This Father’s Day, make shopping easy on yourself with a Mac, iPod, iPad or an iTunes gift card for Dad. They are exactly what he needs to enjoy the things he loves – music, photos, TV shows, movies, apps and more.

iPod nano – The iPod nano is available in nine vibrant colors to choose from for your dad. With the new Genius feature, the nano turns into your Dad’s very own highly intelligent, personal DJ. There is also a pedometer so dad can keep track of his steps and help him kickstart a fitness program.
– Further information: http://www.apple.com/au/ipodnano/
– Images: http://www.apple.com/au/pr/products/ipod/nano.html
– Availability: Apple Store (www.apple.com/au/), Apple’s retail stores and Apple Authorised Resellers
– Pricing: From AUD$199 inc GST

iPod shuffle – Give your Dad the coolest mix tape ever, load an iPod shuffle in one of five great colours with up to 1000 of your Dad’s favourite songs or let your Dad choose the music by adding an iTunes gift card or online gift certificate.
– Further information: http://www.apple.com/au/ipodshuffle/
– Images: http://www.apple.com/au/pr/products/ipod/shuffle.html
– Availability: Apple Store (www.apple.com/au/), Apple’s retail stores and Apple Authorised Resellers
– Pricing: From AUD$79 inc GST

FREE iPod ENGRAVING – Nothing says “Thanks Dad, you rock” more than a personalised iPod for this Father’s Day. http://store.apple.com/au

Nike + iPod Sport Kit – Now Dad’s shoes and his iPod can team up and take on his run. Dad can see the minutes tick by, watch the miles unfold and hear real-time voice feedback. All to his favourite music — including his power song – the one song that always gets him through the home stretch.
– Further information: http://store.apple.com/au/product/MA368ZM/D?fnode=MTY1NDA3NA&mco=MTM3NDk2ODg
– Availability: Apple Store (www.apple.com/au/), Apple’s retail stores and Apple Authorised Resellers
– Pricing: AUD$48 inc GST

Mac mini – Help Dad connect effortlessly to his existing digital display or HDTV via the world’s most energy efficient desktop. The new built-in SD card slot let’s Dad transfer his photos and videos from the digital camera – and share them on the big screen!
– Further information: http://www.apple.com/au/macmini/
– Images: http://www.apple.com/au/pr/products/macmini/macmini.html
– Availability: Apple Store (www.apple.com/au/), Apple’s retail stores and Apple Authorised Resellers
– Pricing: From AUD$999 inc GST

iPad – Surprise dad with the magical new iPad! From reading iBooks, sharing his favourite family photos, watching TV shows, listening to music, to checking e-mail and keeping the family calendar and contacts, Dad will love the new iPad.
– Further information: http://www.apple.com/au/ipad/
– Images: http://www.apple.com/au/pr/products/ipad/ipad.html
– Availability: Apple Store (www.apple.com/au/), Apple’s retail stores and Apple Authorised Resellers.
– Priding: From AUD$629 inc GST

iTunes Gift Cards – The iTunes Store makes it easy to give songs, playlists, audiobooks, music videos, TV shows, games or movies. Or you can give iTunes Gift Cards for AUD$20, AUD$30 or AUD$50, or gift certificates and let Dad choose for himself. Available from apple.com.au, Apple’s retail stores and retail partners.

There’s an app for that – show dad how easy it is to discover new content for his iPad, iPhone or iPod touch!

For Dad’s who love health & fitness:

MyNetDiary. AUD$12.99 – http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/mynetdiary-food-exercise-diary/id364875034?mt=8
A premier food diary and weight management program, helping people lose weight the most natural way – by eating better and making better food choices.

1000 Exercises by Men’s Health and Woman’s Health. AUD$7.99 – http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/1000-exercises-by-mens-health/id364899153?mt=8
The most comprehensive fitness app ever created! Build, share, and sync workouts between your iPad and iPhone, choosing from over a thousand moves, hundreds of videos, and dozens of workouts.

For Dad’s who love reading:

iBooks. Free – http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/ibooks/id364709193?mt=8
An amazing way to download and read books. iBooks includes the iBookstore, where you can download the latest best-selling books or your favourite classics – day or night!.

The Australian, AUD$4.99 – http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/the-australian/id369849696?mt=8
Wherever you are you can now enjoy the best news reporting and analysis in Australia. Updated and edited with fresh content throughout the day.

For Dad’s who love travelling:

Currency Exchange. AUD$1.19 – http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/currency-exchange-currency/id297654251?mt=8
A powerful and elegant currency converter app with information updated regularly to bring you the latest conversion values.

