infonews.co.nz New Zealand Technology news

Survey reveals smartphone ownership doubles in 12 months

PPR New Zealand — Tue, 21 May 2013 02:12:09 GMT

The number of Kiwis who own a smartphone has doubled in the past year, a TNS study has revealed. Twelve months ago 33% of New Zealanders owned a smartphone, but a year later, the figure has risen to 60%.

The finding was part of a study carried out by global consultancy firm TNS, which surveyed the mobile use of 38,000 people in 43 countries. Five hundred New Zealanders took part in the TNS Mobile Life online survey, which explored the behaviours, motivations and priorities of mobile use.

While the number of smartphone owners has doubled, the laptop remains the primary device used by New Zealanders for digital activity, with social networkers preferring to use their laptop instead of their mobile to tweet or change their Facebook status. The humble desktop computer is still the way most Kiwi men play computer games, while the rest of developed Asia play games on their mobiles.

“The results show that while the future is mobile, it’s still only one of many devices in New Zealand. But the number of Kiwis who own smartphones has risen quickly, and that’s largely because the price of handsets has come down in the past few years” says David Thomas, Director of TNS New Zealand.

Kiwis are increasingly willing to pay for technology, with respondents saying they’d pay an average of $403 for a new smartphone, compared to $358 last year.

Smartphone ownership has doubled, but tablet ownership has nearly tripled. Figures from TNS Mobile Life 2012 showed only 7% of New Zealanders had a tablet device, a figure that has now risen to 19%. The majority of tablet owners (67%) use it during the evening when they’re at home, with more than half (52%) using it whilst watching TV. One out of every two tablet owners surveyed said they use the device in bed before going to sleep.

Savvy shoppers are increasingly using their smartphone for ‘showrooming’, where a shopper looks at a product in a physical store, uses their smartphone to check if it’s cheaper online, and then purchases it elsewhere. One in four mobile owners now use their device to showroom, with the majority taking a photo of the product, or noting down the details.

The TNS survey also revealed how cautious New Zealanders are about downloading and using apps on their mobiles. 67% of respondents said they don’t like to download too many apps because they clutter up the phone, with a further 48% admitting to downloading apps that they stop using after a few weeks. A large portion of those surveyed (62%) say they will only download apps if they are free.

So what’s next on our shopping list? The smart TV could be the next big thing, 15% of New Zealanders already own the device, and a further 9% say they plan to buy a smart TV this year.

(Source)

LG's Latest Direct Drive™Technology Washing Machines featuring Smart Diagnosis

Lily&Louis — Fri, 17 May 2013 01:07:35 GMT

TECHNOLOGY - AUCKLAND

LG’s 6 Motion™ technology washing-machines use six powerful techniques to deliver a customized wash for different types of fabric.

LG Electronics, the global consumer electronics giant, showcased their innovative new range of washing machines during an exclusive launch eventhighlighting their 6 Motion™ and Direct Drive™ motortechnologies.

The best-selling front-load washing machine brand in the United States for six consecutive years*, LG’s top and front loading washing machines are equipped with the Inverter Direct Drive™ motor – a motor that controls the actions of its tub and washing motions.The Direct Drive™ motor in LG washing machinesis integrated at the centre of the machine’s drumand has fewer moving parts, resulting inimproved noise and vibration suppression.

“The days of noisy and loud-banging washing machines are over”, says Glen Chean, National Marketing Manager for LG Electronics in New Zealand. “LG washing machines do their job so efficiently and quietly you quickly forget the washing is being done for you”.

The first to mount a direct drive motor directly to the front load washing machine’s drum, LG’s washing machines are also backed by an 10 Year Parts Warranty on the Direct Drive Motor for greater peace of mind.

To minimize time spent in the laundry, LG’s innovative 6 Motion™ Wash Technology uses six unique motion techniques to deliver a customized wash for different types of fabrics.

LG’s front-load washing machines also carry LG’s ‘Big In’ feature delivering a large 10Kg washing capacity without being physically larger than astandard 8kg washing machine. This is great for families who need bigger washing without taking up more valuable space from the laundry room.

Premium models of LG front-load washing machines also includea Steam Washer, which harnesses the power of steam to remove dirt, odours and reduce wrinkles.. The products 20 minute Steam Refresh Cycle provide a detergent-free wash that uses less than one litre of water, to blast clothes with steam to refresh and smooth wrinkles.

The unique Smart Diagnosis™ system lets you diagnose and solve washing problems on LG washing machines using your smartphone. Available for both iPhone and Android, the Smart Diagnosis™app lets the user record and analyze special tones emitted by LG Smart Diagnosis™ washing machines to provideyou with a diagnosis without necessarily needing to call a service technician.

LG’s 6 Motion™ washing machines are available across all major retailers around New Zealand.

