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Grays Gobbles OO.com

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Online auction house nabs OO.com.au.

Grays acquisition of the South African owned oo.com.au is a move to consolidate the online business, a Grays spokesperson told SmartHouse
The purchase makes Grays Australia who already own e-retailer brands Grays Online, Grays Outlet and Grays Escape, the largest e-commerce player in OZ with over $350m in combined turnover. 
It will now have access to a database of over 3 million customers.  
Recent figures from NAB show Australia’s Internet sales grew 19% in February, although still accounts for just 6% of all
retail sales but is set to soar in the coming years. 
The two companies will keep their stand alone websites but introduce new categories and additional investment in the popular OO.com.au site.  

oo.com.au is “incredibly strong” on electronics, homewares and toys while Grays is a big seller of wine, but flogs everything from pink diamonds to AV gear, often stock from companies gone into liquidation. 

“We’re hoping some OO customers might try some wine, and there are products on OO that we might bring over.” the Grays rep said. 
Business efficiencies and website enhancements will also provide customers with a better overall shopping experience.
The company will merge into one at the back end including warehousing, call centres, infrastructure, but the websites will not be rebranded.
Vendors are being contacted about the acquisition, announced today. 
Rolf Krecklenberg, the current CEO who will continue to manage the business, said “I am looking forward to expanding our range, entering new categories and leveraging the Grays infrastructure so that we can offer our customers even better value. We have an exciting future ahead.”

The OO warehousing and staff will relocate from their 9000 sqm Rosebery site to Grays 30,000 sqm headquarters at Sydney’s Homebush over the next three to six months. 
Cameron Poolman, CEO for Grays says, “the extra scale provided by this acquisition will ensure our ongoing profitability using a sustainable business model.” 
“Both businesses have profitably operated on proven business models.” 

iPad 3 AND iPhone 5 To Get 4G Speeds

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The next round of i’s are to get 4G treatment, meaning super fast web speeds on iPad 3 and iPhone 5. That’s according to Japan’s Nikkei Business, who are reporting that Japanese carrier NTT DoCoMo has agreed on a 4G long Term evolution iPad 3 for mid next year, to be followed by the fifth generation iPhone.


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iPhone 5 concept design by Apple fan.

Senior management from the telco were said to have met with Apple CEO, Tim Cook, last month at Apple’s Cupertino HQ.
 
4G is the replacement to 3G wireless broadband and Telstra has already confirmed 4G enabled smartphones will come in the first quarter 2012, with Optus and Vodafone making headway towards its dual band LTE service, due next year.

To date, iPhone including the most recent 4S lacked LTE technology, despite its presence on rival devices like HTC and Samsung, due to concerns about (already questionable) battery life and a lack of chips appropriate for its needs, according to Mac Rumours.

However, the Qualcomm LTE chips comming in 2012 could solve some of iPhone’s 4G woes.

Watchdog Chases Vacuum Retailer Dodgy Sales

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The consumer watchdog has taken on Lux vacuum retailer alleging “unconscionable conduct” in selling vacuums to the elderly.


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The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission said it has filed proceedings in the Federal Court against Lux Distributors, alleging unconscionable conduct in relation to the sale of vacuum cleaners to elderly consumers.

The ACCC alleges that between 2009 and 2011,  a Lux sales rep called five elderly consumers under the premise of a ‘free vacuum cleaner maintenance check.’

The consumers, some of whom were aged over 90, were then allegedly subjected to unfair sales tactics pressuring them into purchasing a vacuum cleaner costing as much as $2280.

This contravened section 51AB of the Trade Practices Act 1974 and section 21 of Australian Consumer Law.

Lux distributes domestic vacuum cleaners in Australia and primarily markets through in-house demonstrations.

The watchdog is seeking an injunctions and the payment of pecuniary penalties and costs from Lux, as well as the implementation of a trade practices compliance program.

The matter has been filed in the Federal Court’s Fast Track List and due to be heard before Justice Dodds-Streeton in Melbourne on 6 July 2012 at 10:00am.

Austar Drops Foxtel Ready To Pounce

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Bad news for Austar as it loses almost 9,000 customers as it awaits Foxtel invasion.


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Less people watching Austar PayTV, according to new figures.

Austar United results for the year end 31 December 2011, released today, paint a worrying picture for the future of pay TV with the regional player losing 8,845 viewers in the past year.

Total subscribers fell by almost 9,000 (8,845) to 755,374 – compared to 764K a year ago, which Austar blamed on “growing competition in particular from the free-to-air”, which continues to impact churn rate.