KAYAK Flights. Free – http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/kayak-flights/id363205965?mt=8
Brings the fast flight search functionality of the KAYAK web site to an app specifically made for iPad.

Urbanspoon for iPad. Free – http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/urbanspoon-for-ipad/id369267453?mt=8
Can’t decide where to eat? Urbanspoon can help. Specifically designed for the iPad, Urbanspoon can show you all the restaurants in your city at the same time!

(Quite Possibly) The Funniest RPG Ever Made Serves up A Healthy Heap of Humour this Winter  

30 June 2010, Australia  – Electronic Arts Inc. and leading independent developer Hothead Games™ have announced that the upcoming downloadable action-RPG, DeathSpank™, will be released on 13 July for PlayStation® Network and 14 July for Xbox LIVE® Arcade.  

Gain quests from a colourful cast of characters, and vanquish evil with fast and furious action as DeathSpank scours the world for a mystical artifact.

Developed under the direction of The Secret of Monkey Island creator and industry icon Ron Gilbert, DeathSpank combines Gilbert’s unique humour and wit with fast, addictive action-RPG gameplay, making for a hilarious and massive epic quest for justice.  

The game puts players in the mighty boots of DeathSpank, the “Dispenser of Justice”, “Vanquisher of Evil” and “Hero to the Downtrodden”. His life-long destiny is to embark on an epic journey in search of a mysterious and magical artifact known only as, “The Artifact”.

DeathSpank will feature local co-op gameplay, allowing friends to team up on the same console as both DeathSpank and his trusty, magical sidekick, Sparkles the Wizard. Sparkles’ abilities are magical, serving as the perfect complement to DeathSpank’s weapons-based attacks as the duo battle against the intolerant minions of injustice.

Along the way, DeathSpank and Sparkles will rescue some orphans, defeat a local tyrant, help an aging adventurer, and dive headlong into an even deeper mystery. The game is an epic action RPG that includes collecting loot, solving crazy puzzles, witty dialogue, collecting loot, a ton of weapons, fun and accessible action, and of course, colleting loot.  

DeathSpank will be available for download begininning 13 July 2010 on the PlayStation Network for AUD$19.95, and 14 July 2010 on Xbox LIVE Arcade for 1200 Microsoft Points. DeathSpank is rated M by the COB.  For more information on DeathSpank, please visit, www.deathspank.com.

“a full-throttle action-adventure.” – Richard Corliss, TIME 

CLASH OF THE TITANS 

Available to rent and own on BLU-RAY™ COMBO PACK for $44.95RRP –   containing BLU-RAY, DVD and DIGITAL COPY and Single Disc DVD for $39.95RRP from 11 August 2010. Also available ON DEMAND and TO DOWNLOAD. 

More than $450 Million Box Office Worldwide,  $16 Million grossed in Australia alone! 

BLU-RAY features Maximum Movie Mode and an alternate ending never seen in theatres of the confrontation  between Zeus and Perseus. 

Jump into a mythological world of epic action and adventure when Clash of the Titans arrives on Blu-ray Combo Pack and DVD on 11 August, 2010 from Warner Home Video.  Clash of the Titans propels audiences into the mythological realm of Perseus’ quest amidst a world where the gods are formidable and the creatures even more fearsome.  

The Blu-ray disc includes an exciting never-before-seen alternate ending and the immersive Maximum Movie Mode, which includes walk-ons by Sam Worthington, Liam Neeson, Ralph Fiennes, and Director Louis Leterrier, focus points, Picture-in-Picture commentary, and BD-Live connectivity.

As a war rages between men and kings and kings and gods, the battle amongst the gods is the one that could ultimately destroy the world.  Hope rests with one. Perseus, son of god, Zeus, yet raised a man, sets off on a hazardous journey deep into forbidden worlds to avenge the death of his family and defeat Hades, vengeful god of the underworld, before he can seize power from Zeus and unleash hell on earth.  Leading the charge, Perseus battles unholy demons and fearsome beasts, but will only survive if he can accept his power as a god, defy his fate and create his own destiny.

From director, Louis Leterrier (The Transporter, The Incredible Hulk) Clash of the Titans stars Sam Worthington (Avatar, Terminator Salvation), Liam Neeson (The A-Team, Batman Begins, Gangs of New York), Ralph Fiennes (upcoming Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Parts I & II, The Hurt Locker, The Constant Gardner) and Gemma Arterton (Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, Quantum of Solace). 

