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Oonagh Reidy

Forget HD: LG Unleash 84″ ULTRA-Def TV

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Its a world first: LG launch 84″ 4K Ultra Definition 3D TV groundbreaker.
The launch of the mega 84″ 4K set was prompted by growing consumer demand for larger TVs with greater functionality.

LG says their Ultra-definition 3D Smart TV has “astonishing” picture quality with 8 million pixels per frame and 3840×2160 – that’s four times the res of a  Full HDTV, powered by a Triple XD Engine.

The additional ‘Resolution Upscaler Plus’ technology allows images from hard drives and the Internet to be rendered in higher detail.


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The 84″ UD Internet ready TV baosts ‘3D Depth Control’ allows viewers to fine-tune the “distance” between near and far objects on the screen and the ‘3D Sound Zooming’ analyzes the on-screen objects to generate sound according to their location and movement.

“The 4K display market is still in its infancy but it was important for LG to claim a stake in this space,” said Havis Kwon, CEO LG Home Entertainment.

The Ultra-Def set “represents a whole new level of home viewing experience because it offers every advanced technology we currently have to offer.”


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It also comes with LG’s Magic Remote and LG’s Smart TV ecosystem now includes approximately 1,400 apps and content services such as 3D World with movies and games. It also has 2D to 3D conversion tool.

For the gamers amongst us, the 84″ Smart TV boasts Dual Play, allowing opponents to simultaneously see their playing view on the same screen.

 

LG’s UD 3D TV also boasts a 2.2 speaker system, with 2 X 10W speakers and 2X 15W woofers, which create a “theater-like experience in the home.”

LG’s 84-inch UD 3D TV was launched today in Korea and will roll-out in North America, Europe, Asia, but no word yet if it is hitting Oz.

ReadL LG Will Be A Major TV Force In 2012

Bush Confirms New Warranty Co.

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Teleplan: Bush Australia confirms a new warranty provider.
Effective from today, Teleplan will handle all Bush Australia warranty and repair work, “as part of a transition program put into place to deal with the difficulties being experienced with the incumbent,” the company said.

Teleplan International provides after-market services for the computer and CE industries and operates in Oz as well as Europe, North America, with around 5,300 employees.

Bush Australia is committed to honouring all outstanding warranty and service work and will be looking to make this transition as smooth as possible for its customers and retail partners. 

A new telephone number is now in place for all warranty and service issues for Bush: 1300 055 518. 

“We apologise for the inconvenience this has caused our valued customers and have taken immediate steps to fast-track this change, in order to minimise all service and warranty disruptions,” said Daniel Todd, Managing Director at Bush Australia.

“We look forward to having the extensive Australian experience of a global company like Teleplan as part our business moving forward.”

Myer: Online Sales Up 200%, Downgrades Profit

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Myer sales dip 0.9% as “challenging” environment bites, although online up a massive 200%.


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The retailer announced third quarter sales today, which showed a slight dip in sales to $651.1m.

On a like-for-like basis, sales in the 13 weeks to April 28, fell 2.1%, although excluding Myer’s rationalised categories including white goods, games and music, sales fell 0.2%.

Myer Chief, Bernie Brookes, said the result was solid considering the very difficult trading environment in April, which has continued into May, he confirmed.

This less than stellar performance has prompted Myer to downgrade its net profit forecast for full year 2012 to $162.7m – a 15% drop.

The result “reflect[s] a very challenging trading environment and subdued consumer spending” the retailer said in a statement.

Clothing, both womenswear and mensware, were the big performers during the quarter while Stores in WA, SA and QLD performed well, while NSW and Vic less so.

The troubled retailer also said e-sales soared a whopping 200% compared to a year ago and is now placing a lot of eggs in its e-commerce offering, it confirmed:

“We have continued to make improvements to our website incorporating an increased range. We have astrong pipeline of improvements planned.”

Brookes also said feedback on its new customer services was positive and hinted economic changes including the recent rate cut may spur consumers to part with their dollars:

“Despite the challenging sales environment, we are continuing to see positive customer feedbackfrom our investment in improving service, the addition of new wanted brands, growth in our MyerExclusive Brands as well as our enhanced loyalty program.”

“While there may be a delay in any positive impacts on discretionary spend, the recent rate cut by the Reserve Bank, as well as an improving employment rate and the upcoming cessation of the flood levy, are timely as we head into the fourth quarter and the important Mid Year Stocktake Sale in June.”

