magnify
formats

Batman Arkham Asylum fact sheet

RELEASE DATE:         Winter 2009

PUBLISHERS:             Eidos, Inc. and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment

DEVELOPER:              Rocksteady Studios
OFLC RATING:
                        M violence

GENRE:                       Third-Person Action Adventure

PLATFORMS:              Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PLAYSTATION®3 Computer Entertainment System, Games For Windows®

 

PRODUCT OVERVIEW:

Based on the core Batman license, Batman: Arkham Asylum will launch worldwide on Xbox 360, PLAYSTATION3 and PC in Winter 2009.  In Batman: Arkham Asylum, the Dark Knight takes on his greatest challenge yet when he becomes trapped with all of his most dangerous villains inside the insane asylum of GOTHAM CITYARKHAM ASYLUM! 

 

Batman: Arkham Asylum exposes players to a unique, dark and atmospheric adventure that takes them to the depths of Arkham Asylum –Gotham’s psychiatric hospital for the criminally insane.  Gamers will move in the shadows, instigate fear amongst their enemies and confront The Joker and Gotham City’s most notorious villains who have taken over the asylum.  Using a wide range of Batman’s gadgets and abilities, players will become the invisible predator and attempt to foil The Joker’s demented scheme.  Batman: Arkham Asylum features an original story penned exclusively for the game by famous Batman author and five-time Emmy award winner, Paul Dini, whose credits include Lost season one and Batman: The Animated Series. 

 

With amazing graphics and a moody, immersive setting, Batman: Arkham Asylum offers diverse gameplay options that push the envelope for all action, adventure and superhero games.

 

PRODUCT FEATURES:

 

  • Utilize the unique FreeFlow™ combat system to chain together unlimited combos seamlessly and battle with huge groups of The Joker’s henchmen in brutal melee brawls

 

  • Investigate as Batman, the WORLD’S GREATEST DETECTIVE, by solving intricate puzzles with the help of cutting edge forensic tools including x-ray scanning, fingerprint scans, ‘Amido Black’ spray and a pheromone tracker

 

  • Face off against Gotham’s greatest villains including The Joker, HARLEY QUINN, VICTOR ZSASZ and KILLER CROC

 

  • Become the Invisible Predator™ with Batman’s fear takedowns and unique vantage point system to move without being seen and hunt enemies 

 

  • Choose multiple takedown methods, including swooping from the sky and smashing through walls, and use the predator camera get a closer look at the action.

 

  • Explore every inch of Arkham Asylum and roam freely on the infamous island, presented for the first time ever in its gritty and realistic entirety

 

  • Experience what it’s like to be BATMAN using BATARANGS, explosive gel aerosol, The Batclaw, sonar resonator and the line launcher

 

  • Unlock more secrets by completing hidden challenges in the world and develop and customize equipment by earning experience points       

 

Enjoy complete superhero freedom in the environment with the use of Batman’s grapple to get to any place you can see, jump from any height and glide in any direction

 
formats

What’s on at IMAX Melbourne Museum March- April 2009

Watchmen: The IMAX Experience
The eagerly-awaited movie adaptation of the most celebrated graphic novel of our Time, Watchmen, opens on Melbourne’s Biggest screen – IMAX Melbourne Museum on March 5. From the director of the wildly successful 300, Watchmen has been digitally re-mastered into the unparalleled image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience® through proprietary IMAX DMR® technology. With crystal clear images, laser-aligned digital sound and maximized field of view, IMAX provides the world’s most immersive movie experience. A complex, multi-layered mystery adventure, Watchmen is set in an alternative 1985 America in which costumed superheroes are part of the fabric of everyday society. An investigation into the murder of a government sponsored super-hero pulls them out of retirement and eventually leads them to confront a plot by one of their own to stave off nuclear war by killing millions of innocent people.
Date: Opens 5 March
Tickets: $21.00 adults, $17.50 concession, $16.00 child, $60.00 family (2 adults & 2 children)

