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Articles by Alan Hartstein
Use of hypothermically stored amniotic membrane on diabetic foot ulcers: a multicentre retrospective case series
Hard-to-heal (chronic) wounds place a major burden on the healthcare system within the US.
ABC Managing Director Sacked
Government backed broadcaster, ABC, has today terminated the contract of Managing Director Michele Guthrie, two and a half years into a five year term. Earlier this morning, ABC’s board confirmed Guthrie would no longer be leading the business, advising it was no longer “in the best interests” of the company. Guthrie joined the ABC in December 2015, after her time as Google Asia’s Managing Director of Agencies.
New Belkin “Boost Up” Fills Apple’s AirPower Void
Belkin has filled the void left by Apple’s rumoured ‘AirPower’ dock, unveiling its new “Boost Up” wireless charger which simultaneously charges both iPhones and smartwatches. Launching in December, the new Boost Up dock is “enhanced” for the new iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max and Apple Watch 4, however, is compatible with the former iPhone X, iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus and prior Apple Watches. The device offers wireless charging up to 7.5W for Qi-enabled devices, and 5W/1A for the Apple Watch.
Comcast £29b Sky Bid Trumps 21st Century Fox
US cable giant, Comcast, has beat Murdoch-owned 21st Century Fox for a stake in Sky, with its offer of £17.28 a share surpassing Murdoch’s £15.67 a share – valuing Sky at a whopping £29.7 billion. Ending 21 months of bidding, the news is set to significantly expand Comcast’s international presence.
Apple Appears To Have Dumped Samsung & Qualcomm With New iPhone
Tear downs of Apple’s latest devices have revealed several new components including a new L Shaped battery but not much has changed other than the price and the fact that there are no parts from long time supplier Samsung and Qualcomm. The iPhone XS is as much as $200 more expensive than last year’s already pricey iPhone X and represents one of the smallest advances in the product line’s history. But that means little to the Apple faithful or those seeking to upgrade their older iPhone.
Can New Hero 7 Steady Cam Save Shaky Go Pro
GoPro who is desperate to make a comeback in the action camera market and whose business is up for sale, is now punting on new steady cam technology to drive consumers to upgrade their old Go Pro cameras. The technology that removes need for stabilisation has been built into a new $750 Hero 7 Black which Go Pro claims records “Hypersmooth” steadied clips in real-time. At this stage the US company that has made losses during the past 11 quarters has not provided us with a camera for testing.
LG Wins Choice Award For Best TV For Third Consecutive Year
LG Electronics has won ‘Top TV Brand’ as recommended by CHOICE magazine for 2018. The award is the third in a row for LG, which continues its status as Australia’s favourite for consumer televisions. Overall, LG TVs made up for five of the top 10 chosen brands, according to CHOICE Score. This award comes on top of a number of other awards that LG has won this year for its consumer products.
Netgear Moves Into Smart Speaker Space With Orbi Voice
Network equipment vendor Netgear is moving into the smart speaker space with the launch of Orbi Voice. The speaker can link to any Orbi WiFi System, expanding the wireless networking coverage in a home to 4,500 square feet with performance up to 2.2Gbps within the home. It has a built-in Amazon voice assistant in an Orbi Voice Satellite unit, and features Harman Kardon audio. The Orbi Voice is an AC2200 tri-band mesh Wi-Fi system with beam-forming across both the 2.4Ghz and 5GHz bands.
Apple Adds Audiobooks To Watch Functions
Apple has updated its Apple Watch with a new function that lets user listen to audiobooks and podcasts without having to use an iPhone. The new feature takes advantage of watchOS 5, which Apple launched last week which allows third-party apps like Audible to play background audio from the watch. Users will still be required to sync the book from their iPhone or iPad, because the Apple Watch still doesn’t support streaming from third-party apps.
Samsung Offers Free Charger With Galaxy Watch Pre-Orders
The new Galaxy Watch is now available for pre-order and Samsung is sweetening the deal for consumers using the Samsung Pay app. Anyone pre-ordering the watch via the app now gets a free Galaxy Watch Wireless Charger Duo valued at $149. The offer is only available to registered users of the Samsung Pay app that can then register for the promotion via the app. The promotion runs until October 3.