 

Brookes also blamed the fallout in equity markets and the ongoing turmoil in Europe continued to influence consumer sentiment.

But the majority of net profit made in H2 comes from Myer’s Mid Year Stocktake sale, Brookes said, adding this was “disappointing” for the retailer last year.

“However, we have made a number of changes to improve the offer,” he said.

1.3M Added To NBN ‘By 2016’, Despite Delays

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“We’re getting on with the job,” says NBN boss, but experts doubt new rollout figures.


The NBN Co. add 1.35 million new premises to the fibre broadband roll out, to be complete by June 2016. 
The updated NBN three-year plan, announced yesterday, adds almost 190 new towns and suburbs in areas covered by the previous rollout plan and some brand new locations in every state.
These include Albion Park, Bankstown and Gunnedah in NSW, Airlie Beach, Sunshine Coast Caloundra in Queensland, and North Melbourne and Glen Iris in Victoria.
For a full list of all areas click here 
4.85 million premises will have fibre broadband services commenced or complete within the three year timetable, if the new figures are met, NBN Co. claims. 
Image credit: The Australian

50,000 Australians are currently using the NBN with construction currently commenced or complete in around 1 million premises. 

This comes after NBN Co earlier this year admitted  that it would not meet its targets of connecting 341,000 premises to fibre by the end of June this year and was forced to push back the roll out timetable, blaming construction contractor delays. 
“We’re getting on with the job of rolling out the NBN in every state and territory. Our plan is to deliver better broadband to every Australian over the remaining 8 years of this 10 year build.” NBN Co. CEO Mike Quigley said. 
One third of eligible families have purchased an NBN broadband package in areas where the fibre network is live, and are guzzling data like never before, Quigley claims, as he seeks to give the controversial project credibility. 
“One third of people with an NBN fibre connection have subscribed to the fastest speeds available. And households in the NBN fibre footprint are downloading around 50% more data than the average Australian broadband user every month.” 
It is clear the NBN is becoming increasingly political ahead of this year’s election, with Labor and Liberals fighting over the cost and roll out of the mammoth plan, with Shadow Communication minister Malcolm Turnbull and Stephen Conroy having regular wars of words of the $37.4bn project. 
At an event in Blacktown, NSW, to mark the connection of the first area of Sydney to the NBN yesterday, Minister for Broadband Stephen Conroy warned of a “digital divide” if the Opposition’s alternative NBN  fibre-to-node plan was put into practice. 
“Your kids will be sitting there, and unless you can fork out up to $5000, your kids will not get access to the sort of learning we have seen today, and the sort of learning that is to come in the future,” Senator Conroy said.
“The only risk to Labor’s NBN is Tony Abbott. Under Tony Abbott, households across the country will have their planned connection cancelled and be forced to pay up to $5,000 or be left disconnected from Labor’s NBN.”
One expert told AFR the NBN Co. are “putting out essentially meaningless figures to give the project political cover”.
However, NBN Co. boss also insists the price of NBN packages are competitive, and released additional figures to prove his point. 
Nearly half of NBN users polled said household internet costs were roughly the same since switching to the NBN, NBN Co. claimed in a statement. 14% were paying less by using an internet phone service instead of a separate land line.

Shock Decision: Samsung Galaxy S II Banned In Europe

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Banned Galaxy S II and Ace countries include UK, Germany, France and Netherlands. The Hague.. the home of justice, where mass murders, war criminals and dictators are all tried. But today the city was the setting of the latest round of Apple versus Samsung patents war over smartphones and tabs.

But Samsung definitely wasn’t laughing today, with a judge in the court in Rechtbank’s-Gravenhage issued a formally Europe-wide preliminary injunction against Galaxy S, Galaxy S II and Ace smartphones. 

