Tech & Innovation
News, opinions and advice on technology development and the state of innovation.
Australian businesses to lead by example in this new era for retail shopping.
The ripples from the pandemic will be felt for months and years to come, but a recovering economy, a reduced unemployment rate and growing consumer confidence are providing a very welcome glimpse of a new era of post-pandemic retail.
The 6 greatest cybercrime scams and exploits of the last decade [How many caught...
In first place comes the MyDoom's mass infection. Damage caused by this worm is estimated to have exceeded $38 billion. Designed to send spam mails through infected computers, its first attack took place in 2004. It sent so much spam from computers worldwide that it slowed down the internet by 10%!
Dude, you stole my business idea! Confidentiality agreements 101
An issue close to the heart (and start) of any creative venture is how to protect your valuable idea or concept if you need to disclose it to others. A common way is via a confidentiality agreement.
Want the secret to getting SEO love from Google? Well, there is no secret.
The message now is clear - the days of dodgy SEO practices are over, and the secret to achieving higher Google rankings has been revealed. Want to know that secret? Of course you do. I'm prepared to give it to you now, on Anthill, for free! The secret is...there is no secret.
Is Microsoft merely flirting with So.cl? Or can it get serious?
Facebook is the default social site of the world. With 900 million members, it would be the third largest “country” in the world, behind only China and India. In comparison, Google+, a late and weak effort from the search giant, is a “ghost town.” So where does Microsoft, the giant that likes to sleep in, fit into the picture?
The ‘Creative’ bug on LinkedIn! Time to get over it?
Does a buzzword in LinkedIn profiles describe a nation as well? Viewing nations through this prism, Spain is “specialised,” Switzerland is “analytical,” India is “effective,” Egypt is “multinational,” Brazil is “experimental,” and France and Italy are, well, “responsible.” China, curiously, is not listed in LinkedIn’s study.
Splish splash, I was takin’ a jog… on my underwater treadmill [Australian Innovation]
Take your standard fitness centre treadmill. Add water. Lots and lots of water. In unimaginative hands, the result would be a sloshy, slippery mess that only a bucket and mop could cure. But in the hands of the folk at HydroCo, based at Seaford in Victoria, wetness plus walking-in-place equals the Physio 1611, a compact aquatic centre that can go where an Olympic-size pool couldn't hope to fit.
Raising capital – Who gives a damn about the numbers?
People ask me quite regularly if I can look over their numbers prior to them talking to potential funders. I have generally been happy to do so, but the truth is that I will have no clue. Neither will the potential funders. And, most likely, neither will you. The thing about most new ventures is...well, they are new. So we put down our best guesses, present them as the gospel truth and everyone pretends they know more than everyone else. What a crock.
Another small business social media FAIL. Do you agree?
Our bloggers have been critical of its longevity (Can social media sell anything but itself) and equally dazzled by its potential (How I used social media to put my CEO on the street). Of course, the following example (first published as a 'Discussion' on the Social Media Academy LinkedIn Group) had me from the get-go. Its author is Paul Rickett, Founder and Principal at VARKETING!.
Can you imagine walking around with a camera crew… in your smartphone?
Ever since its invention, video has always been a powerful tool for communication. And, it looks like we could now harness this power even...
Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian explains how one humpback whale rose to Web stardom
In this funny, rapid-fire 4 minute clip, Alexis Ohanian of Reddit tells the real-life fable of one humpback whale's rise to Web stardom.
The lesson of Mister Splashy Pants is must-see for meme-makers and marketers in the Facebook age.
NAPLAN no more: Why coronavirus disruption is already having a positive impact on Australia’s...
The value and effectiveness of summative assessments like NAPLAN have long been debated by education experts in Australia. Now, the disruption caused by coronavirus is forcing a change in the way student learning and performance is measured.
Five tips for building a website on a budget
No matter how much we understand and agree that great web design and development does not come cheap (nor should it), most start-ups and small businesses simply do not have thousands of dollars to spend on marketing -- no matter how much they might want to. Here are five tips that business owners can use to save money when building their business website.
Ali G pitches Ice Cream Gloves to The Donald, VCs
Sacha Baron Cohen might be making more waves these days with his other alter egos, Borat and Brüno, but his original breakout character, Ali G (ayyyeee), was where it all began. In this clip, Ali G gets his entrepreneur on, pitching his idea for "Ice Cream Gloves" to a less-than-wooed Donald Trump and a series of bemused US VCs.
What are your logo colours really saying?
Corporate colours contain hidden meanings, so what are they secretly saying about your business?
If you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it
Starting the new year with an optimistic outlook is one thing. To remain confident throughout the rest of the year requires setting a series of short-term measurable goals that you celebrate as each is achieved.
Will Apple ever grow up and seize a chunk of the business market? Well...
I often get accused of bashing Microsoft and Oracle. In the interests of balance, here’s my message to Apple:
If you want to go after enterprise business, make it a priority. Don’t toss it out there if it’s something you only plan to pursue in between hacky sack sessions and iPhone love-ins.
Check out what some big brands’ logos would look like if they were designed...
The hipster trend has taken off worldwide, but one place that hipsters have not popped up however, is in big brand logos.
DesignCrowd, a virtual...
Victorian Technology Profiles Dec/Jan 06/07
With much of Australia in the grip of the most serious drought in modern memory, technology promoting the efficient consumption of our most essential resource is most welcome. A key part of any water management strategy includes a precise and consistent method of monitoring water consumption.
Is it rude to use Facebook as a lead generation tool?
I have lost count of the number of times my friends, colleagues, and business partners have made the statement, “Facebook is personal. It is not for B2B! Try LinkedIn.” I understand their sentiment. Since its inception, Facebook has always been an intimate space reserved for friends and family, or very close professional associates. But it doesn't have to be that way.