Under the Sea 3D
Dive into an underwater adventure like no other at IMAX Melbourne Museum with Under the Sea 3D. Audiences will be transported in spectacular IMAX 3D to dazzling underwater worlds and their remarkable inhabitants — from tiny Flamboyant Cuttlefishes to the fearsome Great White Shark. From the award winning documentary filmmaker Howard Hall, Under the Sea 3D, a new IMAX 3D underwater adventure, takes moviegoers to some of the world’s most exotic and isolated underwater locations. Audiences come face to face with mysterious and stunning sea creatures living in the Great Barrier Reef and in waters around Southern Australia and the Coral Triangle islands of Papua New Guinea and Indonesia.
Date: Opens 19 March
Tickets: Cost: $17.50 adult, $14 concession, $12.50 child, $50 family (2 adults & 2 children)

Monsters Vs Aliens 3D: The IMAX Experience
Be the first to experience the latest DreamWorks animation, Monsters Vs Aliens 3D on Australia’s largest 3D screen at IMAX Melbourne Museum. When a meteorite from outer space hits a young California girl named Susan Murphy and turns her into a giant monster, she is taken to a secret government compound where she meets a ragtag group of monsters also rounded up over the years. As a last resort, under the guidance of General W.R. Monger, on a desperate order from The President, the motley crew of Monsters is called into action to combat the aliens and save the world from imminent destruction!
Date: Opens 2 April
Tickets: $21.00 adults, $17.50 concession, $16.00 child, $60.00 family (2 adults & 2 children)

IMAX Melbourne Museum, Rathdowne Street, Carlton.  Films screen daily from 10.00am. For session times visit www.imaxmelbourne.com.au or call 03 9663 5454

 
formats

ACTIVISION PUBLISHING AND NELVANA ENTERPRISES ANNOUNCE UPCOMING VIDEO GAMES BASED ON ‘TOY OF THE YEAR’ WINNER BAKUGAN

Sydney, Australia – February 26, 2009 – Activision Publishing, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATVI) announced today an agreement with Corus Entertainment Inc.’s Nelvana Enterprises to develop and distribute video games based on the breakout hit toy and wildly popular action animated television series Bakugan. The first Bakugan game will be released for Wii™, Nintendo DS™, Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, and PLAYSTATION®3 and PlayStation®2 computer entertainment systems in the spring of 2009.

“Bakugan’s success in 2008 speaks for itself and we’re confident it will be even bigger in 2009,” said David Oxford, Activision Publishing. “It is our goal to expand this proven property in a way that both fans and gamers will love.”

“Ever since Bakugan exploded in popularity, players have been clamouring for a video game version,” said Doug Murphy, President, Nelvana and GM, Corus Kids. “We share our fans’ excitement in doing battle in an interactive Bakugan world!”

Bakugan tells the story of Dan and his friends as they battle their Bakugan Brawlers to save the planet of Vestroia and, ultimately, Earth from destruction. The series airs on Cartoon Network in the United States and internationally, and on TELETOON in Canada. The toy line, developed by Spin Master Ltd., brings action to the popular genre of collectible trading card games with marble-like Bakugan spheres that transform into “battle brawling” action figures when rolled onto special game cards. A genuine toy craze in the 2008 holiday season, Bakugan recently won three “Toy of the Year” awards from The Toy Industry Association: overall Toy of the Year, Boy Toy of the Year, and Property of the Year.

The video games, under development by veteran Japanese studio NOW Production, will render the elements that made Bakugan a worldwide phenomenon into mind-blowing digital experiences. Everything a Bakugan enthusiast and gamer would love is here – intense battles, the ability to create your own Brawler, cartoon quality graphics and multiplayer combat.

About Corus Entertainment Inc.

Corus Entertainment Inc. is a Canadian-based media and entertainment company. Corus is a market leader in specialty television and radio with additional assets in pay television, advertising services, television broadcasting, children’s book publishing and children’s animation. The company’s multimedia entertainment brands include YTV, Treehouse, W Network, CosmoTV, VIVA, Movie Central, HBO Canada, Nelvana, Kids Can Press and radio stations including CKNW, CKOI and Q107. Corus creates engaging branded entertainment experiences for its audiences across multiple platforms. A publicly traded company, Corus is listed on the Toronto (CJR.B) and New York (CJR) exchanges. Experience Corus on the web at www.corusent.com.