* based on Stevenson TraQline data for residential front load laundry from 2007 to 2012 as measured yearly January 1st to December 31st.

-ENDS-

LG PR Contact
Jacqui Ansin
Lily & Louis
jacqui.ansin@lilyandlouis.com
09360 4466

(Source)

LG announces 2013 LG Smart TV with magic remote

Lily&Louis — Fri, 17 May 2013 01:03:40 GMT

TECHNOLOGY - AUCKLAND

So magically simple, the kids will be showing you how to use it!

The 2013 LG Smart TVs are easier than ever to use, with a new smart and expansive entertainment platform that keeps you connected, offering access to a wide selection of premium content. "LG are the experts in "easy" and they have it covered when it comes to making technology easier to use," says Glen Chean, National Marketing Manager for LG in New Zealand.

Using an optional motion camera (built-in on the premium LA86 model), LG Smart TVs can be controlled using hand gestures, allowing you to change your TV channels, inputs or volume with the wave of your hand.LG Smart TVs also feature their unique and incredibly kid-friendly Magic Remote. Everything works with simple gestures – Point, Draw, Speak and Scroll. Draw the channel number in the air or scroll the wheel to change channels. Kids can even use the Magic Remote to play interactive games.
The powerful Voice Search function on the Magic remote lets users search for content on the internet by speaking through the magic remote, naturally."Just push the voice button on the remote, speak naturally and let the TV do the searching for you," Chean says.

You can also download the LG TV Remote App onto your compatible smartphone to use your phone as a remote control. The Dual Screen function on the LG TV Remote App lets you enjoy TV programming playing on TV on to the smartphone. Further PC keyboard and mouse devices can be connected to the TV, allowing for easier web surfing.

LG Smart TVs also feature powerful content sharing technologies that provide seamless content sharing with compatible smart phones, PCs and tablets.

LG Time Machine technology with TV built-in memory for instant Freeview TV Recordings

The newly updated version of LG's popular Time Machine (Time Machine II) feature lets you record your favourite Freeview|HD TV program onto the TV's in-built memory. For longer recordings, there's also the option of using a dedicated USB hard drive (minimum 40GB) enabling you to rewind, pause or watch recorded shows conveniently. LG Time Machine technology with built-in memory is available on all 2013 model LG Smart TVs.

LG Cloud makes content sharing easy
LG Cloud has now been launched globally. Once the LG Cloud app is installed from Google Play or the LG Smart World Store, you can begin streaming directly to your LG Smart TV without the need to download files to a smart storage device. It also provides cloud storage solutions, so you can store your photos and videos and the content list automatically Sharing between PCs, compatible Android smartphones and LG Smart TVs. Get started with 5GB of free storage.

-ENDS-

LG PR Contact
Jacqui Ansin
Lily & Louis
jacqui.ansin@lilyandlouis.com
09 360 4466

LG Electronics Home Entertainment
The LG Electronics Home Entertainment Company is a top global player in flat panel displays, audio players, video products, monitors, commercial displays, and security systems for consumer and commercial markets. Key product areas include Ultra HD, LED, LCD, and plasma TVs, LED/LCD monitors, home theatre systems, Blu-ray Disc™ players, audio components, video players, and plasma display panels. While focusing on creating feature-rich devices, the company pursues stylish designs and pushes technological boundaries to improve the home entertainment experience for consumers.

LG Electronics New Zealand
LG Electronics New Zealand is based in Highbrook, Auckland and is a branch of LG Electronics Australia Pty Ltd. In New Zealand, LG Electronics sells a range of stylish and innovative home entertainment products, mobile phones, home appliances, commercial displays, air conditioning systems and solar energy solutions, all under LG's "Life's Good" mantra.

For more information, please visit www.LG.com/nz, or connect with us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/LGNZ

(Source)

Smart Document Management System to Hit New Zealand Shores

Alexander Communications — Tue, 14 May 2013 02:51:31 GMT

TECHNOLOGY

DocRecord, a fully electronic advanced document and content management system that has proven a hit with companies in Europe, Canada and the United States, is set to hit the New Zealand market in early May, through a partnership with Konica Minolta.

Optimal document management is an essential business tool, and a high-functioning system such as DocRecord enables companies to access internal documents instantly – it’s like being able to Google within the company’s files. With strong security in place, only approved searchers can access various department documents. Developed by Prism Software Corporation, DocRecord can be adapted to suit any business’ needs, whether for 50 or 5,000 employees.

After reviewing a number of electronic document management systems (EDMS), Konica Minolta decided to partner with the US-based Prism Software Corporation to deliver DocRecord in New Zealand.

Greg Twiname, Konica Minolta’s software solutions channel manager, says the company was highly impressed by the software and its intuitive interface.

“The server provides an automation process to reduce traditional effort associated with coding, naming and filing documents. This feature is not typically found in EDMS solutions, and its inclusion was a key reason for our decision to resell DocRecord.”