But all is not lost, as the patent in question, EP 2059868 which relates to camera technology (portable electronic device for photo management), is not subject to a blanket ban in all EU states, as previously Apple refused to fork out for the related costs involved in registering the patent. 
The 11 countries where the sale of the three smartphones are banned include: Netherlands, UK, Germany and France. 
 “The court ruled that Samsung’s Netherlands-based subsidiaries may not sell the cited products in the Netherlands, the UK, France, Germany, Finland, Ireland, Lichtenstein, Luxemburg, Monaco, Sweden, Switzerland until the cited single infringement is addressed,” Samsung confirmed today. 
“The ruling found no IP infringements by Samsung Galaxy Tab devices and infringed one of the 10 IP rights which were cited by Apple in the lawsuit”. 
The countries where the patent ban is not in place include: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, and Spain. 
In other words still a good chunk of Europe. 
The ruling provides a grace period until October 14 for the Galaxy S II maker address the single infringement cited. 
But according to Foss Patents, Florian Mueller, Samsung may “exercise its freedom to ship into other European countries despite this injunction” since it’s parent company is not registered in the Netherlands.
However, it will have to reorganize its logistics chain as it uses the country as a distribution centre for the European region. 
And time is on Samsung’s side if it wishes to take such dramatic action – the ban won’t kick in for seven weeks and applies to smartphones but not Galaxy Tabs. 
But Samsung has come out fighting, saying ” we will take all possible measures including legal action to ensure that there is no disruption in the availability of our Galaxy smartphones to Dutch consumers.” 
“Today’s ruling is an affirmation that the Galaxy range of products is innovative and distinctive.”
 
“We will continue our plans to introduce new products and technologies…and we will defend our intellectual property rights through the ongoing legal proceedings around the world.” 
The ruling is not expected to affect sales in its other European markets. 
However, Mueller believes this latest decision spells major trouble for Android and will have implications for the platform, which other brands like HTC, Motorola, Sony Ericsson and LG also run. 
 “Regardless of how Samsung may be able to work around this decision in Europe, it’s a setback for Android, a platform that is at issue in more than 50 lawsuits worldwide.” 
 “In all likelihood, the winning patent is infringed by Android itself — not the operating system per se, but by one or more of the applications that ship with Android and without which the usefulness of Android would be impaired in one particular area (photo viewing). 
 “Apple has now obtained the first enforceable court decision that finds Android to infringe an Apple patent — and there will definitely be many more to come.”

Bargains Bin: Nintendo 3DS Crashes $199, Samsung 40Inch 3D TV $1196

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It’s bargains central: Dick Smith is slashing the price of Nintendo 3D S down to $199 as Smart TVs also get a trimming.


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Image: Get these 3D babies for $199.

This marks a whopping $150 drop from when the console was first released in March, when Dick Smith was charging gamers $349.  


Last month, Nintendo announced it was to drop the price of its 3D S ‘no glasses’ console’ worldwide as sales appeared to stall. The Oz RRP is now $249. 

JB Hi Fi, who was previously selling the device for $298 – the cheapest in Australia – have slashed the 3 DS by $50 but have failed to respond to Dick’s cut price. 

However, JBs are throwing in a 3D S ’10 in 1’accessories pack (worth $30, apparently) and free game (The Sims 3, worth $65) for good measure. 

However, take note, you cant buy it online, it seems. 

And while we’re on prices, here’s another few that caught our eye at JB’s, who have some sweet TV deals: $150 off 40″ Samsung Smart HD 3DTV TV – now $1196 – and a Panasonic 32″ LCD for under the $600 mark.  

And shipping is free for online customers. 

However, if these sound good, be quick as they end on Sunday, according to the website. (But, knowing JB they’ll be back in a week or two). 

Dick Smith are also giving some good TV deals including 40″ Samsung Smart HDTV (lesser model than previous JB Hi Fi)  for under a grand – $988.

 

And if you’re a camera fiend, here’s another online deal we spotted: a 12 MP Canon E0S 1100D with 2.7″ colour liquid crystal screen and two image stabiliser lens for $799, a $300 saving on a electronics discount site OO. 

Are Internet Explorer Users Ditzy?

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A new study certainly thinks so. Canadian researchers AptiQuant has conducted an IQ study based on Internet browsers, and found Microsoft IE users had the lowest IQ out of the lot.


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And it appears, Chrome, Firefox and Safari users had just “marginally higher” brainpower than average person, i.e over 100.  

But users of Camino, Opera and IE with Chrome Frame were the smartest of all, with “exceptionally” higher IQ levels, the study also showed. 
However, Microsoft IE browser users were painted as dim, showing IQ scores in the low eighties. 

Vancouver based Psychometric consultants, AptiQuant, gave a free online IQ tested to 100,000 people and then plotted the average IQ scores based on the browser on which the test was taken. 