Clash of the Titans will be available to rent and own on Blu-ray as a combo pack, containing Blu-ray, DVD and digital copy, for $44.95RRP and on DVD for $39.95RRP.

 Clash of the Titans will be available to buy on 11 August, 2010 as a Digital Download from digital movie retailers. It will also be available to rent ON DEMAND through internet movie retailers and games consoles.  

On 25 August, 2010, Clash of the Titans will be available to rent on a pay per view and ON DEMAND basis through Digital Cable and Satellite TV. 

SYNOPSIS

In Clash of the Titans, the ultimate struggle for power pits men against kings and kings against gods. But the war between the gods themselves could destroy the world. Born of a god but raised as a man, Perseus (Sam Worthington) is helpless to save his family from Hades (Ralph Fiennes), vengeful god of the underworld. With nothing left to lose, Perseus volunteers to lead a dangerous mission to defeat Hades before he can seize power from Zeus (Liam Neeson) and unleash hell on earth.

Perseus sets off on a perilous journey deep into forbidden worlds, leading a daring band of warriors, including Draco (Mads Mikkelsen), an experienced soldier who encourages the defiant Perseus to make use of his god-given abilities. Battling unholy demons and fearsome beasts, they will only survive if Perseus can accept his power as a god, defy his fate and create his own destiny. 

BLU-RAY COMBO PACK

Special Features:

• Sam Worthington: An Action Hero for the Ages
• Deleted Scenes
• Alternate Ending
• Maximum Movie Mode: Join Sam Worthington, Liam Neeson, Ralph Fiennes, and Director Louis Leterrier on an incredible journey all while you watch the movie.

Featurette Focus Points

o       Sam Worthington is Perseus

o       Zeus: Father of Gods and Men

o       Enter the World of Hades

o       Calibos: The Man Behind the Monster

o       Tenerife: A Continent on an Island

o       Scorpioch

o       Actors and Their Stunts

o       Wales: A Beautiful Scarred Landscape

o       Bringing Medusa to Life

o       Prepare for the Kraken!

• More than forty minutes of picture in picture (PiP) commentary
• BD-Live

o       Clash of the Titans: International Special

• DVD Combo Disc

o       Feature film in standard definition

o       Digital Copy (Windows Media and iTunes)

Approx Runtime:

106 mins 

Rating:

TBC (theatrically rated M: Fantasy Violence)

DVD

Special Features:

• Deleted scenes

Approx Runtime:

102 mins

Rating:

TBC (theatrically rated M: Fantasy Violence)

 Credits:

About Warner Home Video

With operations in 90 international territories, Warner Home Video, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, commands the largest distribution infrastructure in the global video marketplace. Warner Home Video’s film library is the largest of any studio, offering top quality new and vintage titles from the repertoires of Warner Bros. Pictures, Turner Entertainment, Castle Rock Entertainment, HBO Home Video and New Line Home Entertainment. 

About Warner Bros. Digital Distribution

Warner Bros. Digital Distribution (WBDD) manages Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group’s electronic distribution services over existing, new and emerging digital platforms, including pay-per-view, electronic sell-through, video-on-demand, wireless and more. WBDD also oversees the WBHEG’s worldwide digital strategy, partnerships in digital services and emerging new clients and business activities in the digital space.

Out now with new downloadable tracks and trailer 

SYDNEY, 29 June 2010: Mindscape, in partnership with Universal Music Online, has today announced the release of U-Sing Girls Night. In a first for Wii™, additional downloadable tracks are also available, including a bonus free track! 

U-Sing Girls Night is the first female only karaoke game and the first with Downloadable Music Content on the Wii™. Players with an Internet connected Wii™ will be able to access the U-Sing online store via the game. Songs can be purchased using Nintendo Wii™ points. As a bonus offer, Lilly Allen’s The Fear will be available as a FREE download. 

Additional tracks for download on day one include:

• Jackson 5 – ABC
• Jimmy Cliff – Many Rivers to Cross
• The Temptations – My Girl
• Culture Club – Do You Really Want to Hurt Me
• Gloria Gaynor – I Will Survive
• Kool & The Gang – Celebration
• The All American Rejects – I wanna
• Gloria Gaynor- I Will Survive
• Mika- Love Today

 “Following the success of the original U-Sing, we worked to create an even better product with an all new theme, features and tracks. We are very pleased with the end result! Our partnership with Universal Music has allowed us to create a game boasting some of the world’s most popular female artists. Given the range of the track listing and additional tracks available for download, U-Sing Girls Night will be popular amongst all ages,” said Tony Hughes, Managing Director of Mindscape Asia Pacific. 