About Spin Master

A multi-category children’s entertainment company since 1994, Spin Master(R) has been designing, developing, manufacturing and marketing consumer products for children around the world and is recognized as a global growth leader within the toy industry. Spin Master is best known for such popular brands as 2008 Toy of the Year winner Air Hogs(R), Aquadoodle(TM), Tech Deck(TM), Moon Sand(TM) and new boys action phenomena Bakugan Battle Brawlers(TM). Spin Master employs over 600 people with offices in Toronto, Los Angeles, Paris, London, Hong Kong and China. For additional information please visit: www.spinmaster.com.

About Now Production

Now Production is a premiere videogame developer founded in 1986 and based in Japan. It has developed games for many major publishers, including Namco, Konami and Activision, working on games such as Katamari Damacy, Dance Dance Revolution and Little League World Series 2008. In recent years, Nowpro has started creating original, independent titles and is also involved with developing mobile software and online games.

About Activision Publishing, Inc.

Headquartered in Santa Monica, California, Activision Publishing, Inc. is a leading worldwide developer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment and leisure products.

Activision Publishing maintains operations in the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Sweden, Spain, the Netherlands, Australia, Japan and South Korea. More information about Activision and its products can be found on the company’s website, www.activision.com.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Statements: Information in this press release that involves Activision Publishing’s expectations, plans, intentions or strategies regarding the future are forward-looking statements that are not facts and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Activision Publishing generally uses words such as “outlook,” “will,” “could,” “would,” “might,” “remains,” “to be,” “plans,” “believes,” “may,” “expects,” “intends,” “anticipates,” “estimate,” future,” “plan,” “positioned,” “potential,” “project,” “remain,” “scheduled,” “set to,” “subject to,” “upcoming” and similar expressions to help identify forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause Activision Publishing’s actual future results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements set forth in this release include, but are not limited to, sales levels of Activision Publishing’s titles, shifts in consumer spending trends, the impact of the current macroeconomic environment, the seasonal and cyclical nature of the interactive game market, Activision Publishing’s ability to predict consumer preferences among competing hardware platforms (including next-generation hardware), declines in software pricing, product returns and price protection, product delays, retail acceptance of Activision Publishing’s products, adoption rate and availability of new hardware and related software, industry competition, rapid changes in technology and industry standards, protection of proprietary rights, litigation against Activision Publishing, maintenance of relationships with key personnel, customers, vendors and third-party developers, domestic and international economic, financial and political conditions and policies, foreign exchange rates, integration of recent acquisitions and the identification of suitable future acquisition opportunities, Activision Blizzard’s success in integrating the operations of Activision Publishing and Vivendi Games in a timely manner, or at all, and the combined company’s ability to realize the anticipated benefits and synergies of the transaction to the extent, or in the timeframe, anticipated, and the other factors identified in Activision Blizzard’s most recent annual report on Form 10-K and any subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. The forward-looking statements in this release are based upon information available to Activision Publishing and Activision Blizzard as of the date of this release, and neither Activision Publishing nor Activision Blizzard assumes any obligation to update any such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements believed to be true when made may ultimately prove to be incorrect. These statements are not guarantees of the future performance of Activision Publishing or Activision Blizzard and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond its control and may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations.

(C)2009 Activision Publishing, Inc. Activision is a registered trademark of Activision Publishing, Inc. “PlayStation”, “PLAYSTATION” and “PS” Family logo are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. 2008 Microsoft Corporation. Microsoft, Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox LIVE and the Xbox logos are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies and are used under license from Microsoft. Wii and Nintendo DS are trademarks of Nintendo. (C) 2006 Nintendo. All other trademarks and trade names are the properties of their respective owners. All other trademarks and trade names are the properties of their respective owners. All rights reserved.

 
formats

SEGA PARTNERS WITH PYRO STUDIOS The Little Green People of Planet 51 are brought to virtual life in the