However, aside from dwindling users numbers, Austar showed a decent set of financials with profit after tax increasing 21% to $120m, although revenues were “flat” which the company blamed on the loss $7m in revenues from its mobile business sold to M2 Telecommunications.

However, despite the net loss in subscribers MyStar service continues to gain “momentum” with net additions of 14,500 customers in Q4 2011, Austar said today.

MyStar, the digital video recorder (DVR) service now has a penetration rate of 43% of all pay subscribers.

Average revenue per user (ARPU) increased $3.56 to $88.64 compared to Q4 2010, thanks to “the MyStar phenomenon, along with other product and service enhancements,” the company said in a statement.

“MyStar continues to be a strong differentiator for us, with existing customers opting-in for its control and convenience” said AUSTAR CEO, John Porter.

The dip in the regional PayTV player’s fortunes comes as it faces increasing competition from cheap IPTV rivals like FetchTV sold by Optus, iiNet and Internode from as little as $10 a month and the advent of Smart TVs which offer streamed Internet TV content, movies and new release TV shows as well as free-to-air digital channels.

Just this week, SmartHouse revealed that Smart TV giant, Samsung, are to begin streaming BlockBuster movies content on its sets, its Galaxy smartphone and Tab devices and already offers similar content services via Quickflix.

Read: Samsung OZ Scores Major Blockbuster Movie Deal Here

Local analysts Telsyte also predict Internet TV will eat into PayTV market share thanks to the “credible services” via broadband like Telstra’s TBox and FetchTV, supplementing “mature” cable markets here.

In August, Foxtel said its subscribers grew 2.5%, to a total of 1.65m. With Austar under its belt its total user base would exceed the 2 million mark and it also hopes cost saving and synergy will come with the proposed merger with Austar, due to be approved soon.

 

“In the last half of 2011 we focused on controlling our expenditure. We did this very successfully, meaning we were able to deliver a pleasing financial result,” said Austar boss Porter.

“However, we did continue to invest in our customers and we are already seeing returns, with our AFL offering in particular resonating in our markets.”

Of the proposed $2.2bn merger with Foxtel, the regional cable provider said the court approval to postpone its shareholder meetings to approve the the proposed acquisition to 30 March will allow time for the competition watchdog, the ACCC, to finalise its review of the deal.

Read:  IPTV To Eat Foxtel Alive?

Google V Groupon: G-Offers Bid For Deals As Facebook Jumps Ship

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But do we REALLY need another deals service? Just as Facebook ditches its Deals service, Google wades in to get a slice of the action.


Currently only available in the US, Google Offers is now displayed on a prime retail site – its web search homepage.

Offers, is one of the only instances Larry Page’s tech powerhouse has ever housed a service on its bare homepage, interrupting the clean design it usually abides by. 

This shows Page’s Google is serious about its deals business, recently announced, and follows a failed $6bn takeover bid for daily deal market leader, Chicago based Groupon. 

‘Offer’s is currently in beta version confined to Portland, New York City, and San Francisco but is to roll out to other US cities in the coming months – and probably internationally, all going well. 
Recent deals included 80% of a day trip to the New York Museum. 
Google’s new business is joining the likes of Jump On It, Living Social Deals and the steady stream of others who have joined the market in the past year – globally the industry is estimated to be worth almost $4 billion by 2015 in the US alone, a 400 percent jump to its worth in 2010 – just $873m. 
And it is an industry already well established here in Australia, with Groupon (formerly operating as Stardeals), joining the likes of Living Social, Cudo and Harvey Norman’s Best Buys. 
On any given day, I receive around eight ‘stunning’ and ‘amazing’ 80% off daily deals and is fast reaching saturation point (and flooding my inbox). There’s only so many 60% off massages any one person can take. 
Google’s websites combined attracted over 180 million visitors in the month of July in the US  and has plenty plans up Internet sleeve – meaning Groupon et al now has a serious competitor on its hands. 
“We occasionally include a link on the Google homepage that points users to important information, whether it be about a relevant cause, a new product or an offer,” a Google spokeswoman said. 
“Users can benefit from learning about great deals from local organisations.” 
Stephanie Tilenius, vice president of Google Commerce has also recently admitted there will be more “density” to Offers, meaning possible integration with Google +, mobile commerce apps like Wallet or Shopper or maybe even Android itself. 
 

No other deals website gets traffic or has resources of such titanic proportions at its fingertips. 

