TrueLocal reveals record growth in mobile traffic

Relaunches mobile site 

Consumer review website, TrueLocal.com.au has announced an impressive 381 per cent rise in year on year mobile traffic*.

To support this growth, the company has relaunched its mobile site with a new look and feel and enhanced search functionality helping consumers connect with local businesses more easily.

General manager of TrueLocal, Simon Carson said it was important to offer users a sophisticated option when searching for local businesses on the go.

“Consumers have clearly shifted onto mobile devices. We see that in our own site traffic data, and this is demonstrated every day on the streets and on buses and trains,” said Mr Carson.

“The new TrueLocal mobile site makes it much easier for consumers to find details of a local café, doctor or newsagent quickly, no matter where they are.

“The enhanced search functionality uses a person’s location and highlights popular categories making it very simple to find nearby businesses.

“When you combine these new features with TrueLocal consumer reviews on business listings, this creates a powerful platform for consumers to discover the best local businesses around them, from hair and nail salons, pubs and restaurants to almost any other service.”

New and improved features of the mobile site include:

• Easy site navigation and improved search functionality
• View recently reviewed businesses near you
• View and review local businesses direct from your phone
• Locate local deals near you
• A quick search functionality that locates the top 10      nearby businesses based on popular search categories

To access the mobile site, users simply need to type m.truelocal.com.com.au into their mobile web browser.

Mr Carson continued: “The mobile space is growing so fast, it’s impossible to know when it is going to stop. It now appears that there will be more internet usage on mobile devices than on PC’s by the end of the year.

“With this fundamental shift in consumer behaviour, we’re very excited to have relaunched our mobile site with more great features from the full website including the option for consumers to write reviews wherever they are, whenever they want.”

The TrueLocal mobile site is also the official technology navigation partner for Garage Sale Trail this Saturday 5 May. Users simply need to visit m.truelocal.com.au on the day to locate all the sales via their smart phone.

Melbourne, Australia, 2 May 2012 – The award-winning Wallee ecosystem is now compatible with the new Apple iPad and Samsung Galaxy Tab, thanks to the new Wallee Cases released by StudioProper today.

Designers at StudioProper have created the new Wallee Cases for the iPad 3 and Galaxy Tab, which go on pre-sale today and ship at the end of May. With a lightly rubberised, matte finish, the Wallee Cases look and feel better than ever.

The Wallee Cases allow you to click the new iPad or Galaxy Tab flush onto a wall, stand it on your desk, strap it to your hand, and turn even the oldest car into a multimedia powerhouse with the headrest mount. With a simple twist and click lock system, the gadgets can now connect to all existing Wallee accessories.

Alon Tamir, Founder of StudioProper, designed the new cases due to mass global demand from fans of the Wallee system.

“We have some of the world’s most original designs for iPad and Galaxy Tab users to choose from.

“Like all products in the Wallee range, the new cases are completely compatible with our existing products.

“StudioProper is enhancing people’s experiences with technology, and changing the way they interact with their favourite devices.

“Our designers are always looking for new and creative ways to build upon our existing designs. The Wallee Case provides new iPad and Galaxy Tab owners greater flexibility to use their tablet in a way that best suits them.

“Every product we design is meticulously crafted to help people use technology in new ways. We’ve had customers all around the world begging us for these new cases, so we’re sure they’ll be a hit!” Tamir said.

These innovative Australian-designed products are available for just $39.95 with free shipping around the world:

http://www.thewallee.com/products/ipad-3-wall-mount

http://www.thewallee.com/products/galaxy-tab-10-1

Razer launches the Razer Naga Hex – Wraith Red Edition to fuel your blood frenzy in hack n’ slash games 

Sydney, Australia, 2 May 2012 – Razer, the world leader in high performance gaming hardware, is excited to launch the Razer Naga Hex Wraith Red edition gaming mouse.  The best weapon to cut down hordes of monsters crawling out from the depths of evil is now available to gamers in an all-new blood red colour.

Made especially for hack ‘n’ slash, MOBA and Action RPG games, the Razer Naga Hex Wraith Red edition sports the same devastating 6 mechanical side buttons as the original Razer Naga Hex. Bind a hotbar of skills or inventory items to rapidly unleash hell on boss runs and maintain effective crowd control as enemies attack from all sides.  Having the 6 crucial commands so close to your thumb allows for rapid actuations and enemies dead faster than they can react.