Thursday 26th February 2009 — SEGA® Europe, Ltd., SEGA® of America, Inc., and Madrid-based Pyro Studios® today announced a partnership to a create game based on its upcoming animated film, Planet 51. The Planet 51 game will be available in Summer 2009 for PC, Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system, Wii™ home video game system, PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system and the Nintendo DS™ portable handheld system.

 
formats

AMD Demos Upcoming Six-core “Istanbul” Server Processor

Sydney, Australia — Feb. 26, 2009 — Advanced Micro Devices (NYSE: AMD) today announced it recently completed live public demonstrations of its upcoming six-core 45nm AMD Opteron™ processor, codenamed “Istanbul.” Scheduled to launch in the second half of this year, “Istanbul” is expected to be the only x86 six-core processor available for two- and four-socket systems and higher.

The demonstration featured a live, seamless upgrade of a system based on 45nm Quad-Core AMD Opteron processors to “Istanbul” processors.  “Istanbul” is socket- and thermal-compatible with currently shipping AMD Opteron processor-based systems. The AMD consistent platform approach helps reduce qualification times for OEMs and solution providers, while giving end-users the opportunity to upgrade their existing systems.

 “Thus far we see impressive performance and performance-per-watt results in our initial ‘Istanbul’ testing. We expect global OEMs and solution providers to begin shipping systems based on ’Istanbul’ in the second half of this year,” said John Fruehe, director of business development, Server Workstation, AMD.

Read additional information in the AMD@Work blog
Watch the videos of “Istanbul” in action (click on “watch in HD” for best viewing experience)
See the images of the “Istanbul” demos

About AMD
Advanced Micro Devices (NYSE: AMD) is an innovative technology company dedicated to collaborating with customers and partners to ignite the next generation of computing and graphics solutions at work, home and play. For more information, visit http://www.amd.com.
 
AMD, the AMD Arrow logo, AMD Opteron and combinations thereof, are trademarks of Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. Other names are for informational purposes only and may be trademarks of their respective owners. Links to third party sites are provided for convenience and unless explicitly stated, AMD is not responsible for the contents of such linked sites and no endorsement is implied.

 
formats

UBISOFT® LAUNCHES WORLD SPORTS PARTY

New addition to the WiiTM exclusive Play ZoneTM label brings popular local sports to play with family and friends 

Australia – February 27th 2008 – Today Ubisoft announced the launch of World Sports Party, a new title in the WiiTM exclusive Play Zone range. World Sports Party will hit shelves on March 19th, 2009. Like all Play Zone titles, World Sports Party will provide immediate entertainment & recreation thanks to original and numerous mini-games that can be shared by all family members and friends.

 

Play sports from all over the world!

World Sports Party invites family and friends in a journey to an exotic 5-star modern island resort, where all players will enjoy 8 original sports that can be played by up to 4 players at a time. For the first time, a video-game includes a collection of sports from around the globe, each of them with a special feel and all of them easy to pick up and play thanks to the intuitive Wii RemoteTM gestures.

 

Air Hockey

What kid has not played air hockey in a holiday resort? Simple and fast-paced, Air Hockey gameplay is perfectly adapted to the Wii controls. Control the rebounds and anticipate your opponents’ moves for hours of fun!

 

Beach Cricket

Coming from Australia and New Zealand, Beach Cricket is a casual variant of the original cricket game. With simplified rules focusing on bowling and batting, it is the sport of choice for family and friends on beach holidays.

 

Darts

Especially popular in the UK, darts have made their way into houses, pubs and bars all over the world. Demonstrate your dexterity and beat your opponents thanks to your precise Wii Remote moves!

 

Dodge Ball

Dodge ball is a traditional team sport played in physical education classes in the U.S. and Canada. Based on strategy and reflexes, Dodge Ball is the perfect game for all family and friends to compete together in a friendly atmosphere.

 

Pétanque

Coming from southern France, the casual form of the game of Pétanque is played by almost 17 million people in France, mostly during their summer vacation. Point or shoot balls with your Wii Remote and get as close to the jack as possible.