Speculation Mounts Over Google Home Hub
Google’s massive global event, Made by Google, is scheduled for October 9, just a few short weeks from now, amidst an ever-increasing rumour mill. One of the stronger rumours centres around Google Home Hub, a smart display under its own brand name, which appears to have passed through FCC regulatory barriers on Thursday. The company is giving very little away about the Interactive Video Streaming Device, apart from its Bluetooth and WiFi 2.4GHz/5GHz compatibility.
iPhone XR Shipments To Hit 20M Next Month
Shipments of Apple’s ‘affordable’ new iPhone XR are forecast to hit 20 million in October, despite being priced somewhat higher than analyst expectations (US$749 versus US$700). Ranked Apple’s cheapest 2018 smartphone, iPhone XR momentum is expected to continue into early 2019, with the handset tipped to account for over 50% of total new iPhone sales. As previously reported, shipments of new iPhones are forecast to hit around 80 million in the second half of the year.
Samsung Offers Free Charger With Galaxy Watch Pre-Orders
The new Galaxy Watch is now available for pre-order and Samsung is sweetening the deal for consumers using the Samsung Pay app. Anyone pre-ordering the watch via the app now gets a free Galaxy Watch Wireless Charger Duo valued at $149. The offer is only available to registered users of the Samsung Pay app that can then register for the promotion via the app. The promotion runs until October 3.
New Marvel Spider-Man PlayStation’s Fastest Selling Game
PlayStation has confirmed its new Marvel’s Spider-Man (PS4) has become Sony’s fastest selling first-party game in company history, with a whopping 3.3 million units sold in the first three days of launch. As per USA Today, the game is also Sony Interactive Entertainment’s highest pre-ordered title, with over a million copies sold prior to launch. Retailing for US$59.99, commentators forecast the game has already generated around US$198 million in revenue.
Apple Adds Audiobooks To Watch Functions
Apple has updated its Apple Watch with a new function that lets user listen to audiobooks and podcasts without having to use an iPhone. The new feature takes advantage of watchOS 5, which Apple launched last week which allows third-party apps like Audible to play background audio from the watch. Users will still be required to sync the book from their iPhone or iPad, because the Apple Watch still doesn’t support streaming from third-party apps.
Foxconn To Rank World’s Largest TV ODM This Year
Chinese component giant, Foxconn Electronics, is tipped to become the world’s largest TV ODM (original design manufacturer) this year, surpassing TPV Technology after increased orders from the likes of Sharp and Sony. According to Taiwanese trade publication DigiTimes, Foxconn is forecast to see its ODM TV shipments lift 3% [YoY] to 16.5 million in 2018. By contrast, TPV Technology is expected to notch a 9% decline (to 15.3 million ODM TV shipments) driven by lower Chinese orders.
Netgear Gets Smarter With Orbi Voice WiFi System
Network equipment vendor Netgear is moving into the smart speaker space with the launch of Orbi Voice. The speaker can link to any Orbi WiFi System, expanding the wireless networking coverage in a home to 4,500 square feet with performance up to 2.2Gbps within the home. It has a built-in Amazon voice assistant in an Orbi Voice Satellite unit, and features Harman Kardon audio. The Orbi Voice is an AC2200 tri-band mesh Wi-Fi system with beam-forming across both the 2.4Ghz and 5GHz bands.
Adobe Takes On Software Giants With $4.7B Marketo Buy
California-based Marketo is used by several Australian retailers including Harvey Norman and Bing Lee. The software allows clients to build and run e-commerce stores, handle online purchases, and facilitate returns. “Adding Marketo’s engagement platform to Adobe Experience Cloud will enable Adobe to offer an unrivalled set of solutions for delivering transformative customer experiences across industries and companies of all sizes,” Adobe said in a statement.
JBL Takes on Google Home Max With New ‘Link 500’
Harman-owned JBL has further intensified smart speaker competition, releasing the largest version of its ‘Link’ smart speaker family in Australia, the new’ Link 500′. Succeeding the former Link 300, the Google Assistant powered device competes with the likes of UE’s Megaboom, Apple’s HomePod and Google’s Home Max. It also comes as Amazon ramps up the audio capabilities of its Echo line. Despite a RRP of $569.95, Harvey Norman is selling the Link 500 for $397, available in either white or black.