You can also view the trailer here.

 U-Sing Girls Night is the first karaoke title to exclusively feature only female artists. The game features 30 official songs and videos of Universal’s leading female artists including Lady Gaga, Amy Winehouse, Blondie, Katy Perry and Rihanna. 

U-Sing Girls Night is now available at all major retailers for $69.95 as a stand alone game or $119.95 bundled with two microphones.

ASUS NX90 Multimedia Notebook — A Duet of Style and Sonority
Delivering the Pinnacle of Multimedia Enjoyment and Contemporary Design

The new 18.4” ASUS NX90 multimedia notebook revisits the forgotten aspects of portable PC design, injecting excitement and a sense of premium luxury to a product often treated as a mere commodity. The NX90 is crafted with input from renowned designer David Lewis and incorporates technology co-developed with Bang & Olufsen ICEpower®. It is a notebook that’s on a par with full surround systems in terms of audio quality, through the ASUS SonicMaster sound standard. It is also a style icon, designed to take centre stage in the home and add a touch of class to any décor.

Birth of an Icon
The NX90’s unique form and advanced technology have benefitted from the experience of award winning designer David Lewis, who took part in developing the new multimedia notebook. Mr. Lewis’ studio is known, to design buffs and audiophiles the world over, as one of the main forces behind the hallmark Bang & Olufsen ‘look’. Eye-catching multimedia gear has been a staple of his studio for many years.

With the NX90, ASUS designers and Mr. Lewis have sought to change the perception that users have of notebooks, from mundane tools to symbols of craftsmanship and multimedia excellence.

“Our aim was a piece of design and art that people could place in the centre of their home and take great joy in its appearance. To me, it’s not just a machine, the objective was to create a style to challenge the way people regard notebooks”, said David Lewis when speaking of the NX90.

Breakthrough in Notebook Design
NX90 marks a departure from conventional notebooks, bringing PCs into the realm of interior design. The polished aluminum body reflects room ambience, adding to the atmosphere of any environment. The unique look of the notebook spruces up any room, something the spectacular audio quality takes even further.
By placing speakers outside the chassis and alongside the screen, designers have ensured sound wraps around users and their surroundings. Meanwhile, the interface itself has been refreshed, with dual touchpads that enable true two-handed usability, creating a virtual mouse through the addition of a second touch surface. The oversized palm rests provide ample room for comfort even during prolonged sessions, one of the perks of a true multimedia, desktop replacement, portable PC. 

New Standards—Audio as it’s Meant to be Enjoyed
The new SonicMaster sound standard is one of the key attractions of the NX90. Developed by the ASUS Golden Ear team through significant cooperation with Bang & Olufsen ICEpower®, SonicMaster represents a new milestone in PC audio. It guarantees the best quality audio available to users, bringing PCs to the level of dedicated high fidelity surround systems.

SonicMaster comprises harmonised hardware and software tuning, optimised to render high definition surround audio that’s true to life and wider in range than ever experienced on a notebook. The exacting standards implemented in SonicMaster offer crystal clear reproduction, deeper and richer bass, and an overall power upgrade that’s sure to impress anyone listening in for the first time. Particular emphasis has been placed on recreating lifelike audio. This results in vocals and an overall feel very much akin to a live concert, miles ahead of the muddy, muted and tinny sound people have come to expect from notebooks. 

The amazing results attained by SonicMaster serve to augment not only music playback, but also gaming, movies and voice communication.

Designed for the Sound Lover
Due to its focus on multimedia, the NX90 also ships with the Rotation Desktop interface, which makes the most of the twin touchpads mentioned earlier. This unique technology increases multimedia control, with new gesture input that’s intuitive for accessing and making the most of music and video content on the fly with two handed DJ-like controls. Photo zoom, web page and document scrolling are also a breeze with the Rotation Desktop. 

Specifications

Specifications are subject to change without prior notice. Please visit www.asus.com for more information.

###

About ASUS

ASUS is a leading company in the new digital era, with an extensive product portfolio that includes notebooks, netbooks, motherboards, graphics cards, multimedia, optical drives, desktop PCs, servers, wireless solutions, mobile phones and networking devices. Driven by innovation and committed to quality, ASUS designs and manufactures products that perfectly meet the needs of today’s digital home, office and person. ASUS won 3,056 awards in 2008, and is widely credited with revolutionizing the PC industry with the Eee PC™. With a global staff of more than ten thousand and a world-class R&D design team, the company’s revenue for 2009 was US$7.5 billion. ASUS ranks among BusinessWeek’s InfoTech 100, and has been on the listing for 12 consecutive years.