 

Kart

Karting is often perceived as a stepping stone to higher ranks of motorsports. But thanks to the quick development of mass-market indoor and outdoor infrastructures, it is also a casual leisure activity for many children and adults all over the world. World Sports Party’s karting is full of innovative bonuses to boost the heats to hectic racing battles.

 

Paleta Fronton

Paleta Fronton is a Peruvian sport that has its roots in the “pelota vasca” brought by the Spanish Conquerors. It is played against a wall with a wooden blade and a black rubber ball.

 

Disc Golf

Also known as Frisbee Golf, Disc Golf is as simple as playing golf with a Frisbee disc, the object of the game being to traverse a course from beginning to end with the fewest number of throws of the disc.

 

Enjoy mini-games with friends and family!

In World Sports Party, all friends and family members can play together: each mini-game is playable from 1 to 4 players, either in split screen, same screen or in turn modes.

 

Players can choose between short gaming sessions or a larger competition: select a specific sport and then change as often as you want, or pick up the resort mode for a complete challenge including all 8 sports.
Last but not least, when in the resort mode, players can monitor their family’s progress through the game, win some trophies & customise their avatar’s look to match with their own physical appearance… or decide to give them a totally different look!

 

For further information, images OR trailer please contact:

Anna Chance at Ubisoft

anna.chance@ubisoft.com or 02 8587 1813

 

About Ubisoft

Ubisoft is a leading producer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment products worldwide and has grown considerably through a strong and diversified line-up of products and partnerships. Ubisoft has teams in 28 countries and distributes games in more than 55 countries around the globe. It is committed to delivering high-quality, cutting-edge video game titles to consumers. For the 2007-08 fiscal year, Ubisoft generated sales of 928 million euros. To learn more, please visit www.ubisoftgroup.com.

 

 

© 2009 Ubisoft Entertainment. All rights reserved. Play Zone Logo, Ubisoft, Ubi.com and the Ubisoft logo are registered trademarks of Ubisoft Entertainment in the U.S. and/or other countries.

 

Wii and the Wii logo are trademarks of Nintendo.

 
formats

TIGER WOODS PGA TOUR 10, EA SPORTS GRAND SLAM TENNIS LEAD EA SPORTS WII LINEUP THIS WINTER

New Wii MotionPlus Compatible Products Launching In June  

Sydney, Australia – Feb. 27, 2009 – Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS) today announced that Tiger Woods PGA TOUR® 10 and EA SPORTS™ Grand Slam® Tennis will be available in Australian retail stores on June 18, 2009, and will be the first two products from the EA SPORTS™ label that utilize the functionality of the Wii MotionPlus™.  EA SPORTS has at least five products, including EA SPORTS Active in May, in development that will launch before the end of 2009 designed specifically for the Wii™.

 

“On the Wii, Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 10 and EA SPORTS Grand Slam Tennis bring the authentic motion and excitement of championship golf and tennis to life for fans of all ages and skill levels,” said Peter Moore, President, EA SPORTS.  “With the new Wii MotionPlus, slicing a winner on Centre Court at Wimbledon or dropping an 8 iron pin high on No. 17 at TPC Sawgrass have never felt better.  We couldn’t be more excited about the dynamic new EA SPORTS experiences coming this year to the Wii.”  

 

With the all-new Wii MotionPlus, Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 10 will allow golf fans to experience a near-perfect 1:1 swing – and control to work the ball – from the tee box to the green. The game brings players inside the ropes to experience the drama of PGA TOUR tournament for the first time.  Feel the intensity and excitement on every swing as you compete against the leaderboard.  Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 10, the all-time top-selling franchise from EA SPORTS on the Wii*, will also ship on additional platforms in June.

 

EA SPORTS Grand Slam Tennis, available first for the Wii, puts the racket in the palm of your hand and offers the deepest tennis experience ever for the Wii.  As the home to all four Grand Slams, and exclusive to Wimbledon, you can take your customized created player on a quest to win the four slams in Grand Slam career mode.  Giving gamers a chance to play at Wimbledon’s famed Centre Court adds a level of authenticity that isn’t available anywhere else.  EA SPORTS Grand Slam Tennis delivers an authentic tennis experience that makes you feel like you are playing with and against the sport’s greatest legends and today’s current stars. 