Amazon Takes It Right Up To Sonos With New Link Amp & Sound Gear
As Sonos struggles with their Sonos One, Amazon has taken the game right up to the recently listed US sound Company with several new products that put Amazon Echo gear in a whole new networked sound league where integration to other sound gear and control systems are at the forefront. Amazon today announced a new Echo Link Amp which delivers 60 watts per channel and includes a mix of analogue and digital inputs and outputs, including optical, coaxial, and Ethernet connections.
New Amazon Echo Plus With Sub Woofer & Echo Show With 10″ Display
It was show and tell time for Amazon today with the roll out of new Echo Plus speakers that now have a smart hub built in and an all-new Echo Show device. The new Echo Plus technology that make Sonos sound systems look ‘Old Hat’ includes a significant update of the output sound with the introduction of a three-inch woofer and “increased back volume. Also introduced is a new audio technology that Amazon is calling “local voice control,”.
China Could Target US Tech Firms, Analyst Warns
US tech companies may be in the direct firing line of the escalating trade war with China, according to Goldman Sachs equity strategist Peter Oppenheimer. Oppenheimer told CNBC yesterday that China’s next step in the escalating conflict could be to impose tariffs on components essential for supply chains. “The target may be technology companies that have been the main driver of the equity bull market that we have seen in the US and beyond,” Oppenheimer said.
Foxtel Makes Bathurst 1000 Australia’s First 4K TV Event
Foxtel has accelerated its 4K TV push, confirming this year’s Bathurst 1000 will broadcast on its new ‘Channel 444’ – the first event in Australian TV history to televise in 4K. For the first time, users can watch the Bathurst 100 ad-free on both Channel 444 (4K) and the standard Fox Sports channel, accesible via Foxtel’s Sports HD pack. Announced in August, Channel 444 is Australia’s first 4K satellite TV channel, accessed via Foxtel’s new iQ4’ set top box.
TPG Boss Says Huawei Ban May Add To 5G Network Costs
TPG Telecom CEO David Teoh says the Government’s ban Huawei taking part in the construction of Australia’s 5G network will put pressure on prices. Speaking to Fairfax Media, he said he was still waiting for specifics about the rules banning equipment providers such as Huawei, but refused to rule out the $600 million price to build Australia’s fourth mobile network having to be revised upwards. “We still have nothing from the government. We need to know the rules, what are the boundaries and so on.
Samsung Joins Triple Lens Club With Mid-Range ‘Galaxy A7’
Samsung has joined LG and Huawei in the smartphone ‘triple lens club’, unveiling its new ‘Galaxy A7 (2018)’ with a total of five cameras – three rear and two front. The announcement follows a shift in Samsung’s smartphone strategy, transitioning from a flagship-centric focus, to a diversified handset portfolio. Earlier this month, Samsung Mobile boss, DJ Koh, confirmed he was introducing new features on mid-range phones, before flagship devices.
Samsung Tipped to Launch 5G Galaxy S10+
Samsung’s forthcoming Galaxy S10 lineup will reportedly feature four handsets, including a 5G compatible model – news which comes admist a major strategic shift for the Korean giant. As previously reported, Samsung Mobile boss, DJ Koh, confirms the company is moving away from a flagship centric focus, towards a more diversified portfolio. According to XDA-Developers, a series of XML software files reveals the Galaxy S10 lineup will encompass four phones, currently codenamed ‘beyond’.
CBA, ANZ Customers Caught In Fake Apps Scam
Over a thousand bank customers may have been tricked into handing over confidential information by fake ANZ and CBA apps that went undetected in the Google Play store for weeks`. The apps, which appeared in June and then quickly disappeared, were spotted by international security group ESET and posted on its website, welivesecurity.com.
Amazon To Launch 3,000 Cashless Stores By 2021
Amazon plans to open up to 3,000 cashier-less Amazon Go convenience stores by 2021, according to a report in Bloomberg News. The world’s largest online retailer is moving aggressively into the bricks and mortar space, and the latest move follows purchases such as 2016’s Whole Foods business, and places it in direct competition with retail giants such as Walmart and Target in the US.
JB Hi-Fi Opens Galaxy Watch Pre-Orders With $50 Voucher
JB Hi-Fi has opened pre-orders for the new Samsung Galaxy Watch, with the retailer offering a $50 gift voucher on purchases before October 3rd. The new smartwatches – available in ‘silver’, ‘black’ and ‘rose gold’ – will land in stores October 4th, starting from $499. The retailer is selling both Wi-Fi and 4G models, however, as previously reported the 4G/LTE variant will be fixed to the Telstra network.