DocRecord has two critical features that help companies with document management. Optical character recognition (OCR), in conjunction with the Automation Server, reduces the effort associated with document coding, making inputting documents an easy process, and retrieval is simple thanks to an intelligent search using key words and an index field. Documents can be accessed from a user’s desktop, or online via the web interface.

DocRecord is easy to install and simple to use. It has a pricing model that works on a base system that is combined with the required processing modules and the number of concurrent people accessing the system.

Today’s businesses no longer find it practical or cost-effective to manually file and retrieve paper documents, Mr Twiname says, noting that electronic document management saves money and greatly improves efficiencies by automatically filing, routing and workflowing documents that can be instantly retrieved. “DocRecord enables knowledge sharing across your entire organisation business irrespective of physical location”.

The two companies are looking forward to partnership in New Zealand following a successful business relationship in the US. David Ayres, the CEO of Prism Software, says, “The combination of DocRecord and Konica Minolta multi-functional devices provides a powerful and affordable solution for electronic document automation and workflow that works for a wide range of companies, industries, and departments.”

(Source)

Tails wagging for new Android App

The PR Shop — Fri, 10 May 2013 00:13:35 GMT

TECHNOLOGY

Wouldn’t it be nice to able to take your dog out and about more with you? We all know it’s much more fun when your four-legged friends are around, but as every pet owner knows, it’s often difficult to find places that are pet-friendly.

Purina has recognised that finding the perfect holiday home, café or areas where you can let your dog off the leash are priorities for dog owners and has developed a clever solution.

Following the successful launch of Purina’s iPhone app last year, Purina has just launched an Android version that will direct you to the nearest pet-friendly places with a quick click and flick of your finger. It might be a hotel, motel or bach for your next family holiday; a leash-free beach; or even a café that caters to your caffeine addiction, and provides a fresh bowl of water for your pup.

Purina’s ‘Pet Places’ App is all about getting you out and about with your pet, without the hassle of having to hunt down an area that welcomes them.

Shivaun Statham of Purina in New Zealand says with Android now occupying approximately 41% of the smart phone market in New Zealand*, it was a no-brainer to develop the new version.

“It doesn’t matter what type of phone we use, Kiwis are real animal-lovers and Purina wanted to have this awesome tool available to as many people as possible. It will enable them to enjoy quality time with their pets, even away from home.”

“The iPhone Pet Places App was a great success, and with this new Android version we hope to have more dogs out in the community with their owners. It really is much more fun with your dog by your side and with this App you’ll be able to find pet friendly areas all over New Zealand!”

In fact, Book-A-Bach feeds directly into the Pet Places Android and iPhone Apps, so you can find a pet-friendly holiday home and instantly book it in – all in one hand-held device. It’s too easy!

Purina’s App – called Pet Places – is now available for free on iPhone and Android through Google Play and the iTunes App store.

Our pets are always there for us, and now they can be there for us in more places than ever!

(Source)

UC research team seeking breakthrough in next generation electronics

University of Canterbury — Tue, 07 May 2013 00:09:31 GMT

TECHNOLOGY

Could technology developed at the University of Canterbury (UC) be the key to next generation electronics?

A UC team is seeking a breakthrough nano-technology for computer microchips. If successful, it would mean that a Kiwi developed technology could become the next hot item in integrated circuit manufacture.

Computers and other electronic devices have been getting smaller, faster and more functional over the last 30 years.

UC mechanical engineering professor Susan Krumdieck says in 2010 the previously rapid growth in transistor density slowed down.

``This is primarily because the physical limits of properties of materials at the nano-scale are starting to feature in the function of the transistor.

``Researchers have been looking into different materials that might be able to be scaled down further. However, the work-horse of the electronic world – silicon – is still the best material for building semi-conductor electronics.

``Researchers at the Interuniversity Microelectronics Centre (Imec), a world leading Belgium-based research company in nano-electronics, are working on an idea for the next generation of ever-smaller circuits.

``They work in innovative partnerships in ICT, healthcare and energy. Their research is typically three to 10 years ahead of industry.

``At a recent international conference in Ireland, a researcher from Imec approached me to discuss my ceramic coating technology.

``He had not found any other way, but he thought that the chemical process technology used to produce thin ceramic material films that I had developed here at UC could provide a solution. We are continuing research in this area,’’ Professor Krumdieck says.

UC mechanical engineer Dr Catherine Bishop, chemistry lecturer Dr Sarah Masters, Associate Professor Maan Alkaisi and Professor Krumdieck are starting work on a research project to step up the game in nano-electronics.

The research seeks to both develop and fine tune the processing conditions to create the material Imec is seeking.