 

For more information, please visit www.easports.com.  
 
*Based on NPD data through end of month, January 2009.

 
formats

UBISOFT® BRINGS ANNO TO THE WIITM AND NINTENDO DSTM WITH ANNO: CREATE A NEW WORLD

A new title devised especially for the Wii™ and the Nintendo DS™ 

Sydney, Australia, March 2nd – Today Ubisoft announced ANNO: Create a New World, a life simulation and strategy game especially developed for the Wii™ and Nintendo DS™.  Scheduled for release in Winter 2009, ANNO: Create a New World gives gamers the opportunity to explore new horizons and build their own empire as never before through the immersive actions of the WiiRemote™ and the Nintendo DS™ stylus.

 

“ANNO: Create a New World allows gamers to take the civilization building experience to the next level of fun and interactivity,” said John Parkes, marketing director EMEA at Ubisoft, “We’re pleased to be bringing the brand new, uniquely designed game to the Wii™ and Nintendo DS™ for the first time.”

 

 

Developed by Keen Games, ANNO: Create a New World takes place in 1404: King Georges’ land is suffering from droughts and famine.  Aware of the distress of his citizens, the King decides to send his two sons, William and Edward to gain new territories in order to produce enough goods to satisfy the inhabitants. Whereas Edward suggests fighting to collect the precious resources, his brother, William offers a peaceful solution proposing to explore new and unsettled lands in the south of the Kingdom. With the agreement of his father, William heads to the South and discovers the mysterious orient culture.

 

Key Features of ANNO: Create a New World :

·         Explore & create with fun and ease

Explore a beautiful world, discover new places to settle and create your own realm
o   Learn from other cultures (Oriental, European…) & expand your horizons

All the controls are intuitive, the interface is fully adapted to the consoles’ gameplay
 

·         Discover how to manage cities & societies

Be considerate, plan wisely and learn to manage resources
Satisfy the needs of your citizens and care for your society
 

·         Enjoy friendly, peaceful family entertainment

Relax & build your cities in a rich and peaceful world
Play together with your family & friends and let them help you to create your world
 

 

About Ubisoft

Ubisoft is a leading producer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment products worldwide and has grown considerably through a strong and diversified line-up of products and partnerships. Ubisoft has teams in 28 countries and distributes games in more than 55 countries around the globe. It is committed to delivering high-quality, cutting-edge video game titles to consumers. For the 2007-08 fiscal year, Ubisoft generated sales of 928 million euros. To learn more, please visit www.ubisoftgroup.com

 

 

 

© 2009 Ubisoft Entertainment. All Rights Reserved. Ubisoft, Ubi.Com and the Ubisoft logo are trademarks of Ubisoft Entertainment in the US and/or other countries. Anno, Sunflowers and Sunflowers logo are trademarks of Sunflowers GmbH in the U.S. and/or other countries. Sunflowers GmbH is a Ubisoft Entertainment company.

© 2008 Nintendo.Wii and Nintendo DS are trademarks of Nintendo.

 
formats

INSTANT WEB SITE SAFETY CHECK WITH NORTON SAFE WEB

 Free Community Web Site Rating Service Located at safeweb.norton.com 

SYDNEY, Australia – March 2, 2009 – Symantec Corp. (Nasdaq: SYMC), makers of Norton security software, is offering a free community site – safeweb.norton.com – to arm consumers against the growing number of malicious Web sites. Norton Safe Web acts as a Web site rating service that aims to make the Internet a safer place, whether shopping, watching video, downloading music or just surfing the Web. 

Norton Safe Web addresses questions such as:  Is the site safe to visit? Is it going to infect my PC? Is it safe to download content from the site? Is it going to abuse my personal information? Is the online merchant someone I can safely transact with?

Malicious Web sites, which may not initially appear as sinister, are often responsible for stealing credit card numbers, passwords or other private information from consumers online.  According to the Australasian Consumer Fraud Taskforce (ACFT) Internet and email scams are on the rise all over the world, and Australians need to take action to protect themselves against these threats.