Alibaba Reneges On US Jobs Promise, Citing Latest Round Of Tariffs
Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba is shelving plans to create 1 million jobs in the US as fallout from the ongoing trade war between the two countries continues. Founder and chairman Jack Ma said the company could no longer keep its promise, made to US President Donald Trump shortly after his election victory in early 2017, after the latest round of US tariffs and the material effect it would have on the company.
ANZ Launches Smartphone Withdrawals
ANZ bank is equipping 2,400 ATMs with the technology to allow cash withdrawals using a smartphone or watch. To access the service, customers wave their payments device over the reader on a compatible ATM like a bar code, select the card from the digital wallet they have signed up to and enter their four digit pin to access Digital wallets covered by the service initially include Google Pay, Samsung Pay, Garmin Pay, Fitbit Pay, and Apple Pay.
Leaked Amazon ‘Echo Sub’ & Alexa Smart Plug
Amazon’s forthcoming ‘Echo Sub’ subwoofer has leaked online, after the e-commerce giant revealed it’s launching at least eight new smart home products this year. As previously reported, the new range is tipped to include an Alexa-powered microwave, amplifier, receiver, subwoofer and ‘car gadget’. As per Pocket-lint, users have already noticed a listing for Amazon’s Echo Sub on its UK website. The product claims to connect with one or more Echo smart speakers, to enhance/deepen audio quality.
Bunnings To Sell Appliances Online, Big New Web Inititive
Digital laggard Bunnings has finally moved to embrace online but don’t hang out for it anytime soon as the initiative is two years away. The big hardware retailers who is also selling control systems, lighting management and security products is currently working on a fully transactional online store and is claiming that they will shift most of its product range online within 24 months. They also plan to sell kitchens and appliances online in the future.
Is Foxtel talking to Netflix?
Foxtel has several big announcements up their sleeve, one is Fox Sports News streamed live to a TV screen during games. The other could be even bigger. Subscription streaming platform Netflix has joined forces with British satellite broadcaster Sky which is owned by 21st Century Fox which News Corporation has a shareholding this is the same Company that owns over 60% of Foxtel.
Sony Pulls Out A Classic To Emulate Nintendo’s Success
In an effort to emulate the success of arch rival Nintendo Sony has pulled out a brand-new PlayStation Classic hand console that will go on sale in Australia just in time for Xmas for an estimate $149. Much like Nintendo’s mini consoles, the PS Classic is half the size of the original and can be connected to a TV via HDMI power is supplied via a standard Micro USB cable. The system will not come with an AC adapter, but you may need one if your TV doesn’t have USB ports.
Amazon Merchants Set To Be Questioned Over Data & Higher Fees
As Amazon Australia looks to establish their third party merchants network, antitrust investigators in Europe are probing Amazon’s treatment of merchants in what some have described as retaliatory reaction to US President Trump introducing tariffs. EU Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager said overnight that investigators recently sent out questionnaires to merchants that sell through Amazon.
David Jones Looks For New Head Of Online After Profit Plunge
David Jones who has struggled to be an online player in Australia, is looking for a new head of online operations in an effort to take on Amazon and several major players who have stripped share away from the department store group who recently reported a 50% plunge in profits. The new person will be expected to drive sales across the DJ’s online platform through the creation and implementation of a rigorous online strategy a recent advertisement for the position said.
Telstra Successfully Trials 2Gbps Speeds On Mobile Network
Telstra has completed a trial 2Gbps-capable LTE data call using its live commercial network. Today’s demonstration, in partnership with equipment suppliers Qualcomm and Ericsson, follows an earlier trial at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona in February this year. Telstra held the trial in Toowoomba, Queensland, using a Qualcomm X24 LTE modem to aggregate five LTE carriers across three frequency bands. Each carrier across those bands was using 4×4 MIMO and 256 QAM technologies.
TPG Shares Dive 5% After Downgrade
CLSA analyst, Robert Samuel, has reportedly downgraded TPG Telecom from ‘outperform’ to ‘underperform’, ahead of its merger with Vodafone Hutchinson Australia. Samuel claims the telco’s lacklustre results reflect tightening underlying business growth. Shares in TPG Telecom lead midday index decliners, with the stock down 5.28% after 2pm.