Out with the old, in with the new 
 But as it expands this service, Google has decided to ditch some of its ahem, less successful ventures including Aardvark, Desktop, Fast Flip, Google Maps API for Flash, Google Pack, Google Web Security, Image Labeler, Notebook, Sidewiki and Subscribed Links. 
But Google ‘The Innovator’ won’t be stopping any time soon – “We’ll continue to take risks on interesting new technologies with a lot of potential,” writes Alan Eustace, Senior Vice President, on Google official blog. 
“We’ve never been afraid to try big, bold things, and that won’t change.”

Tab Threat: LG Slash LCDs As iPad 2 & Androids Call The Shots

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TV is in serious trouble as LG is ‘likely’ to report losses in current quarter and slash investment.


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Why? Two words: tablets and smartphones. 
iPad 2, Android tabs and smartphones are increasingly eating into LCD and smart TV market share, it appears, with Korean giant LG the latest maker to report major woes in the category, cutting investment by a quarter, according to a Reuters report. 

The dip in PC demand is also hitting LCD display demand and the global recession isn’t helping matters either, particularly in debt ravaged US and European markets. 
LG, one of the top TV brands in Australia, releasing its 3D Cinema TV range with much aplomb in April and passive 55″ 3D technology just last month, now appears to be painting a much duller picture of one of its core businesses, TV panels. 
“We plan around 3 trillion won ($2.8 billion) of capital spending next year and have no plans to build a new factory,” a LG Display spokesman confirmed. 
In July, it reported 87.3% plunge in net profits for second-quarter of the year with LG’s display division posting a shocking 96 per cent dip in net profits from 554.8 billion won in 2010 to 21.3 billion won, the same period this year. 
This comes as a sales of Android handsets grew over 350% during Q2 alone and although LG is a player in this market also with smarthones like Optimus, it is far from a front runner, unlike Korean rival Samsung, and the takeoff of the tablet category offering mobile internet TV has also gobbled display sales. 
“LCD makers will keep 2012 investment plan conservative and LG is also likely to cut spending again as visibility is very low due to weak demand especially from Europe and the United States,” John Soh, Shinhan Investment & Securities analyst, said. 
“LG is likely to report losses widening in the current quarter and the outlook for the next nine months or so is dreadful due to weak PC and TV demand.” 
 However, analysts predict its not the end of the road for LCD’s just yet, forecasting a demand resurgence in future quarters. 
 

“Once it recovers and the supply has not increased because panel makers did not expend production, the industry can return to a healthy state,” one analyst said. 

 LG is already said to have cut TV sales forecasts by 20% earlier this year, joining the likes of Sony and Samsung as it battles mobile display dominance. 
The growth of iPads is however, a double edged sword for LG as it is one of Apple’s main LCD suppliers.

Is This Ultrabook? Acer Aspires To MacBook Air With Skinny 13.3″ Sandy Bridge Laptop (In Oz Sept)

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Acer ‘Ultrabooks’ hits Sept 07 but can it breath life in struggling laptop category.


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Image: Acer Aspire 3951 leaked images.

What’s in an Ultrabook? All will be revealed next month, when Acer unveils its first ever Ultrabook to the media in Oz. 

 The model, picture of which were leaked last week, (and tipped to launch here) is the ultra thin 13.3″ Aspire 3951, which bears an uncanny resemblance to Apple MacBook Air – inside and out. 
 And Ultrabook promises, well ultra speed, sporting Intel high speed generation of processors, namely Sandy Bridge and Ivy Bridge. 
Acer’s Ultrabooks are said to start up at the click of a button – this model is said to start up in just 1.7 seconds to be precise. And networked in possibly just 2.5 secs, say previous reports. 

Or at least they “should”, the laptop makers have said. 
Announced earlier this year in Taipei, Ultrabooks are to sport “thin, light and beautiful designs that are less than 20mm thick, and mainstream price points under US$1,000,” said Intel Vice President, Sean Maloney. 
 However, Acer is said to be disobeying Intel’s ‘cheap and cheerful’ doctrine, and is said to be charging far more than the $1000, as envisioned by the chip maker, for some ultra models. 
 In fact, Acer models using Intel’s iCore models using Core i5 and i7 are said to cost up double the price – hitting the $2000 mark – say sources. 
 However, the model hitting Oz next month the 13.3″ Aspire 3951, which looks eerily like Apple’s MacBook Air complete with Sandy Bridge and will, as Intel wishes, go for around AU$1000. 

However, this is subject to confirmation from Acer officialdom. 
 

 Oh, and also on the menu in September is Acer’s 7″ Iconia tablet, later in the month.

Forget Android: Google To Tackle Asteroids?

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Google are taking to space along with Titanic director James Cameron.