The Razer Naga Hex’s mechanical buttons are also highly durable and responsive, capable of registering up to a staggering 250 clicks per minute – perfect for the frantic hyper-clicking of hack ‘n’ slash RPGs.

The Razer Naga Hex Wraith Red edition is available alongside the original Green edition and either will be your perfect companion for hack ‘n’ slash victory.

About the Razer Naga Hex Gaming Mouse

The Razer Naga Hex is perfectly suited for pro-gamers and fans of the MOBA/action-RPG game genres.  It is primed with six mechanical thumb buttons for the exact number of controls necessary to suit the user interfaces of those games. Bind your skill-bar or inventory grid to the six buttons for faster, more comfortably efficient access to your full range of powers as you take the competition down.

Price: US$79.99 

Availability:

Razerzone.com – Available Now

USA – Available Now

Worldwide – Q2 2012 

Product features:

• 6      MOBA/action-RPG optimised mechanical thumb buttons
• 11      total programmable buttons
• Special      switches in buttons for up to 250 clicks per minute
• 10      million click life cycle
• Ergonomic      curved design
• Razer      Synapse 2.0
• 5600dpi      Razer Precision 3.5G Laser Sensor

For more information on the new Razer Naga, please visit www.razerzone.com/hex

Razer Naga Hex – Wraith Red edition images 

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Threats persist despite years of software updates 

SYDNEY & AUCKLAND – May 2, 2012 – More than four years after Autorun was eliminated from operating systems, worms that take advantage of the antiquated feature account for more than 1 of every 10 computer infections worldwide, according to Bitdefender research.

Autorun-based threats, spread when users insert infected USB sticks without checking them for viruses, caused a substantial 12 per cent of global infections in the first quarter of 2012. The threat persists even though the Autorun feature was eliminated from operating systems starting with Windows Vista SP1 in 2008.

“The magnitude of this threat – so many years after it should be extinct – is astonishing,” said Catalin Cosoi, Bitdefender’s Chief Security Researcher. “Some of the heavy-hitters of the virus world – such as Downadup and Stuxnet – spread this way. Prevention should be a simple matter.”

The mass introduction of USB storage devices and the apparition of the Autorun feature in Windows have been widely exploited since the early 2000s. Within five years, Autorun worms reached epidemic proportions autorun-based threats have dominated the malware landscape report since.

USB Immunizer: Tell Viruses Where to Stick It 

Bitdefender, the innovative provider of computer security solutions, has finished an overhaul of its USB Immunizer, which disables autorun-related threats before they access the computer and makes your USB stick immune to such malicious behaviour.

“You never know for certain where a USB stick may have been. It is always worth checking,” said Adina Jipa, Product Marketing Manager of Bitdefender USB Immunizer. “A simple, and free, solution is available to a persistent nagging problem.”

New functions to make it easy to immunise multiple sticks or storage devices at once and an intuitive interface that lets you click and immunise are among the upgrades Bitdefender carried out in its first makeover of USB Immunizer. Bitdefender’s cutting edge security technology ensures it’s always updated against the latest threats.

5 facts about Autorun-based malware:

1. The Autorun.inf file is not malicious itself. It is used by some families of malware that copy themselves on USB sticks to force the computer to automatically execute them when an infected stick is plugged into a Windows-based PC.
2. Among the most important families of malware that use the Autorun exploitation to spread are Stuxnet, Downadup, Sality, Rimecud or OnlineGames.
3. Autorun-based malware can copy itself on MP3/MP4 players, mobile phones, CF cards (such as those in digital cameras) and other devices. When plugged in other PCs, the malware is executed automatically.
4. Since autorun.inf files are plain-text files that can be opened and analysed, malware creators obfuscate their creations to make them unreadable by humans. However, this is also their weak point. This degree of obfuscation is uncommon in text files and triggers AV detection.
5. Trojan.AutorunInf (a detection that intercepts rogue autorun.inf files) has been the number one source of infection for more than three years in a row. During this time, it has helped various malware families infect millions of computers worldwide.