Google Partners With Car Alliance For Android Auto
Google is partnering with the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance to build Android-based entertainment and GPS systems for their cars. The systems will offer apps through the Google Play Store, Google Maps navigation and Google Assistant voice commands. The auto alliance collectively sold 10.6 million cars globally in 2017 and 5.54 vehicles in the first half of this year, making it by far the largest such alliance in the world.
Acer Hopes To Double Revenue From Gaming Monitors
Acer Is Expecting a double-digit increase in revenue from its gaming monitor line in 2018, thanks largely to sales in its Ultra HD resolution models. The company has previously said it Ultra HD resolutions to become the norm for gaming monitors either by the end of this year or early next year. Acer introduced its Predator and Nitro series monitors at IFA 2018 in Berlin a couple of weeks ago.
New iPhone Shipments To Hit 80M In 2HY18
Californian-based Apple is forecast to hit 75 million to 80 million unit shipments of its newly released iPhones during the second half of the year – encompassing the new iPhone XR, iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max. According to renowned Apple analyst, Ming-chi Kuo, outlook for the budget-friendly iPhone XR is “positive”, notably in China, driven by price and dual-SIM support.
Apple Boss Forced To Defend XSive Iphone Pricing
The new iPhone range, revealed last week, cost $US749 for the XR, $US999 for the XS and $US1499 for the XS Max. In Australia, the XR has an RRP of $1799, the 256GB X Max of $2049 while the 512GB version costs a considerable $2369. Appearing on Good Morning America Tuesday, Cook said there were reasons for why the technology was so expensive. “It’s the most advanced iPhone we’ve ever done. The phone has replaced your digital camera. You don’t have a separate one anymore.
‘Fake News’ CNN Crashes, Will The ABC & Fairfax Go The Same Way?
They love bashing US President Trump, now US TV viewers have turned on CNN with the ‘Fake News” Channel witnessing a 41% drop in viewers. In the same way that the left leaning media in Australia the ABC The Guardian and Fairfax Media have taken sides with Labor and the Green CNN went out of their way to support the Democrats in the USA with their anti-Trump Campaign now they are paying a high price.
China Retaliates Against US Tariffs, RBA Reveals Local Concerns
China has reacted swiftly to the US Government’s latest round of $US200 billion in tariff moves, announcing it will impose tariffs of its own on another $US60 billion worth of US imported goods, including a 10 per cent tariff on LNG. State newspaper The China Daily yesterday warned the Trump Administration that it would be making a “serious mistake” if it attempted to force China to make serious trade concessions through tariffs.
Google Takes On Rivals In Smart Display Space
Google may be about to launch its own smart home display, if leaked photos and even half the speculation are to be believed. The company has successfully powered into the smart speaker/voice recognition space, so most analysts believe it’s more a case of when not if, the tech giant stakes its claim to the smart screen/smart home space.
LG Display To Ship 4M OLED TV Panels This Year
LG Display is reportedly on track to ship 4 million OLED TV panels this year, with the Korean giant already shipping 1.3 million panels during the first half of 2018. According to Korean news outlet News1 Korea, LG intends to double its OLED TV panel shipment this year – notching around 3.8 million units, versus 1.7 million shipped in 2017. The news comes as LG Display further ramps up its OLED panel capacity, with a new South Korean plant in Paju set to complete by the end of the year.
THe Good Guys Stores Sold
After netting $850M from the sale of The Good Guys to JB Hi Fi the Melbourne based Muir Family have now sold their last 15 Good Guys Stores for a combined $150 million on yields ranging from 6.25 to 8 per cent. One store in Albury on the NSW-Victoria border was snapped up for $5.18 million by an investor from the NSW Central Coast.
Apple Forced To Cough Up A$22 Billion After Dodgy Taxes Claim
Apple has been forced to cough up A$22 Billion after using Ireland as a tax haven to flush revenues earned in Australia to minimise taxes. Overnight the Irish Government announced that they have finally collected A$22 billion from Apple. Paschal Donohoe, Ireland’s finance minister, announced that his government had recovered €13.1bn in back taxes and €1.2bn in interest from the iPhone maker.
Westpac Gives Android Users Two Finger Salute As They Chase Apple ‘Millennials
Westpac has snubbed millions of Android smartphone owners by getting into bed with Apple and their poor performing Siri voice activation system in an effort to win over ‘Millennial’ customers with a new voice transfer banking service that will only work with select Apple iPhones.
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