Symantec, a global leader in Internet security software, has partnered with the ACFT to help increase the awareness of online fraud during its annual fraud education and awareness week, to be held on March 2-8, 2009.  Symantec recognises the seriousness of consumer fraud and is committed to raising public awareness of cyber-based scams including ’phishing’, where people are directed to fake, but seemingly legitimate Web sites, and asked to update personal information such as passwords and bank details.

In the first six months of 2007, Symantec blocked more than 2.3 billion phishing messages, and current increases in occurrences indicate that cyber-criminals are working twice as hard. As part of the ongoing commitment to online safety for all users, Symantec introduced Norton Safe Web beta, safeweb.norton.com.

David Hall, Symantec’s consumer spokesperson for Pacific, says the Norton Safe Web site and browser tool makes it easy for consumers to differentiate safe sites from malicious ones.

“Anyone on the Internet can use this tool to look up a site’s safety rating or submit Web site reviews based on their personal experience with any site on the Web,” said Hall.

“Our goal for Norton Safe Web is to provide users with the most up-to-date and accurate Web site ratings of any offering on the market.

“We can do this by leveraging the millions of members of Norton Community Watch – a ‘Neighbourhood Watch’ program that relies on the eyes and ears of Norton consumers worldwide to detect and report trouble. This trusted information helps us deliver rapid analysis and categorisation of the safety and security of the Web pages consumers are thinking of visiting,” said Hall.

 

Incidence of Fraud in Australia

A total of 806,000 Australians reported they were victims of at least one incident of personal fraud in 2007, costing the country nearly one billion dollars (AUD$980 million) according to a Personal Fraud Survey, conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics –  released June 2008.

Internet crime is increasing its share of this market every month with cyber-criminals generating millions of dollars in revenue through the purchase and manipulation of credit card information, access to financial accounts, software piracy and the buying and selling of fraudulent goods and services.

Between July 1, 2007 and June 30, 2008, Symantec monitored publicly accessible channels set up for buying, selling, and trading stolen goods and the tools to obtain these goods, which includes credit cards.
Stolen credit card number could sell for as little as 10 cents or as much as USD$25 per card and the average advertised stolen credit card limit observed by Symantec was more than USD$4,000.

Chair of the ACFT, Peter Kell says ,“The ACFT welcomes Symantec’s participation and support in the crucial partnership between governments and the private sector in keeping consumers safe online.”

Consumers are encouraged to check any Web site by visiting http://safeweb.norton.com/. Australians can also report scams and check for those currently operating on the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s SCAMwatch Web site www.scamwatch.gov.au or phone 1300 795 995.

 

About Norton from Symantec

Symantec’s Norton products protect consumers from traditional threats with antivirus, anti-spam and spyware protection, as well as bots, drive-by downloads and identity theft– while also being light on system resources. The company also provides services such as online backup and PC tuneup, and is a trusted source for family online safety.

 

About Symantec

Symantec is a global leader in providing security, storage and systems management solutions to help consumers and organisations secure and manage their information-driven world. Our software and services protect against more risks at more points, more completely and efficiently, enabling confidence wherever information is used or stored. More information is available at www.symantec.com.

Symantec and the Symantec Logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Symantec Corporation or its affiliates in the U.S. and other countries. Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

 

About Australasian Consumer Fraud Taskforce

The Australasian Consumer Fraud Taskforce (“Taskforce”), established in March 2005, is comprised of 19 Federal and State government regulatory agencies and departments (including New Zealand) that have a responsibility for consumer protection in relation to frauds and scams.

The purpose of the Taskforce is to work together to:

§                       enhance the Australian and New Zealand Governments’ enforcement activity against frauds and scams

§                       to share information and generate greater interest in research on consumer fraud and scams

§                       create a yearly co-ordinated information campaign for consumers timed to coincide with International Consumer Protection Enforcement Network (ICPEN) Global Consumer Fraud Prevention Month

The Taskforce is chaired by Peter Kell, Deputy Chair of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission and is part of the Mass-Market Global Fraud project of ICPEN.  Due to the exponential growth of global scams, over 30 ICPEN consumer regulatory agencies around the world participate in campaigns to warn consumers against global scams and fraud during the February/March period.  See www.ICPEN.org for the list of nation state members.

 
formats

The latest Eee PC boasting 9.5* hours battery life is in arrivals

Sydney, Australia, March 2, 2009 – ASUS, pioneers of the widely acclaimed Eee PC and netbook movement, today announced the release of the highly anticipated Eee PC 1000HE.