(Source)

UC psychologists helping shape the robotic future

University of Canterbury — Tue, 07 May 2013 00:05:17 GMT

TECHNOLOGY

Remotely-operated vehicles are emerging globally as a big business and University of Canterbury (UC) psychology researchers are looking for ways to make them more user-friendly.

Professor Deak Helton says while the vehicles provide benefits, they pose difficulties because the environmental information available to the pilot is limited.

``The operator relies on camera feeds and perhaps other sensors on the vehicle. The amount of environmental information when the person is tele-present is much more limited than when a person is present.

``In psychology here at UC we are conducting cutting edge research to figure out how to improve robotic operations. We are focusing on the use of robots in emergency and post-disaster response.

``Unlike the really expensive drones you see used by defence forces, most civil systems are basically a mobile camera. The challenge is getting the camera into the place you want to see without getting stuck.

``Imagine a remote controlled vehicle being sent through the sub-floor of an earthquake damaged building. Putting a person in there is difficult and it is potentially lethal if the building collapses,’’ Professor Helton says.

His group has been investigating how people navigate robots in restricted environments. One of their papers, Cornering law: The difficulty of negotiating corners with an unmanned ground vehicle will soon appear in the peer reviewed journal Human Factors.

UC students James Head and Benno Blaschke tested a model Professor Helton developed with colleagues in the United States.

``People often think psychology does not have laws analogous to the physical sciences. This is a misconception. For example, the reason you use a mouse as your primary tool to navigate desktop interfaces is because researchers at Xerox used a law discovered by the psychologist Paul Fitts.

``According to Fitts’ Law the mouse was the best of the possible tools at the time. The Cornering Law I developed with colleagues is an analogous model of how people navigate around corners. This law enables researchers to test navigation tools and even gauge the skill level of different pilots.

``The Cornering Law is an application of information theory to robot navigation. The difficulty of cornering is a function of the relative size of the robot to the size of the corner. But the functional relationship is contingent on both its human operator’s skill and the tools involved.

``We do a lot of research on robots, both ground and aerial robots. Our point of difference with other labs internationally is we are focused primarily on off the shelf civil systems. We are interested in taking existing commercial systems and helping folks actually use them. Billion dollar systems are great for big governments, but for the person who wants to know if their foundation is safe or not, they aren’t going to use a billion dollar gee-whiz robot. They need a camera, some wheels, and psychology,” Professor Helton says.

(Source)

Ewan McGregor announced as brand partner to usher in LG's 2013 TV and AV range.

Lily&Louis — Thu, 02 May 2013 00:48:23 GMT

TECHNOLOGY

LG ANNOUNCES 2013 HOME ENTERTAINMENT RANGE AND BRAND AMBASSADOR
Ewan McGregor announced as brand partner to usher in LG’s 2013 TV and AV range.

May 2, 2013 – LG Electronics Australia and New Zealand (LG) have announced its 2013 Home Entertainment (HE) range and its brand partnership with international film star Ewan McGregor.

At a large media gathering in an exclusive location in Sydney yesterday, LG unveiled plans for its 2013 Home Entertainment range and made the surprise announcement that it would be partnering with Ewan McGregor to bring their new television and audio-visual product range to Australia and New Zealand.

“Ewan McGregor is widely considered to be one of the world’s most engaging actors so we are both proud and thrilled to announce our partnership with him and delighted that he will be promoting the new LG Home Entertainment range in Australia and New Zealand,” said Glen Chean, National Marketing Manager for LG New Zealand.

On hand for the exclusive event, McGregor said “I’m looking forward to working with LG Electronics to help showcase its latest home entertainment range. LG is a premium, exciting brand that is committed to producing products that are innovative in both technology and style. I am pleased to be working alongside the company to help bring these great products to Australia and New Zealand.”

During the event, the company announced that it would be introducing 55” and 65” versions of its highly touted 84” Ultra High Definition TV later in the year. Other offerings included the company’s Smart TV products including the newly launched LG Cloud service, and the company’s upgraded Magic Remote .

Chean also commented about the company’s commitment to delivering first-to-market products with next-generation technologies.

“LG continues to deliver on its ability to drive innovation in the TV industry. With the innovative display technology and content for premium viewing experiences, combined with cutting-edge designs and the latest in Ultra High Definition, and Smart TV technology, LG will continue to transform the home entertainment experience and its place in the family home,” said Chean.

Curved OLED

On top of these announcements, LG recently said that it will begin accepting pre-orders for its 55-inch Curved OLED TV (Model 55EA9800) in South Korea, with deliveries to begin next month. More than 1,400 LG retail stores in South Korea began taking orders on April 29 from customers for the premium TV, priced at KRW 15 million (approximately USD 13,500). The announcement makes LG the first and only company to commercialize both the flat screen OLED TV, which began shipping to Korean customers in February, and the Curved OLED TV, giving LG a significant lead in the OLED segment that is expected to grow to 7 million units by 2016, according to DisplaySearch.

