who question Logitech’s sanity shouldn’t worry, we’re innovating,
knowing our customers deserve a treat,” said Logitech Australia Director, George Saad.

“With so much discussion these days about where in the world it’s best to shop, we thought we’d add a little spice to the Australian shopping experience.” .

So we’re hoping Australians take advantage of the offer and treat themselves to some new computer gear, on us.” 

The full list of items for free include: Logitech Wired Mouse M100/ M215 ($19.95), Webcam C200 / C210, ClearChat Style Headset (39.95) Logitech Media Keyboard K200, ($29.95), Wireless Desktop (pictured)  MK250 / MK2600 ($49.95), Logitech Cooling Pad N100 / N120 ($59.95). 

Up to five separate claims allowed per household are allowed, the company says. Once purchased, customers can go online and will be reimbursed in full.  

Kindle Amazons Best Seller, Books Left On Shelf

by

Ebooks enjoy sales explosion as hard copies are staying put – on the shelves.


Click to enlarge

Amazon’s Kindle eBook reader is now their best selling product, ever, they have announced. 

The gap is closing in on hard copies in the US – 115 Kindles have been sold for every 100 paperbacks so far in 2011 – much to the amazement of the book retailer.

They also sold three times as many Kindle books as hardcover books, they said on Friday. 

Amazon.com didn’t foresee the ebook trend taking off the way it has quite so soon; CEO Jeff Bezos predicted this ebook takeover would only happen in Q2 this year. 

And its not just everyday readers that are getting in on the act – the judges of the Man Booker prize have even been issued with e-readers  to help them adjudicate the books to be shortlisted for this year’s awards.  

Publishers who wish to make entries for the much coveted literary prize will also have to submit publications in both paperback and electronic form.

“This is what the Kindle will do – it’s not going to take over from print, but will offer another way of reading as well.” Man Booker administrator Ion Trewin told the Guardian newspaper.       

Amazon shied away from revealing the exact numbers of the ebook sold although it is believed to be in the region of 8 million.  

 

And the numbers should be even higher, warned the online book king, warning the figures dont tell the full story.

“Free Kindle books are excluded and if included would make the numbers even higher.”        

The Australian version of the 6″ display Kindle with Wi-Fi, which retails at $139, offers over 540,000 English-language books as well as a range of international newspapers and magazines. 

David Fenlon, Group MD of Redgroup (the company that owns Borders) admitted that Amazon was taking “a huge chunk” of the Australian bookselling industry back in May when Borders announced their competing Kobo e-reader.  

No precise figures for sales of Borders ereader has yet been made available.                        

Google is also trying to replicate the Kindle’s success with its eBooks offering millions of free and fee paying titles.

Optus Twiddles Thumbs, Awaits Telstra Call

by

Singtel Optus refuses to decide on NBN until rival Telstra confirms its game plan.


The Telstra NBN deal which is rumoured to be announced publicly later this week, will see the terms under which the Telco agrees to sell off its fibre network and other possible broadband contracts made available to it from the National Broadband Network, following the sale.

It will also decide how Australia’s largest Telco will gain financially, which in terms of cash flow could put it in a far superior place than rivals, although Telstra are said to be keen to see its biggest competitor jump on the NBN train sooner rather than later to create a level playing field.    

Getting Optus on-board is also said to be important to the NBN both financially and in terms of garnering support from the wider Telco community and other critics of the long awaited plan, according to the Australian Financial Review.     

The big question to be decided  is whether Australia’s second largest Telco will keep its own network, which analysts say could hamper the NBN’s business model considering the Telco’s already large consumer base. 
 
Optus said yesterday it would hold off until Telstra’s NBN strategy is announced.

This is in spite of talks Optus were said to have had with the NBN last October over its HFC network, although no definite outcome was reached.

Telstra, who are to announce its 2010 interm financial results this Thursday, could see the company confirm its NBN strategy.

 
Its CEO David Thodey and NBN Chief Mike Quigley were said to have held a very productive meeting last week, in which final ends of $11 billion NBN deal were said to have been sewn up.      

Optus has around 1.6 million customers between Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.

The Future Fund superannuation manager – Telstra’s largest shareholder – reduced its stake in the company yesterday to 6.76% from 7.8% following the NBN rumours.




Jaycar Unveils Port Macquarie Outlet

by

Electronics store opens 71st outlet in NSW.
Port Macquarie is home to the first new store in 2011 for electronics retailer Jaycar Electronics- its first in the Mid-North Coast.

Jaycar opened seven stores in 2010 and “aims to continue its rapid growth this year,” say the sellers of quirky gadgets, electronic components and home audio.

The store is open plan and contains interactive displays for customers.

 “Working for Jaycar Electronics enables us to interact with customers and pass on our own knowledge and ideas,” says Area Manager Matt McBeth.

Jaycar’s new store is located at 7/148 Lake Rd it will be open from this Monday 14th.