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Larry Page, Google CEO, along Sergy Brin and Exec Chairman Eric Schmidt have backed a space venture, which is tipped to be lurking for asteroids and other natural resources.

Microsoft’s Charles Simonyi and Ross Perot, Jr are also in on the venture which will examine the earth’s resource base.

The start up ‘Planetary Resources’, announced yesterday, will examine “two critical sectors – space exploration and natural resources – to add trillions of dollars to the global GDP.

“This innovative start-up will create a new industry and a new definition of ‘natural resources’,” according to a statement.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Planetary Resources will explore the feasibility of mining natural resources from asteroids.

The multi million dollar exploration venture also includes space entrepreneur Eric Anderson; former NASA mission manager Chris Lewicki and astronaut Tom Jones, Peter H. Diamandis will lead the commercial space venture “with a mission to help ensure humanity’s prosperity.”

Planetary Resources will create a new industry and a new definition of ‘natural resources’, it says, although was scant on precise detail, reckons it will save humanity.

 

All will be revealed at a news conference scheduled for tomorrow Tuesday, April 24 at the Museum of Flight in Seattle, however:

“Join us to learn about our mission and how we plan to revolutionize current space exploration and help ensure humanity’s prosperity for generations to come.”

London Calling: Foxtel Unveil Olympics Prog

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Eddie and Rove, over 3,200 hours of coverage including 1,100 hours live.


Image: Herald Sun

There’s 100 days to go until the London 2012 Olympic Games commence, and Foxtel has revealed its eight dedicated Olympic channels.

The eight channels that will be free to residential sports subscribers and will air in both High Definition and Standard Definition.

With around 1,100 hours of live events, and over 3,200 hours of total coverage, FOXTEL will showcase all the drama, electricity, joy and despair of the 2012 Games.

The channels are:

LONDON 1 Swimming, Diving, Synchronised Swimming, Water Polo

LONDON 2 Cycling – Track, Cycling – BMX, Cycling – Mountain Bike, Cycling – Road

LONDON 3 Gymnastics – Artistic, Gymnastics – Rhythmic, Gymnastics – Trampoline

LONDON 4 Athletics – TrackLONDON 5 Athletics – Field

LONDON 6 Equestrian – Jumping, Equestrian – Eventing, Equestrian – Dressage, Fencing, Table Tennis

LONDON 7 Rowing, Canoeing – Sprint, Canoeing – Slalom

LONDON 8 Beach Volleyball, Sailing, Football, Hockey, Weightlifting

The remaining sports will be shown across a range of channels depending on the competition schedule. Foxtel will release a full guide including all broadcast times by July 1.

Subscribers will be able to see every single Gold Medal event live and in full and over the 17 days of competition Foxtel will broadcast all sessions and matches of sport in full, with all major sports shown live. And with the Foxtel iQ or iQHD, viewers can record, pause and rewind live TV so they see all the action at a time that suits them.

Extensive coverage that will be broadcast live from two Foxtel studios based inside London’s Olympic Park, one of which will run 24 hours a day.

Eddie McGuire will headline daytime coverage, alongside former Olympic sprinter Matt Shirvington, broadcaster Tracey Holmes will team with FOX Sports cricket host Brendon Julian; while former Olympic swimmer Lisa Forrest will host with SKY News’ James Bracey.

Fronting Foxtel’s second studio will be former track and field athlete and SKY News presenter Tiffany Cherry and FOX Sports presenters Adam Peacock, Sarah Jones and Jason Dunstall.

It will also have a team of roving reporters on the ground in London, including comedian Rove McManus, Rove will present daily stories covering every aspect of the Games – from the colourful streets of the Olympic city to the various sporting venues and the athletes’ village, as well as catching up with some favourite athletes.

 

The Olympic commentary team includes: James Tomkins (Rowing), Kerri Pottharst (Beach Volleyball), Scott McGrory (Cycling), Liz Chetkovich (Gymnastics), Debbie Watson (Water Polo), Andrew Gaze (Basketball), Jane Flemming (Athletics), Peter Donegan (Athletics), Daley Thompson (Athletics), Damian Brown (Weightlifting), Mike Murphy (Diving), Lucinda Green (Equestrian), Rechelle Hawkes (Hockey) and David Wansbrough (Hockey).

Throughout the 17 days of competition, Foxtel’s subscribers will also be able to watch the eight dedicated channels on the  London 2012 Olympic Games tablet app, streamed via both WiFi and 3G.

Foxtel’s ground-breaking coverage of the London Games will go live on July 25 to include live coverage of the 14 football matches that precede the Opening Ceremony. Competition will commence on air at 6.00pm on Saturday, July 28 (AEST).