“Our Curved OLED TV is not only proof of LG’s role as a pioneer in next-generation displays but also a testament to LG’s commitment to bringing to market the most exciting TV technology available today,” said Havis Kwon, President and CEO of LG’s Home Entertainment Company.

The new EA9800 model features the industry’s very first curved screen ergonomic design, providing an “IMAX-like” viewing experience in the home. With more than five years of research behind developing the optimum curvature, the entire screen surface is equidistant from the viewer’s eyes, eliminating the problem of screen-edge visual distortion and loss of detail.

Only 4.3 millimeters at its thinnest point and weighing just 17 kilograms, LG’s Curved OLED TV produces astoundingly vivid and realistic images thanks to its proprietary WRGB technology. The unique Four-Colour Pixel system features a white sub-pixel, which works in conjunction with the conventional red, blue, green setup to perfect the colour output. What’s more, LG’s exclusive Colour Refiner maintains the colour accuracy of the image, resulting in images that are extremely vibrant, natural and enjoyable to view. As in the original flat screen OLED TV, the Curved OLED TV also offers an infinite contrast ratio for optimal contrast levels.

LG’s Curved OLED TV features thin transparent film speakers in the crystal clear stand, providing high-quality sound without compromising the TV’s beautiful design. LG’s Curved OLED TV took the top “red dot: best of the best” honour at the prestigious design competition earlier this year.

Timing and pricing of the Curved OLED TV in markets outside of Korea will be announced in the months ahead.

Ultra High Definition

LG pioneered Ultra HD TV in New Zealand with its launch of the 84” Ultra HD TV in 2012, with a premium price point that matched its premium large scale offering. With the announcement that 55” and 65” versions will be available later in the year, LG is making Ultra HD TV accessible to the masses by providing variable sizes and price points that compare more favorably to existing models.

All LG Ultra HD TVs feature the LG Resolution Upscaler Plus that improves lower resolution visual media content offering greater detailed content for early-adopters who want a detailed larger screen viewing experience.

Smart TV

· In 2013, LG will deliver TVs that are easier to use with a new smart and expansive entertainment platform that keeps you connected.

Over 70% of LG’s 2013 TV line-up will be Smart TVs, offering access to premium content at affordable prices.

Key LG Smart TV features are:

· LG’s new SmartShare will allow consumers to seamlessly share content between devices, e.g.: from a compatible smartphone or tablet to a TV

· LG Cloud, which has now been launched globally

o The service can be accessed using LG’s Cloud app which can be downloaded on Google Play or the LG Smart World Store

o The app is very easy to install and is compatible with LG Cinema 3D Smart TVs, PCs and Android smartphones 4.0 or higher. Once the app is installed, users can begin streaming up to 5GB of content for free directly to their Smart TV without the need to download files to a smart storage device

o It also provides cloud storage solutions to record entertainment content that automatically synchronizes between PCs, compatible Android smartphones and Smart TVs

· The newly updated version of LG’s popular Time Machine (Time Machine II) feature enables consumers:

o To record and save their favourite Freeview|HD TV programs onto the TVs inbuilt memory with the option of using a dedicated USB hard drive (minimum 40GB) for longer recordings, enabling you to rewind, pause or watch recorded shows

o The Watch & Record functionality will let you record a TV channel while simultaneously watching a different channel (Available only on the LA86 series)

· Consumers can control their Smart TV with LG’s easy-to-use LG Magic Remote

o Everything works with simple gestures – Point, Draw, Speak & Scroll

o The 2013 Magic Remote will recognise natural language voice for easier detection of spoken search terms

o You can also download the LG TV Remote App onto your smartphone to use your phone as a remote control, or to watch TV on your phone in another room

o Using Miracast to connect a Miracast enabled tablet or smartphone to a 2013 LG Smart TV, users can simply thumb through their favourite photos on their phone photo albums and pull them up on their LG Smart TV.

-ENDS-

LG PR Contact

Jacqui Ansin Jade Hart

Lily & Louis Lily & Louis

jacqui.ansin@lilyandlouis.com jade.hart@lilyandlouis.com

09 360 4466 09 360 4466

LG Electronics Home Entertainment

The LG Electronics Home Entertainment Company is a top global player in flat panel displays, audio players, video products, monitors, commercial displays, and security systems for consumer and commercial markets. Key product areas include Ultra HD, LED, LCD, and plasma TVs, LED/LCD monitors, home theatre systems, Blu-ray Disc™ players, audio components, video players, and plasma display panels. While focusing on creating feature-rich devices, the company pursues stylish designs and pushes technological boundaries to improve the home entertainment experience for consumers.