With co-development featuring input from Bang & Olufsen ICEpower®, ASUS delivers powerhouse notebooks that meet the needs of discerning consumers with the most advanced sound and multimedia solutions ever offered on portable PCs.

Contemporary users require a diverse range of applications, from precision productivity to high definition entertainment and relentless gaming action. Expectations run high and the traditionally compromised nature of notebook audio performance simply doesn’t suffice. This has led to the development of the N Series from ASUS.

ASUS N53

Mastering Audio
Realising that people spend around a third of their day interacting with multimedia devices, and that notebooks have traditionally fallen short in the audio department, ASUS decided to focus on developing natural, impactful sound when crafting the N Series. The result is SonicMaster, a new standard in notebook audio, offering the best ever sonic performance on a portable PC.

SonicMaster has gained from the expertise of two dedicated groups of audio professionals: the ASUS Golden Ear Team and Bang & Olufsen ICEpower®. SonicMaster is not a one-off technological effort. It presents a new standard of audio quality, guaranteeing consumers breathtaking experiences in sound. It consists of upgraded hardware in the form of larger speaker chambers and stronger amplifiers to render sound in unmatched fidelity. In addition, SonicMaster incorporates extensive software equalisation to ensure a wide range of sound reproduction and true-to-life vocals.

The ASUS N Series acts as the debut and flagship platform for SonicMaster excellence.

Six Degrees of Sonic Leadership
SonicMaster revamps notebook sound standards by addressing a full spectrum of issues that have persisted in portable PCs for years.
* Crystal clear sound
* Deeper, richer bass
* Distinct vocals
* True-to-life surround sound
* Wide sound range
* Loud volume

ASUS N73

While others settle for middling results and tinny audio, SonicMaster delivers crystal clear sound, with bass and deep note performance equal to that of dedicated audio systems, delivering rich, impressive output.

The SonicMaster frequency has been carefully engineered to leave nothing out, ensuring the most life-like sound of any notebook on the market. With complete reproduction of audio that remains faithful to the source, listeners don’t feel shortchanged with inadequate, half-hearted audio.

This stems from the overall power upgrade SonicMaster hardware represents. Not only are the speakers and resonance chambers bigger, the amplifier gets much higher voltage than in most notebooks, giving it the ability to create impressive sound. This has proven critical in another aspect the Golden Ear continues to focus on—vocals. SonicMaster elevates vocals to the level of a concert hall or live show, culminating in lifelike surround that is as amazing in music as it is spectacular in gaming, movies and even communications.

ASUS N73

Comprehensive Power
N Series notebooks from ASUS do not stop at revolutionising sound performance, they represent a complete range of hardware innovations. All new for 2010 Intel Core processors deliver the power required for smooth computing, while superfast USB 3.0 data transfer and backup give users the tools to manage large multimedia libraries and much more. The experience revolves around fast, productive technology that enables great enjoyment and creativity, with the latest generation of ASUS Video Magic image enhancement optimising HD video content for greater viewing pleasure.

ASUS new N Series multimedia notebooks with SonicMaster and an array of innovative technologies are available in several form factors—the 14.0” N43, 15.6” N53 and 17.3” N73, as well as the top of the line 18.4” NX90.

###

About ASUS
ASUS is a leading company in the new digital era, with a broad product portfolio that includes notebooks, netbooks, multimedia, motherboards, graphics cards, displays, desktop PCs, servers, wireless solutions, mobile phones and networking devices. Driven by innovation and committed to quality, ASUS designs and manufactures products that perfectly meet the needs of today’s home and office users. ASUS won 3,268 awards in 2009, and is widely credited with revolutionizing the PC industry with the Eee PC™. With a global staff of more than 10,000 and a world-class R&D design team, the company’s revenue for 2009 was US$7.5 billion. ASUS ranks among BusinessWeek’s InfoTech 100, and has been on the listing for 12 consecutive years.

Dispatch: Day 13

The stench is growing by the day and it’s so strong now that I can’t tell if it’s them or if it’s me. After I heard the first moan, like an idiot I thought I would be a hero and see who was in danger. Five minutes later, I realized it was I as an undead monstrosity set upon me in an effort to taste-test my brain!  As time has passed, they have armed themselves and now swing objects like they’re trying to win the home run derby. Staying on my toes has been harder than I thought-I’m getting old and my reflexes just aren’t what they used to be.

