This August to October

Magna Home Entertainment and Nissan are giving Man Vs Wild fans a chance to live like Bear by venturing out into the wild with a brand new Nissan X-TRAIL.

Simply purchase any marked Bear Grylls DVD or Blu-ray titles for a unique code and go to www.wannalivelikebeargrylls.com to enter!

Man Vs Wild: Extreme Moments

Now in its sixth season, with 3 million plus Facebook fans and the upcoming release of a Man Vs Wild video game, there is no slowing Bear Grylls down. For the first time ever, Man Vs Wild: Extreme Moments presents a compilation of over 50 of Bear’s most breath-taking moments including previously unreleased content packaged in a unique Starcase.

DVD Specifications

Starcase Packaging

1 disc /50 moments

Approximately 104 minutes running time

SRP: $19.95

Man Vs Wild: Limited Edition Season 2

Revisit the thrilling second season of Man Vs Wild, featuring all 12 episodes in this stunningly packaged release.

DVD Specifications

Metalpak packaging

4 discs

12 episodes

Approximately 532 minutes running time

SRP: $49.95

Worst Case Scenario Collector’s Edition –

exclusive to Big W

Imagine a moment – an elevator ride, a drive to work, a walk in the park – when the unthinkable happens; when disaster strikes.

In everyday life, most crises arise close to home. You never know when a simple task could turn deadly. Knowing what to do in these situations could be the difference between life and death. Survival expert and Man vs. Wild host Bear Grylls puts himself in potentially life-threatening situations to show the how-to, hands-on, step-by-step instructions on everything you may need to know when faced with a worst case scenario. In each episode, Bear teaches viewers the skills needed to succeed in urban survival situations that could arise without warning, from surviving a dog attack to escaping a sinking car.

DVD Specifications

Metalpak Packaging

2 discs

12 episodes

Approximately 264 minutes running time

SRP: $29.95

Purchase any of the above titles or any of the following to go into the draw to live like Bear Grylls – Man Vs Wild: Edge of Extinction (SRP: $24.95), Man Vs Wild: Extreme Terrains (SRP: $19.95), Man Vs Wild: Forces of Nature (SRP: $19.95), Man Vs Wild: No Man’s Land (SRP: $19.95), Man Vs Wild: Push The Limits (SRP: $19.95), Man Vs Wild: the Last Frontier (DVD and Blu-ray SRP:$24.95), Man Vs Wild: Ultimate Survivor (SRP: $19.95), Man Vs Wild: Urban Jungle Warrior (DVD and Blu-ray SRP: $24.95), Man Vs Wild: Destination Arctic Circle (SRP: 12.95), Man Vs Wild: Destination Central America (SRP: $12.95), Man Vs Wild: Destination Northern Africa (SRP: $12.95), Man Vs Wild: Destination USA (SRP: $12.95) and Worse Case Scenario (DVD and Blu-ray SRP: $24.95).

AVG (AU/NZ) says SMBs can no longer rely on the King Canute approach to iPhone and Android security.

Melbourne, 13 July 2011 — As a small business owner or employee, you and your fellow staff members are probably keen to get your hands on the latest smartphones, tablet PCs and portable laptop computers to help you with your daily routine in and out of the office.

Indeed, you probably already have one. The results of a Telstra online survey recently revealed that smartphone ownership has now reached 46 per cent of the mobile phone-owning population in Australia, and will reach 60 per cent by the end of 2011. Almost half of those surveyed (47 per cent) admitted to accessing the Internet from their smartphones during work hours, 13 per cent during business meetings.

Thus the King Canute approach to holding back the flood tide of mobile devices into your business is no longer possible. It’s time to recognise the security threats posed by these devices and put in place the technology, procedures and policies to deal with them.

Does lots of power pose possible threats?

Such is the sophistication of today’s mobile devices that they mirror their desktop computer equivalents in almost every sense. Smartphones today are packed with an immense amount of storage and computing power compared to even five years ago.