LG Electronics New Zealand

LG Electronics New Zealand is based in Highbrook, Auckland and is a branch of LG Electronics Australia Pty Ltd. In New Zealand, LG Electronics sells a range of stylish and innovative home entertainment products, mobile phones, home appliances, commercial displays, air conditioning systems and solar energy solutions, all under LG’s “Life’s Good” mantra.

For more information, please visit www.LG.com/nz, or connect with us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/LGNZ

(Source)

IDIOM selected for Government's "Open Door to Innovation" programme

Shine Group — Wed, 01 May 2013 23:58:04 GMT

TECHNOLOGY

Auckland-based software company IDIOM Limited has been selected for the Government’s “Open Door to Innovation” programme, designed to identify ICT innovation that has the proven potential to solve business problems in Government.

The programme run by the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) selected 47 companies with potential solutions for consideration by government agencies; making it easier for innovative local ICT companies to profile and sell innovative solutions to the public sector.

Department of Internal Affairs’ Prashant Belwalkar, the Manager of Market Engagement for the Government ICT Supply Management Office says, "The Open Door to Innovation program was a means of getting the government agencies exposed to a wide range of innovative solutions. It gave an opportunity to the SME vendors to compete effectively in the government procurement space.”

Mark Norton, Executive Director of IDIOM, says, "We’re pleased to be one of the successful vendors. We have a strong track record for delivering successful, large scale automation of policy based decision-making. We look forward to the opportunity to assist Government agencies to streamline automation of Government policy within core business processes."

IDIOM (www.idiomsoftware.com) develops and licenses decision automation software that makes systems far more transparent, flexible and agile, by giving business users hands-on control over defining and deploying specialist decision making expertise. The company is a pioneer in the development and use of decision oriented concepts, and the application of these concepts to development of “intelligent processes”.

Norton says, “Innovation and ICT are two terms that go especially well together. Governments around the world are promoting ICT related innovation as a harbinger of economic growth, employment, sustainable development, even environmental improvements. We have some fantastic ICT innovation in New Zealand, so it’s great to see the public sector actively looking at how they can apply this innovation in their own organisations.”

IDIOM’s innovative solutions, designed to help businesses achieve growth and agility while reducing cost, risk, and time, are used across the private and public sectors in New Zealand and offshore.

A full list of companies selected for the “Open Door to Innovation” programme can be found online at http://ict.govt.nz/programme/open-door-innovation

(Source)

Kiwis feel busier despite advances in technology

Porter Novelli New Zealand — Wed, 01 May 2013 00:10:51 GMT

TECHNOLOGY

A new survey shows New Zealanders believe technology has resulted in a timesaving of six hours a week on average compared with a decade ago; however, three quarters of us are still feeling the pressure when it comes to managing our time.

According to the Visa payWave Currency of Time Survey[1] more than 75 per cent (77.5%) of people feel busier, with more than 40 per cent (42.5%) feeling significantly or overwhelmingly busier. Interestingly, those who reported saving the most time from technology were more likely to be busier, indicating that despite completing tasks faster demands on our time are also increasing.

The top two things Kiwis would like to do if they had more spare time was be with family and friends (33.1%) and focus on hobbies and/or social activities (31.2%). ‘Me time’ was significantly lower at 16 per cent, but as time saving from technology increased, so did the preference to exercise and keep healthy.

Professor Paul Spoonley of Massey University’s College of Humanities and Social Sciences says it is not surprising that people feel busy even though technology saves time.

“Instant communication means that the old distinction between work and home or leisure does not operate any more. The boundaries are unclear. Technology saves time on many tasks but it also creates new tasks, and many feel that they need to check something online or to answer a text. It feels busy.”

Caroline Ada, Visa country manager New Zealand and South Pacific, says new innovations such as contactless payment technology, which allows cardholders to make any purchase up to $80 without entering a PIN or signing a receipt, will speed up every day shopping and cut down the time people spend queuing.

“We commissioned the Visa payWave Currency of Time survey to see what impact technology has had on our lives and to gauge how time poor or rich we are compared to a decade ago. While we feel like we’re trying to cram more into our day than a few years ago, technology can go some way to saving us time. Contactless payments like Visa payWave will benefit customers by allowing them to speed up their payment transaction time when it matters, such as when buying food at a stadium, popping in for petrol and doing the weekly supermarket shop.”

A recent Australian timing study showed Visa payWave allows shoppers to make payments four times faster than with traditional card payments where the card is swiped or inserted into the reader. Following this theme, the top three tasks Kiwis would like to be able to do four times faster were sitting on hold with call centres (45.3%), the weekly grocery shop (20.9%) and the work commute (19.9%).

“Cardholders simply place their Visa payWave card against a special contactless reader to wave and go; it’s a faster way to pay than cash or other forms of payment. Kiwis are already among the highest users of electronic payments in the world – 59 per cent compared with cash at only 17 per cent – and we anticipate this trend away from cash to continue as everyday payments such as a bottle of water or cup of coffee can be paid for by waving your card in front of the reader,” says Ada.