I’ve been making my way east toward the Devil’s Camp area and I feel like these beasts are right on my heels. Hopefully, the rumors are true and there are people who know how to fight where I’m going. Whether or not they know how to defend themselves, the invasion is coming and its coming fast. The overall speed and strength of these things is astounding. I would have loved to have addressed them as zombies, but they’re so much more alert and cunning. The movies have lied to us!

At this rate, I should be approaching some form of civilization a few days before the 4^th of July. Defending freedom has a whole new meaning when you’re not defending land but rather defending yourself from becoming a rotting, senseless beast. One day, hopefully, I can look back on this and try to piece together the clues as to how it all started. But for now, I just need to survive…

Visit BladeWarsMMO.com for more information

Join Us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/BladeWarsGame

“We’re only a small business, we don’t need a formal IT security policy” 

AVG (AU/NZ) explores another great security myth of our time

Melbourne, 30 June 2010. AVG (AU/NZ) Pty Ltd suggests some essential steps to protecting small and medium sized businesses (SMBs) from online threats and provides simple guidelines on developing an IT security policy.

Big corporations have large-scale IT deployments that generally encompass desktop and mobile devices. They are more than likely to have a formal IT security policy in place, which has been approved and ratified by their board.  Small and medium sized businesses (200 employees and less) on the other hand will very often have no such IT security policy in existence.

Lloyd Borrett, Security Evangelist for AVG (AU/NZ), says: “Now this should be a big surprise to us all, but I’m afraid it’s probably not. What kind of IT security policy are we talking about then?

“Well, it’s really pretty ground level stuff, to be honest. Do all users have guidelines for distribution of inappropriate content? Do all users know when their Anti-Virus, Anti-Spyware and Firewall settings need to be updated? Do all users know what the company policy is regarding the use of personal devices from PDAs and smartphones to USB sticks and media players on company premises with company equipment? Do you have a business-grade security package such as AVG Internet Security Business Edition 9.0 underpinning your commercial interests in the first place?”

In a SMB these fundamentally important security and privacy-related considerations have, more often than not, simply not been fully addressed.

While the previously mentioned aspects of IT are mainly user-focused, the problem is higher level than that. The IT manager (if there even is one!) may be overly reliant on ‘patch’ releases and other updates to cover vulnerabilities before they are exploited. Now even if the company does have some level of web application firewall in place, this on its own is inadequate protection to mitigate the vulnerabilities that exist. So what do these SMBs need to do?

Every company – from a sole trader or a two-person partnership upwards – should lay down an IT security policy. There are many ways in which malware can sneak into your company networks and AVG is here with both the tools and the advice to help you deal with this reality.

Simple staff guidelines for IT security can be found on web pages like AVG’s Seven Pillars of Online Security Wisdom and you can keep your ideas up to date via social media channels. Let’s just add one extra point. If you happen to work from home, you need to secure your home WiFi network too!

A 2008 survey carried out for TechRepublic found that 39 percent of employees purchase their own laptop for work. As the site’s editor in chief Jason Hiner pointed out, this represents a huge problem for IT in terms of security, compliance and customer privacy. “That’s why there’s a push for IT to officially support more of these user-owned devices so that it can verify or set up enterprise-approved security and privacy settings,” wrote Hiner.

Carry these findings back to our SMBs and you’ll most likely see that 39 percent rises to significantly over the 50-percentile mark if not higher. Suddenly the old, “Oh we don’t need anything formal for our IT set up as there’s only fifteen of us,” starts to sound REALLY dangerous doesn’t it?

With any IT security policy, whether it is intended to cover 1000 employees or two, a healthy degree of common sense is also needed – and this is true however formal or relaxed the directives it aims to stipulate are. What this mean is, if some staff are tasked with using Twitter, Facebook or even Second Life as social networking tools for business, then set policies and instructions in place to manage this, but accept that the medium itself is extremely dynamic and somewhat harder to quantify. The social network is here to stay, so it is better to embrace it and put an IT security layer in between it and your company data, than to pretend it’s not there in the first place!

The essential steps to protecting SMBs for online threats can be broken down into three categories:

Security Policy

1. Decide whether computers, laptops and software are to be supplied by your company, or by your staff – and reflect these decisions in your policies, purchasing and processes.
2. Document a simple acceptable-use policy for any computer that is used for company business or media that is used to store or transport company data.
3. Create an acceptable password-strength policy and ensure that all computers and other IT equipment are password protected.
4. Require that all security incidents are promptly reported and managed to a business stakeholder.