The analysts sought to measure the effects of cognitive ability on the choice of web browser. 

“It comes out pretty clear that Internet Explorer users scored lower than average on the IQ tests. Chrome, Firefox and Safari users had just a teeny bit higher than average IQ scores,” AptiQuant said, releasing its findings this week. 

However, indignant Microsoft IE users have fought back and are threatening to sue AptiQuant, reports indicate. 

And it appears its not just IE users that are disputing the results: Cambridge Professor David Spiegelhalter of the University’s Statistical Laboratory is branding the findings “an insult” and says they are flaky to day the least.

“They’ve got IE6 users with an IQ of around eighty. That’s borderline deficient, marginally able to cope with the adult world,” he told the BBC.

“I believe these figures are implausibly low – and an insult to IE users.”

The report also goes on to engage in a scathing criticism of on the of the first ever browsers to hit the web: 

“Internet Explorer has traditionally been considered a pain in the back for web developers….millions of man hours are wasted each year to make otherwise perfectly functional websites work in IE, because of its lack of compatibility with web standards.”

 

“The continuous use of older versions of IE by millions of people around the world has often haunted web developers. It not only makes their job tougher, but has also “pulled back innovation by at least a decade,” the report states. 


“Microsoft created a conspiracy with Internet Explorer’s shell integration with Windows Explorer, and making its removal complicated, if not impossible.”

However, it sings the praises of open source browsers like Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome that have taken away a large share out of Microsoft’s pie. 

“These browsers are not only better in performance than IE, but offer better compatibility with W3C standards.”

Hmm, it certainly seems very odd findings. Although not being a regular IE user anymore, Chrome is starting to bug me as is Google Search, to the point where I can’t find what  I am looking for or am redirected elsewhere. (And Google Docs keep crashing out.)
Leonard Howard, CEO of AptiQuant said he has been receiving hate mail from IE users since yesterday. 

“I just want to make it clear that the report released by my company did not suggest that if you use IE that means you have a low IQ, but what it really says is that if you have a low IQ then there are high chances that you use Internet Explorer,” he said.  

The company did not feel threatened by lawsuit threats because they have all the scientific data and logs to back their claims, he said. 

“A win in a court would only give a stamp of approval and more credibility to our report,” Howard quipped.

 

The company spokesman said that they are really surprised by the unexpected attention that their study got. 


He said that the company first thought of doing this study when they were trying to add some new features to the website and found IE versions 6.0 and 7.0 extremely difficult to work with.

Gov Test NBN HD

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A HD videoconferencing pilot on NBN announced today will improve Australian’s access to services, the government said today.


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The pilot will give Australians remote access to government services that may not be readily available locally including Medicare, Child Support and Centrelink via the $36 billion high speed National Broadband Network.

The high-definition videoconferencing, allowing users communicate with service delivery personnell, can only be delivered over high-speed broadband networks like the NBN, the Department of Communications claims.

The pilot will commence this year, with a focus on improving the Department’s of Human Services (DHS) service including health, education and financial services.

“This pilot will be particularly beneficial for people in regional locations or families and customers facing social disadvantage who may find it otherwise difficult to get to a DHS Service Centre,” Minister for Human Services (and K Rudd supporter) Senator Carr said.

Minister for Broadband, Senator Stephen Conroy, said the pilot will cut the cost of service delivery.

“The NBN will enable us to put the needs of Australians at the very heart of Government service delivery, while lowering the costs of actually delivering those services,” Senator Conroy said.

Phantom Telstra Cable Cutter On Prowl?

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Forget the cable guy, there’s a secret cable cutter on the loose. Thats according to Telstra who say cables in Hunter Valley were cut “deliberately” yesterday.
The damage to the 100 fibre cable occurred at Mount Vincent Road, East Maitland area of Hunter Valley, NSW, which the telco became aware of around 1.30am yesterday, a spokesperson confirmed.

“Initial inquiries indicate the fibre access point in a pit had been opened and the damage caused deliberately.”

The damage to the 100 fibre cable initially cut approximately 21,000 phone services, 9000 ADSL, several hundred spectrum services and a small number of digital data lines and mobile towers, leaving thousands of customers at a loss.

Rejoining of the damaged fibres commenced around 08.00 and was completed at 11.30am yesterday, the spokesperson confirmed.

Telstra said it is working with local police to pursuing the offender(s).