The famous quote, “With great power comes great responsibility”, is true in this case too. Your employees’ mobile devices are now as much a part of your IT resources as the server or database that you keep your client records on. This in itself means that the apps and files on employees’ devices now start to form a solid element of business risk.

A recent survey carried out by the Ponemon Institute on behalf of AVG Technologies found that 55 percent of consumers are aware that they may be putting their employers’ confidential business information at risk when using their smartphone for both business and personal use. The survey also found that 52 per cent of those who are aware of the risk say that it has happened. However, only 40 per cent are concerned about this!

Lloyd Borrett, Security Evangelist at AVG (AU/NZ), says, “The problem here is that not only can people easily lose or mislay these devices, but there is a lot of malicious web-based content out there specifically designed to attack mobile computing users. So all mobile devices need to be password protected and have security software on them.”

This is not plug-and-play computing

While mobile devices can significantly boost employee productivity when used conscientiously, small business owners need to realise that this is not plug-and-play computing. They need to consider whether to allow employees to use mobile devices for both business and personal use. If they are going to be used for both purposes, employers should find out who is using what kind of equipment and what “apps” they are using and enforce company security policies to protect the business.

Borrett says, “We recommend business owners put together a policy document spelling out security requirements and permissible usage. To help, we have developed the AVG Online Security Audit which asks how employees use the company’s and their own equipment — from computers and laptops to smartphones and USB sticks — and what policies are in place for the use of business and private hardware, plus access to social networking and other Internet usage.”

AVG (AU/NZ) then emails the business a personalised audit report created from the information provided which identifies where the problems lie along with recommended actions.

The AVG Small Business Security Guide provides some simple but effective steps small business owners can take to secure their business. The Guide is an 11-page action template covering the establishment of policies and processes to secure workplace practices and deliver governance over technology use. Plus AVG’s Business Resource Centre has a library of guides and tools that can help you protect your business from identity theft, data breaches, online banking break-ins and other computer crimes.

The vulnerability of mobile devices used in business is a very real threat. Laptops and tablets can be hacked over shared Wi-Fi networks in public places and smartphones can be subject to ‘rooting’ or ‘jailbreaking’, where the unit’s security settings are disabled by a cyber-criminal seeking a host to embed malware.

AVG provides security software to protect both small businesses and individuals, including free AVG Mobilation software to protect Android-based smartphones and tablets. AVG Internet Security Business Edition protects laptops and notebooks on the move, especially when using Wi-Fi networks, plus the workstations and servers back in your office.

For the series of informative security tips, how-to’s and fact sheets see www.avg.com.au/resources/security-tips/. For video tips from AVG (AU/NZ), see www.youtube.com/user/avgaunz.

Keep in touch with AVG (AU/NZ)

For breaking news, follow AVG (AU/NZ) on Twitter at twitter.com/avgaunz

Join our Facebook community at www.facebook.com/avgaunz

Riddle me this – which Gotham City villain thinks he is smarter than a Bat?

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and DC Entertainment today released an all-new trailer for Batman: Arkham City featuring The Riddler – Gotham City’s most notorious villain with an obsessive-compulsive need for attention. In Batman: Arkham City The Riddler is raising the stakes and posing a physical threat not only to Batman, but to innocent civilians within Arkham City, will he succeed?

BitDefender warns Facebook users to be wary of apps that promise Google+ invitations

SYDNEY & AUCKLAND – July 13, 2011 – A new Facebook scam exploiting the interest around Google+ has spread rapidly across the social network, having gathered approximately 3,300 fans or ‘likes’ within 24 hours. According to BitDefender, a an award-winning provider of innovative Internet security solutions, the fake app – ‘Google Plus Direct Access’ – requires Facebook users to ‘like’ the page in order to progress to a download page. Of course, there is no actual link to Google+ and no chance of receiving one of the coveted invitations.