Technology

1. Ensure all operating systems (Windows, Mac OS, Linuk etc.), software utilities (Adobe Flash, Adobe Reader/Acrobat, iTunes, QuickTime etc.) and application software are updated with the latest security patches as they are developed – preferably using automatic update technology.
2. Ensure all computers have an up-to-date, business quality security software suite on them.
3. Every computer should have its own firewall software, in addition to any premises-based network firewall you may be running.
4. If managing your own file storage and email servers, ensure these are also running up-to-date, business quality security software.

Process

1. Ensure all staff receive basic online security training and instruction in your policies.
2. Ensure regular backups are taken of all company files, data, email and other systems.
3. Change all passwords regularly, especially when an employee or contractor leaves the company, and in particular change administrator passwords or shared passwords to centralised networks or systems.
4. Take security breaches

seriously – isolate any compromised systems from the network and involve an IT security professional if necessary to ensure the malware is fully removed.

Borrett says, “I want to make one final point to really try and clarify just how passionately we feel about the need for SMBs to adopt an IT security policy and bring in an Anti-Malware protection layer.

“For a small company, the intellectual property assets of the business are arguably even more valuable than those of a large corporation with a large staff skills base and manufacturing plant. With much of that intellectual property held in electronic form, the prospect of data loss or corruption is catastrophic.

“You can leave yourself out in the cold and at risk, or you can opt to properly protect your business.”

It’s a simple choice, so which way are you going to take your business?

About AVG (AU/NZ) Pty Ltd — www.avg.com.au 

Based in Melbourne, AVG (AU/NZ) Pty Ltd distributes the AVG range of Anti-Virus and Internet Security products in Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific. AVG software solutions provide complete real-time protection against the malware, viruses, spam, spyware, adware, worms, Trojans, phishing and exploits used by cyber-criminals, hackers, scammers and identity thieves. AVG protects everything important and personal inside computers — documents, account details and passwords, music, photos and more — all while allowing users to work, bank, shop and play games online in safety.

AVG provides outstanding technical solutions and exceptional value for consumers, small to medium business and enterprise clients. AVG delivers always-on, always up-to-date protection across desktop, and notebook PCs, plus file and e-mail servers in the home and at work in SMBs, corporations, government agencies and educational institutions.

New First Person Sci-Fi Action Title Weaponises Time To Fight a World Altering Conspiracy

Sydney, AUSTRALIA. June 30th 2010 – Activision Publishing, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATVI) announced today that its eagerly-awaited new first-person action title SINGULARITY™ is now available across the globe. Published by Activision and created by acclaimed developer Raven Software, who is celebrating their 20th anniversary in videogames, SINGULARITY, throws players into the heart of a conspiracy that sends players hurtling through time.

“SINGULARITY seamlessly combines a heart-racing, story-driven experience with epic sci-fi combat and gameplay,” said Brian Raffel, studio director, Raven Software. “This new title reflects our heartfelt passion to bring an all-new, fresh experience to the first person action community. We can’t wait to take the action online!”

Thrust onto the mysterious Russian island base of Katorga-12, filled with Cold War secrets that threaten time itself, players must fight their way through an ever-shifting environment, haunted by time-ravaged creatures and mysteries. Armed with an arsenal of high-powered weapons and the Time Manipulation Device, players must contend with sudden time waves that hurl them back and forth between 1955 and the present day. In addition to a story-driven narrative, SINGULARITY offers players a unique multi-player experience, where Russian Special Forces with individual powers take on a team of creatures from another time including the powerful Radion, the gravity-defying Phase Tick and the time-altering Zek.

SINGULARITY is developed by Raven Software and is rated MA15+ by the Australian Classification Board due to Strong Violence. SINGULARITY is available for Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and Windows PC.

About Raven Software

Founded in 1990 and based in Madison, Wisconsin, Raven Software boasts a state-of-the-art motion capture facility, 3D-scanning department, Foley sound recording studio, and a Hollywood-quality cinematics department. Refusing to be defined by creating games for a single genre, the studio focuses on a range of projects that push the conceptual and technological boundaries of the digital entertainment world. Raven is known for many hit titles, including Marvel: Ultimate Alliance, the Soldier of Fortune series as well as Jedi Knight II, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, and Wolfenstein.

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

Reykjavik, Iceland – June 29, 2010 – CCP, one of the world’s leading independent game developers, today unveiled its fourth game development studio, CCP Newcastle. Located in Gateshead Quays, CCP Newcastle will focus on console game development, charting new paths for gameplay and business models that will breathe new life into connected consoles.