Unveiled at CES 2009, the Eee PC 1000HE is powered by an Intel® Atom™ processor and ASUS-exclusive Super Hybrid Engine (SHE) offering users a choice between performance and power conservation modes. Adjustments can be made to suit prevailing usage which in turn reduces power expenditure by up to 15%*, enabling up to an astonishing 9.5* hours battery life for continuous computing on-the-go.

NEWSFLASH! The Eee PC 1000HE will also soon be available with the Intel® Atom™ N280 processor – the first N280 processor device to hit Australian and New Zealand shores.

The Eee PC 1000HE comes equipped with a 160GB hard disk drive providing ample storage for media collections, as well as 10GB of online Eee Storage for users to access documents anywhere, anytime. A 10-inch LED backlit WSVGA LCD running at 1024 x 600 resolution presents full screen ‘real estate’ for documents and multimedia, while the multi-touch touchpad allows users to intuitively zoom in or out of pictures, or navigate up and down pages. Keyboard-wise, the Eee PC 1000HE features a ‘Chiclet’ keyboard with wider gaps between keycaps making cleaning a cinch, as well as helping users type with ease minimising any typographical errors. The keyboard is 92% the size of a conventional desktop keyboard offering better ergonomics.

Surfing the net, downloading emails and large files on the Eee PC 1000HE is now five times more faster* with Wi-Fi 802.11n support and built-in Bluetooth and as a result, sharing data with other compatible devices is even more manageable. Furthermore, users can enjoy crystal clear voice and video communications with the built-in Digital Array Mic and 1.3M pixel webcam. Background noise and echoes are eliminated and any audio source within 60° of the array mic is captured with pristine clarity.

What’s more, the Eee PC 1000HE chassis enclosure is incredibly durable with a scratch-resistant hard coating produced through cutting-edge Infusion technology that is also attractive, long-lasting and will not fade over time – available in pearl white or shiny black. From New York to London, Sydney to Perth, or even Australia to New Zealand, be rest assured the Eee PC 1000HE will last the flying haul.

The Eee PC 1000HE from ASUS will be available from March 2009 in Australia and April 2009 in New Zealand through selected retailers and resellers. RRP: AU$899 inc GST, NZ$1,099.

Specifications

Display
 10” LED Backlight WSVGA screen (1024 x 600 resolution)
 
Operating System
 Genuine Windows® XP Home
 
Processor
 Intel® Atom™ N270 / N280
 
Memory
 DDR2 SO-DIMM 1GB
 
Hybrid Storage
 160GB HDD + 10GB Eee Storage
 
Wireless Data Network
 802.11 b/g/n
 
Battery
 8700 mAh Li-Ion 9.5* hours (XP)
 
Camera
 1.3 megapixel webcam
 
Audio
 High-Definition audio codec
 
Speaker
 Stereo speakers
 
Built-in microphone
 Digital array microphone
 
I/O ports
 §       1 x VGA

§       3 x USB 2.0

§       1 x LAN RJ-45

§       2 x 3.5mm Audio Jack

§       Card Reader (MMC / SD)
 
Dimensions
 266mm x 191.2mm x 28.5 ~ 38mm
 
Weight
 1.45kg
 
Colours
 §       Pearl White

§       Shiny Black
 

 

* Subject to system configuration and usage.

About ASUS
ASUS is a leading company in the new digital era. With a global staff of more than ten thousand and a world-class R&D design team, the company’s revenue for 2008 was 8.1 billion US dollars. ASUS ranks among the top 10 IT companies in BusinessWeek’s “InfoTech 100”, and has been on the listing for 11 consecutive years. ASUS was also selected by the Wall Street Journal Asia as No.1 in quality and service. For more information, visit www.asus.com.au.