For a full description of the advantages and options of Bitdefender USB Immunizer, see: www.bitdefender.com.au/freetools/.

Just a quick note regarding some further Diablo III updates this morning.

–        The Diablo III launch site has now updated with the full complement of content for the Wizard, including a new developer diary entry.

–        Further details on Global Play have been posted on the community site. You can also check out the full in-depth Global Play FAQ.

–        Also, an update on the Diablo III Auction House has gone live, with a full FAQ here.

If you haven’t noticed yet the brand new trailer for the next instalment of the Call of Duty franchise – CALL OF DUTY: BLACK OPS II has been revealed. You can view the trailer on YouTube

A team of four University of Melbourne students have invented a medical device that could potentially save millions from the ravages of pneumonia 

Melbourne, Australia – 02 May 2012: A team of Victorian university students have invented a digital stethoscope that could help millions in the developing world by assisting in the early diagnosis of childhood pneumonia. The four students, known as ‘Team StethoCloud’, triumphed against four other teams to win the Australian finals of the 2012 Microsoft Imagine Cup challenge. Team StethoCloud consisted of: Hon Weng Chong, Andrew Lin, Kim Ramchen and Masha Salehi.

Now in its 10^th year, the Imagine Cup challenges students around the world to use technology and their imaginations to come up with innovative solutions to some of the world’s toughest problems. Team StethoCloud will now move on to represent Australia at the worldwide finals of the 2012 Imagine Cup – once dubbed by Bill Gates as the ‘Olympics of the software world’. The worldwide finals will be held in Sydney in July where national winners from more than 100 countries will gather to compete for the international title.

Pneumonia is the largest killer of children under the age of five, and more children fall victim to the disease than malaria, HIV and measles combined*. According to team lead, Hon Weng Chong, more than 98 per cent of pneumonia cases occur in the developing world where access to medical facilities and treatment can be more limited.

Inspired by their medical backgrounds and passion to make a difference, the digital stethoscope is attached to a smart phone which listens to and digitalizes a patient’s breathing sounds and patterns. Those patterns are then compared against a medical database to deliver an automated diagnosis and treatment plan via an app on the smart phone.

“Sadly, the experience for many parents is that by the time a child is seen by a doctor, it’s often too late – our solution aims to put a stop to this,” said Mr Hon Weng Chong, Team StethoCloud.

“In some countries, parents are known to hold off taking their kids for medical care because they often think a cough is just a cold and the nearest clinic can be a day’s walk away. But what if any mother could diagnose pneumonia? What if a healthcare or community worker on every corner could have the power in their hands to help save a life?” he said.

The team claims that their digital stethoscope is 4,000 per cent cheaper than other commercial solutions in the market today, and they believe it represents a disruptive innovation in the medical space.

A team from the University of Canberra was awarded runner-up status for a smart phone app called ‘Food4Thought’, which aims to tackle food wastage. In their presentation, the team claimed that on average 178 kilograms of food per person per year was thrown out at cost of over $1,000.

Food4Thought is a smart app which tracks the ‘use-by’ dates of food in a pantry and provides notifications when foods are about to expire. In order to reduce waste, it provides recipes suggestions for the expiring food. If the food cannot be used, it encourages donation to nearby charities and food banks. Team Food4Thought consists of Xharmagne Carandang and Paul Du.

Microsoft’s Managing Director for Australia, Pip Marlow, said the finalists were doing the extraordinary and had a mindset that any problem could be solved.

“The magic of the Imagine Cup is that we live in a world today where the power of ideas combined with technology enables us to take control of our destinies and be part of the solution.

“The students show us that leadership can come at any age. For these guys, the world’s toughest problems are not a problem.”

Michael Harte, Chief Information Officer of Commonwealth Bank and a judge at the Australian finals of the Imagine Cup said: “Young people have great passion and energy for improving the world, and regularly demonstrate the imagination to solve long standing problems with new thinking,” 

Over 1.25 million students have participated in the Imagine Cup since it started in 2003. This year, hundreds of thousands more will join the movement, coming up with brilliant ideas and technology solutions that have the potential to change people’s lives.