The fake app is helped by a spreading mechanism which prompts users to invite 50 friends, with the invites also ending up on your Facebook newsfeed for all to see.

Whilst relatively harmless now, BitDefender anticipates there is a possibility for the app’s creators to attempt phishing attacks on its rapidly growing fanbase by taking advantage of the personal information that it has access to from users having ‘liked’ the page.

Catalin Cosoi, head of BitDefender’s Online Threats Lab, commented: “This scam highlights the increasing propensity for cybercriminals to ‘trendjack’ the latest news in order to exploit people’s natural curiosity. From the high number of fans that ‘Google Plus Direct Access’ has gathered in just 24 hours, it seems that this particular example has been successful in achieving its purpose of misleading people into believing there is a Google+ invite waiting for them at the other end.”

“By ‘liking’ the page, users have inadvertently shared their profile information and contact details with the app’s creators. We have not seen any malicious threats appearing from this app yet, but the inherent risk is certainly something to consider before ‘liking’ or ‘fanning’ a Facebook page.”

“Through our own Safego free security app for Facebook, we recently found that nearly 25% of users had some form of malicious content posted on their wall by a friend. Users need to take real care when using any social network and be wary not to get drawn into something that more often than not is too good to be true.”

BitDefender has recently found that of 73,000 BitDefender Safego Beta users worldwide, nearly 25 percent (24.6) have had at least one Facebook friend spread malicious content to others. Facebook users should be wary of an increasing number of scams appearing on the social network and be mindful of the old mantra: if something seems too good to be true, it usually is.

All product and company names mentioned herein are for identification purposes only and are the property of, and may be trademarks of, their respective owners.

Sydney, Australia – July 13, 2011 – Today, Ubisoft announced the acquisition of free-to-play game developer Owlient.  The team at Owlient has extensive expertise in the management of online game-playing communities, and their Howrse brand has almost two million monthly active users.

Founded in Paris in 2005 Owlient, with its 40 team members is a forerunner in creating free-to-play games. The company set itself apart for its ability to develop the expertise and technology necessary to manage and entertain an online game community.

“We are thrilled to welcome the talented team at Owlient to Ubisoft.  Over the last five years they have developed an architecture dedicated to delivering and monetising games as a service, as well as the skills of attracting and retaining online communities,” said Yves Guillemot, chief executive officer at Ubisoft.  “This acquisition is the next step in the acceleration of Ubisoft’s free-to-play strategy following last year’s launch of Settlers Online, CSI Crime City and Heroes Kingdoms, as well as the recent beta launch of our ambitious title Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Online.”

“Joining the Ubisoft team will allow us to accelerate our international business and to expand our expertise and our games to new platforms.  It also lets us integrate our proven online services architecture with Ubisoft’s so that we can help grow their brands online,” affirmed Olivier Issaly, chief executive officer of Owlient. “We are proud of what our team has accomplished and confident that joining Ubisoft will allow us to continue that success.  We’d also like to thank our shareholder Innovacom, who has accompanied the Owlient team over the years as we developed.”

Following acquisitions of Massive Entertainment, Nadeo and Quazal, Owlient represents the continuation of Ubisoft’s focus on expanding its online expertise and infrastructure in order to expand its portfolio using new online business models.  The recent launch of AAA project Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Online in closed beta, the enthusiasm of the TrackMania community, the success of The Settlers Online in Germany and the Uplay online services platform are the most recent realisations of this strategy.

Previous Ubisoft acquisitions in the online segment:

–     November 2008: acquisition of Massive Entertainment, renowned for their specialty in creating multiplayer games. Massive is collaborating on or responsible for the development of several ambitious unannounced projects.

–     October 2009: acquisition of Nadeo, creator of cult hit multiplayer driving game, TrackMania. TrackMania 2 Canyon and ManiaPlanet will be launched in 2011.

–     November 2010: acquisition of Quazal, a leader in the creation of online technical solutions. Assassin’s Creed implements Quazal technology for its multiplayer mode, which received the Game Critics Award for “Best Online Game” at E3 2010.

The acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to close in Ubisoft’s second quarter of fiscal 2012.

WETA Visual Effects Supervisor Joe Letteri visits Sydney with new footage from 20th Century Fox’s “Rise of the Planet of the Apes”

The recent presentation of about 15 minutes of footage from Rise of the Planet of the Apes – the reboot/sequel/prequel to the renowned and by now geriatric franchise – is an instance of a studio knowing when they’re onto a good thing and flaunting it. Let’s get straight to the point: the footage screened was stunning, and for two reasons. One, the special effects are groundbreaking. This is from WETA Digital, the Kiwi wizards behind such CGI behemoths as Lord of the Rings, King Kong and Avatar. Their latest offspring in the Gollum-Kong lineage is Caesar, an ape who is the unfortunate subject of an experimental cure for Alzheimer’s. James Franco’s Dr. Will Rodman bonds with the ape, and it turns out his serum may have unexpected, intelligence-enhancing side-effects.

Caesar is an entirely CGI entity on screen, with a performance supplied by veteran mo-capper Andy Serkis (also of Gollum + Kong). The technology is so sophisticated that the closed-to-finished render of Caesar looks virtually photo-realistic. I was trying very hard to pick holes in the CGI effects – something the online community was gleefully happy to do themselves when the early trailers premiered – but with these virtually finished versions they’re almost flawless. There is something intangibly CGI about it, but it’s so minute that, if you’re involved in the story, you’ll barely give it another thought.

Which brings us to the second reason I’m excited about Rise. The footage, which was presented by WETA Visual Effects supervisor Joe Letteri, focused on the real story elements, and the evolution of Caesar, rather than more action heavy portions touted in the trailer. Some of what we saw could definitely be considered spoiler material – so I’ll keep this vague – but essentially the film looks much more character driven that one might have expected, and the relationship between Caesar and Franco, thanks to the brilliant CGI, looks powerful. Also a surprise is that John Lithgow is in the film (though he was also featured in the earlier trailers) as Rodman/Franco’s Alzhemier’s-riddled father.

It shouldn’t be much of a surprise that Rupert Wyatt seems to be making a film that will live up to the legacy of the first, classic film, given that his first film was the flawed but interesting The Escapist. Apparently Andy Serkis and Wyatt are re-teaming for a mo-cap adaptation of George Orwell’s Animal Farm, and on the basis of the footage shown here, it seems the technology has reached a point where such a film could viably be made photo-realistic. What that means for mo-capped, CGI-humans is an all together story. Steven Spielberg’s Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn, stylized though it is, might be the next piece in that ever-evolving uncanny-valley puzzle of CGI animation.

Rise of the Planet of the Apes will be released nationally August 4.

“Always after a defeat and a respite, the Shadow takes another shape and grows again.” – Gandalf, The Lord the Rings

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment today releases a new trailer for The Lord of the Rings: War in the North, showing the intersection of the story in The Lord of the Rings film trilogy with the story in the video game. As the ring bearer’s adventure begins to the East, a new threat arises in the North. The Lord of the Rings: War in the North takes gamers to the unexplored locations of Northern Middle-earth, while also encompassing regions and characters well-known from the award-winning movie trilogy.

Crossing paths with Aragorn in Bree, seeking Elrond’s counsel in Rivendell, these critical names from the movies will set our Fellowship’s journey in motion. Traversing the Misty Mountains and Mirkwood – gathering place of Sauron’s forces – the Fellowship of three begins an expedition to Gundabad and to Carn Dûm itself, their path forever splintering from their brethren in the East. While these iconic film characters depart for the East, our Fellowship in the North will encounter many of the same gruesome enemies. Giant spiders, orc warrior armies and trolls, the darkness pervades all of Middle-earth.

For the sake of Middle-earth, may the journeys lead to victory for our heroes.