The Visa payWave Currency of Time Survey found men were more likely to use a contactless card compared to women (42.5% and 37.7% respectively) and were also more willing to eliminate cash altogether if it was practical to do so (43.4% and 33.7%). From a generational perspective it was those aged 18-24 years who are least likely to use cash and on average have the least amount of cash in their wallets.

Caroline Ada adds contactless payments will lay the groundwork for future payment innovations.

“Near Field Communication (NFC) is a game changer for the industry and as customers drive innovation, technology like Visa payWave is taking us one step closer to mobile payment ubiquity.”

Visa payWave is based on the secure global EMV standard for chip card technology and carries multiple layers of security including an ultra-short read-range and use of encryption keys. With a contactless payment the card never leaves the cardholder’s hand, thereby reducing the opportunity for the card to be skimmed.

In addition, cardholders are protected by Visa’s Zero Liability policy which means that provided the cardholder has taken reasonable precautions to protect their card, they are not held liable for unauthorised transactions.

For further information on Visa payWave please visit www.visapaywave.co.nz .

[1] A survey of n-2,224 New Zealanders undertaken March 12 to 20 2013 by Horizon Research

(Source)

New Dell Latitude Laptop Delivers Superb Security, Manageability and Productivity for Schools

PPR New Zealand — Wed, 01 May 2013 00:08:46 GMT

TECHNOLOGY

Dell today launched the Latitude 3330, designed to help schools and educators teach tomorrow’s leaders while providing excellent value. The new laptop offers the robust computing features required to maximize learning productivity, compatibility with Dell’s existing solutions and services for education and support for personalized learning opportunities in the classroom.

A snap to deploy, the Latitude 3330 easily integrates into a school’s existing IT infrastructure, speeding up time to classroom and saving time and money. It’s sleek, lightweight, and sturdy design stands up to the demands of even the youngest of students, fits easily on classroom desks and in backpacks and moves easily from classroom to classroom or home and back. The new laptop offers no compromise performance with full laptop productivity and all day battery life with a 6-cell battery i.

Affordability, productivity and interactive learning

Dell developed the Latitude 3330 to increase student access to technology and work in as many IT environments as possible. The new laptop fully supports Microsoft Windows 8, Windows 7, and Linux Ubuntu, giving students the ability to produce, consume and share information, as well as leverage common learning applications and software to personalize their learning experience during the school day and at home.

Built on the trusted reputation of Dell’s Latitude line, the new laptop has a 13.3-inch anti-glare screen that minimizes the scrolling required of smaller screens, an HD 720 webcam, and WiDi support ii for virtual classroom collaboration. The Latitude 3330 is available with a broad choice of storage technology ranging from proven standard hard drives to high-performance SSD for maximum durability and quick system response time. Equipped with VGA, HDMI, USB3.0 and optional USB docking, the new laptop can connect easily to the majority of desk environments and room infrastructures for smooth presentation, teaching and maximized learning time.

The newest Dell Mobile Computing Cart solution, also announced today, is available in managed and unmanaged options and enables secure storage, charging and transport for easy mobility. It is designed to accommodate a variety of form factors and screen sizes, including Dell tablets, Ultrabooks, laptops and up to 30 Latitude 3330s. The managed cart option allows for remote management and IT updates, ideal for managing a fleet of systems between multiple campus locations.

Superb security and manageability

Dell offers tailored solutions options for cost effective security, management, and end-user productivity. Dell Data Protection | Encryption, available on the Latitude 3330 in the coming months, enables secure employee or student collaboration with a single, easy-to-manage solution for data encryption across devices, removable media and in public cloud storage . With DDP|E, a school district’s data encryption needs can be remotely managed using a single console and compliance is simplified with a one-touch present policy, ideal for safeguarding confidential student and employee data.

Additionally, the Latitude 3330 comes with a complete set of automation tools to help IT administrators tackle the time consuming tasks of deployment, monitoring and updating systems with superior efficiency. Dell’s deep integration with industry-leading consoles, such as Dell KACE and Microsoft System, enables better deployment, quicker configuration and easier management of updates.

Quotes
“The Latitude 3330 delivers exceptional value and extends Dell Latitude’s superior manageability, security and reliability to a thin, light laptop with agile performance, mobility and a full, robust computing experience that is ideal for schools and small businesses,” said Kirk Schell, vice president, personal computer product group, Dell. “Dell’s heritage is built on empowering our customers with user-focused devices, unbeatable back-end expertise and cost-effective, tailored solutions that empower end-users and IT administrators alike.”

About Dell
Dell Inc. (NASDAQ: DELL) is committed to helping students develop the knowledge and skills they need to learn and succeed in an increasingly digital world and a globally competitive workforce. As the top provider of technology and services to schools, Dell listens to and works with students, educators, administrators, parents and community members around the world to deliver innovative technology and services that give them the power to do more in and out of the classroom. Learn more about Dell in Education at www.dell.co.nz. Follow us on Twitter @DellEDU.