For more information on the Imagine Cup visit: www.imaginecup.com

A total of x10 white Nokia Lumia 800s are up for grabs as part of the #LumiaQuest treasure hunt across five major cities in Australia – with two phones to hidden in each city every day next week:

• Monday – 7 May 2012 – Brisbane
• Tuesday – 8 May 2012 – Melbourne
• Wednesday – 9 May 2012 – Perth
• Thursday – 10 May – Adelaide
• Friday – 11 May – Sydney

Clues will be posted on Telstra’s Facebook page each day. Whoever finds the phones will get to keep the white Nokia Lumia 800, which will also come with a Telstra $50 Pre-Paid Cap Encore recharge with $1000.00 credit and 2GB of data to get started.

More information about the competition can be found on the Telstra blog:

http://exchange.telstra.com.au/2012/04/27/nokia-lumia-quest/

The final instalment of our character overview trailers is now live on our YouTube channel, chronicling the prodigy of the arcane arts, the Wizard.

The wizards. Brilliant practitioners of the arcane arts who deftly wield the energies of fire, ice, lightning, and even time itself in the pursuit of their enigmatic goals. Bedecked in archaic charms, clad in runes, and wrapped in free-flowing robes to allow for the somatic components of their spells, wizards are a veritable thunderstorm of lethal powers who can strike from close or long range. There is no safe way to approach an angry wizard.

Note that the Diablo III launch site will refresh with the full suite of Wizard updates (including unlockable sigil) tomorrow.

Prequel to the series details Kratos’ emotional story of redemption, while redefining the competitive multiplayer experience 

SYDNEY, 1^ST MAY 2012 – Sony Computer Entertainment Australia (SCE Aust.), is pleased to confirm that God of War: Ascension™, developed by Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios’ (SCE WWS) Santa Monica Studio, is a prequel that will show Kratos’ emotional path of redemption whilst detailing the rise of his rage to break free from Ares’ bond.  Epic cinematic storytelling, visceral battles, and blockbuster moments will all be present, along with various enhancements, including a revamped combat system and a brand new online multiplayer mode that combines the brutal gameplay and large-scale battels that God of War is known for to create a competitive experience like never before.

“The bar is set quite high for this franchise as each God of War title succeeds in being better than the last,” said Todd Papy, Game Director, God of War: Ascension, SCE WWS Santa Monica Studios.  “But, unlike previous releases, we’re providing a deeper look into Kratos’ tormented past and psyche that fans have not seen before.  Combined with refined gameplay, jaw-dropping visuals, and a fresh twist on competitive gaming with our new online multiplayer mode, I guarantee that God of War: Ascension will give fans what they have been eagerly waiting for, and much more.”

For the first time ever in a God of War game, players can compete in online or offline multiplayer battles that combine the fierce combat and scale of the franchise with a unique gameplay experience.  Built off of the heart and soul of the single-player campaign, this brand new option can include up to eight players and offers a variety of different multiplayer modes along with customisable avatar warriors, armour and weapon types. Players will have the option to align themselves with one of four of the legendary Greek gods – Zeus, Ares, Poseidon or Hades and earn their approval to unlock new customisation options.

Utilizing state-of-the-art visual technologies, the Santa Monica Studios team has made significant strides to bring unmistakable realism to the gameplay experience.  God of War: Ascension will feature a revamped combat and weapon system, promptless mini-games, and new puzzle challenges, coupled with fluid, life-like characters, dynamic lighting effects, and world-changing scenarios that will truly bring Kratos and the environment around him to life.

Set in the realm of Greek mythology, God of War: Ascension is an epic adventure that allows players to take on the climatic role of the ex-Spartan warrior, Kratos, as he finds a way to break the blood oath that binds him to the god, Ares.  Six months after being tricked into killing his wife and child, a younger Kratos is sentenced to a life of madness with the Furies, caged in a Titan sized prison for the living damned.  Fighting insanity, his will is tested to the limit as he seeks to break his bond and gain the clarity to seek revenge on Ares for his part in the death of his family.  Armed with double-chained blades, Kratos must take on mythology’s darkest creatures while solving intricate puzzles throughout his merciless quest for redemption.

God of War: Ascension is an action-adventure game that offers an epic single-player story mode, as well as a deep, innovative multi-player experience. Further information about the game can be found at www.GodofWar.com.