Smarter cities needed! How smart is yours?
Ovum's "Is your city smart enough?" says that cities should start integrating information technologies into their infrastructure so they can become more competitive in the future. The report also states that this implementation has to happen in two different ways: by Digital-City strategies and by Digital-Society initiatives.
So, you think starting a business is hard? Apparently, it’s not the most stressful...
A Newspoll survey, commissioned by Suncorp Life, has analysed what events are considered the most stressful for Australians. Having their house destroyed by natural disaster ranks in the first place, followed the by serious illness or injury. Curiously, many Australian men find marriage to be the most stressful event of their life.
New scam turns online job-seekers into unwitting money-launderers (LinkedIn used to recruit ‘money-mules’)
A new, nefarious twist on cybercrime is turning innocent jobs seekers into unwitting money-launderers. "The bad guys monitor legitimate job boards and recruitment websites, such as LinkedIn, and harvest personal information from job posts or resumes."
Australians unwilling to pay extra for internet TV
Compare Broadband, a broadband comparison website, recently conducted a poll where it asked its visitors if they were willing to pay extra for their broadband provider to include unmetered Australian TV shows. Two thirds said no.
Australian online businesses had a great 2010 and are expecting an even better 2011,...
OBI found that the main reason behind the online commerce growth is consumer demand as well as an increase in the range of services offered by Australian Post. The rising of the Australian dollar also had a positive impact on eCommerce. According to the survey, a stronger Australian dollar allowed online businesses to import more products from overseas and led more Australian customers to online shopping which allowed online retailers to reduce prices in order to compete with international businesses.
Attention Australian web leaders! 9×9 Web Thinkers want to peek inside your brain…
We’re big fans of the new video project by 9x9 Web Thinkers. Not only does is look the business, it’s also got the smarts to back it up. If there is one fault we have with the concept, it is that the HTML5, while eye-popping and cool, is inherently unsharable. We would have liked to have shared a snippet with you here -- a teaser to whet your appetite -- but nay.
The Loop triumphs at AIMIA
Professional creative community, The Loop, triumphed over industry heavyweights to win ‘Best Enterprise’ at the recent Australian Interactive Media Industry Awards (AIMIA). The 17th annual ceremony, attended by over 600 industry leaders, took place on Cockatoo Island in the Sydney Harbour.
New index reveals that private equity and venture capital beat traditional stocks for investor...
According to a new report, the Australian private equity (PE) and venture capital (VC) industries generated attractive returns over a one, three and five year period, as of June 2010, in comparison to traditional stock indexes.
Australian women less confident in the economy than men. Could this hurt spending?
According to Michael Blythe, Commonwealth Bank Chief Economist, “The divergence between retail and non-retail spending trends, where women and men’s spending dominate respectively, correlates with the divide in gender sentiment. Department store sales, for example, where women are responsible for 59% of spending, is soft. And this softness is linked to the less positive sentiment of female consumers.”
NSW government partners with Tom McKaskill to create online tool for high-growth business
The NSW government is set to earn serious brownie points with aspiring business folk. It’s launched an online resource for entrepreneurs to facilitate high growth. Serial angel investor Dr Tom McKaskill joined forces with Industry & Investment NSW and the Australian Technology Showcase to develop the High Growth Diagnostic, currently in beta.
Report suggests that Australian women are more likely to be successful if they work...
The Hydrogen Group, through its report ‘Global professionals on the Move 2011’, has found that women are more likely to advance in their professions if they have experience abroad. Yet, according to the survey, of all the Australians working overseas, 67% are men and 33% are women.
Media Accelerator Program gives voice to early-stage media companies
The Festival of Media Global, organised by C Squared, has issued a call for media innovators to participate in its Media Accelerator Program (MAP). Participating companies will compete for one of ten speaking slots and the title of Festival of Media Global ‘Hot Company of the Year’.
Is Internet access a basic human right? 7 out of 10 Aussies think so.
Nearly seven out of 10 Australians see access to the Internet as a basic human right, according to an online -- and not particularly scientific -- survey by Compare Broadband. But a basic human right? Really?
Melbourne conference maps the future for venture capitalists
The Melbourne International Venture Capital Conference, featuring more than 30 expert speakers, keynotes and panel sessions, will be held tomorrow, Tuesday 8 March, at the Park Hyatt Melbourne. Speakers will include Tan Yinglan, author of "The Way of the VC -- Top Venture Capitalists on Your Board" and "Chinnovation -- How Chinese Innovators are Changing the World."
Could Facebook become a threat to mobile operators?
Ovum's latest report states that Facebook is invading mobile operators space and could potentially become a very serious threat. However, mobile operators aren't taking Facebook as a serious competitor but rather as a business partner.
Global ideas take center stage with return of TEDxSydney
Devoted to the propagation of “Ideas Worth Spreading”, TEDxSydney 2011 will provide a speaking platform to around 20 of Australia’s leading innovators, thinkers, global leaders and change makers. As a member (free to register), you can also nominate a speaker whom you feel is deserving to be present for the event.
Report shows that 65% of Australian businesses don’t have a website [and are falling...
MYOB Business Monitor latest research reveals that 65% of Australia businesses don't have a website, while more and more Australians are buying online. This means that Australian businesses risk losing a big share of the market to global competitors like Amazon.
Zygo’s football boots are ready to “deztruct” Australian sports
Zygo's boots are now available to be purchased in Australia. An Australian brand, Zygo was founded in 2004 by Con Hatzilias, a sports marketer. Zygo's boots have a special technology which enhances power, grip, spin and swerve.
Wine industry donates finest drops for flood relief
Brisbane-based vino enthusiast Tyson Stelzer discovered first hand that there are no sour grapes when it comes to supporting flood victims. Three hundred vineyards and wineries -- some of whom have lost entire crops -- have donated more than $240,000 in exclusive wine, memberships, books and travel packages to the Australian Wine Trade Flood Relief Raffle, so that you can win ridrunkulous prizes.
Which boffins pocket which grants, and at what benefit to the community? [Excellence in...
The Australian Government invests big bucks in research each year. But which nerdy boffins pocket the cash, and at what benefit to the community?