Dell and Latitude are trademarks of Dell Inc. Dell disclaims any proprietary interest in the marks and names of others.

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[i] Tested system equipped with 4 GB memory, 128GB SSD, Intel HD 4000 graphics, Intel Core i5, and Windows 7 operating system. Based on testing using the Mobile Mark 2007 battery life benchmark test. For more information about this benchmark test, visit www.bapco.com. Test results should be used only to compare one product with another and are not a guarantee you will experience the same battery life. Battery life may be significantly less than the test results and varies depending on your product’s configuration, software, usage, operating conditions, power management settings and other factors. Maximum battery life will decrease with time and use.
[ii] Requires an Intel wireless card, a compatible Media Adapter (sold separately) and an HDMI or composite AV-enabled display.

(Source)

Kiwis feel busier despite advances in technology

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 21:37:50 GMT

TECHNOLOGY

Technology saves us six hours a week in time, but Kiwis still feel the pressure

Auckland, 1 May 2013 – A new survey shows New Zealanders believe technology has resulted in a timesaving of six hours a week on average compared with a decade ago; however, three quarters of us are still feeling the pressure when it comes to managing our time.

According to the Visa payWave Currency of Time Survey[1] more than 75 per cent (77.5%) of people feel busier, with more than 40 per cent (42.5%) feeling significantly or overwhelmingly busier. Interestingly, those who reported saving the most time from technology were more likely to be busier, indicating that despite completing tasks faster demands on our time are also increasing.

The top two things Kiwis would like to do if they had more spare time was be with family and friends (33.1%) and focus on hobbies and/or social activities (31.2%). ‘Me time’ was significantly lower at 16 per cent, but as time saving from technology increased, so did the preference to exercise and keep healthy.

Professor Paul Spoonley of Massey University’s College of Humanities and Social Sciences says it is not surprising that people feel busy even though technology saves time.

“Instant communication means that the old distinction between work and home or leisure does not operate any more. The boundaries are unclear. Technology saves time on many tasks but it also creates new tasks, and many feel that they need to check something online or to answer a text. It feels busy.”

Caroline Ada, Visa country manager New Zealand and South Pacific, says new innovations such as contactless payment technology, which allows cardholders to make any purchase up to $80 without entering a PIN or signing a receipt, will speed up every day shopping and cut down the time people spend queuing.

“We commissioned the Visa payWave Currency of Time survey to see what impact technology has had on our lives and to gauge how time poor or rich we are compared to a decade ago. While we feel like we’re trying to cram more into our day than a few years ago, technology can go some way to saving us time. Contactless payments like Visa payWave will benefit customers by allowing them to speed up their payment transaction time when it matters, such as when buying food at a stadium, popping in for petrol and doing the weekly supermarket shop.”

A recent Australian timing study showed Visa payWave allows shoppers to make payments four times faster than with traditional card payments where the card is swiped or inserted into the reader. Following this theme, the top three tasks Kiwis would like to be able to do four times faster were sitting on hold with call centres (45.3%), the weekly grocery shop (20.9%) and the work commute (19.9%).

“Cardholders simply place their Visa payWave card against a special contactless reader to wave and go; it’s a faster way to pay than cash or other forms of payment. Kiwis are already among the highest users of electronic payments in the world – 59 per cent compared with cash at only 17 per cent – and we anticipate this trend away from cash to continue as everyday payments such as a bottle of water or cup of coffee can be paid for by waving your card in front of the reader,” says Ada.

The Visa payWave Currency of Time Survey found men were more likely to use a contactless card compared to women (42.5% and 37.7% respectively) and were also more willing to eliminate cash altogether if it was practical to do so (43.4% and 33.7%). From a generational perspective it was those aged 18-24 years who are least likely to use cash and on average have the least amount of cash in their wallets.

Caroline Ada adds contactless payments will lay the groundwork for future payment innovations.

“Near Field Communication (NFC) is a game changer for the industry and as customers drive innovation, technology like Visa payWave is taking us one step closer to mobile payment ubiquity.”

Visa payWave is based on the secure global EMV standard for chip card technology and carries multiple layers of security including an ultra-short read-range and use of encryption keys. With a contactless payment the card never leaves the cardholder’s hand, thereby reducing the opportunity for the card to be skimmed.

In addition, cardholders are protected by Visa’s Zero Liability policy which means that provided the cardholder has taken reasonable precautions to protect their card, they are not held liable for unauthorised transactions.

For further information on Visa payWave please visit www.visapaywave.co.nz .

[1] A survey of n-2,224 New Zealanders undertaken March 12 to 20 2013 by Horizon Research

(Source)