“The decision to establish a UK studio was an easy one for CCP,” said Richard Smith, Technical Director of CCP Newcastle. “The North East has a distinguished heritage of game development, an experienced console-development talent pool and local universities producing exceptional graduates. We have been able to assemble a world-class team of console developers with unparalleled Unreal Engine expertise and integrate them with CCP’s global organization.”

As its first project, CCP Newcastle will collaborate with CCP Asia in Shanghai on the development of the upcoming MMOFPS DUST 514 for console platforms. It will also be responsible for delivering advanced solutions for lighting, physics and artificial intelligence to CCP’s console projects. CCP Newcastle most recently teamed with Cambridge-based middleware provider Geomerics to integrate Enlighten technology for real-time radiosity lighting into Epic’s Unreal Engine. Consequently, DUST 514 will be the first console title using the Unreal 3 engine to feature fully dynamic lighting.

CCP Newcastle’s founding engineers come from Midway Games, where they were widely recognized as some of the UK’s leading experts on Unreal Engine. This core group will spearhead console-specific research and development, looking ahead to the next generation of videogame consoles and strengthening North East England’s reputation for pioneering game technology.

“Gateshead Digital Summer has showcased our commitment to attracting digital and creative businesses to Gateshead. The news that CCP will be opening a studio in Gateshead supports our vision of an enterprising borough,” commented Councillor Mick Henry, Leader of Gateshead Council. ““The arrival of CCP will lead to the creation of up to thirty digital jobs in an industry that already employs over a hundred local people. For Gateshead to continue to develop, we must support creative industries that provide employment and help boost the local economy.”

At this year’s GameHorizon conference June 29-30 at The Sage Gateshead, CCP Senior Director of Business Development Yohei Ishii will outline a new path in console game development that will redefine how games will be accessed and monetized in a changing console and gaming market. CCP Newcastle is actively recruiting talent that shares this vision, and expects to attract some of the best and brightest game technologists in the UK development community.

Said Simon Goon, Head of Business Investment at One North East, “The digital games industry is a sector in which the North East is especially strong and which has been identified as a key area for creating jobs and economic growth in the years ahead. An innovative, market-leading firm like CCP will provide a major boost to the critical mass that is already here and we are delighted to have helped the company establish this new base in the North East.”

About CCP Games
CCP is widely recognized as an industry-leading pioneer of the single-server persistent universe architecture as the developer and publisher of EVE Online, the critically acclaimed, science
fiction-based massively multiplayer online game (MMOG). Utilizing a cross-discipline approach combining cutting-edge technology and artistic excellence, CCP is dedicated to providing vibrant, compelling products that transcend the boundaries of conventional MMOs and facilitate social networking through virtual worlds. Privately held and founded in Reykjavik, Iceland, in 1997, CCP’s international reach now spans the globe with offices in Atlanta, Shanghai and Newcastle as well as a base of operations in London. More information about CCP is available at the company’s website www.ccpgames.com .

About EVE Online
Set tens of thousands of years in the future, EVE Online is a breathtaking journey to the stars, to an immersive experience filled with adventure, riches, danger and glory. With over three-hundred thousand subscribers worldwide inhabiting the same virtual universe, EVE features a vast player-run economy where your greatest asset is the starship, designed to accommodate your specific needs, skills and ambitions. EVE offers professions ranging from commodities trader to mercenary, industrial entrepreneur to pirate, mining engineer to battle fleet commander or any combination of these and much more. From brokering business deals to waging war, you will have access to a diverse array of sophisticated tools and interfaces to forge your own destiny in EVE. Learn more at http://links.mail.eveonline.com/ctt?kn=5&m=34922455&r=MzA1NTUxOTYxOQS2&b=0&j=NzQ1NTYzMjkS1&mt=1&rt=0

Definition of Subscribers
EVE Online subscribers include individuals who have paid a subscription fee or have an active electronic time code (ETC) to play EVE Online, as well as those who have purchased the game and are within their free month of access. The above definition excludes all players under free promotional subscriptions, expired or cancelled subscriptions and expired ETCs.

About DUST 514
A hybrid first-person shooter (FPS) and real-time strategy (RTS) experience, DUST 514 features brutal ground and vehicular combat within the universe of EVE Online. Developed for the current generation of consoles, DUST 514 will equally test players’ battlefield reflexes and strategic planning, allowing commanders and ground infantry to work together using real-time configurable modular weapons and vehicles to adapt to and control dynamic battlefield conditions. With this approach, CCP will create for consoles and FPSs what it has created for MMOs: a persistent virtual world in which emergent gameplay and players’ own social behavior drive the action.