http:// 2013-05-23T03:16:59Z 2013-05-23T03:16:59Z emeritus-profess-grant-steven-joins-the-board-of-clean-tech-startup-company-intresto-developers-of-the-world-first-rocksolver-software

Emeritus Professor Grant Steven of Sydney University has joined the Board of the Clean Tech software firm Intresto. Intresto is developing the Rocksolver software application which uses optimisation algorithms to solve the jigsaw puzzle when building with irregular-shaped blocks of unprocessed rock. By taking on the hard part of building with rock rubble Rocksolver removes the obstacle to using this resource of local, cheap and sustainable building material. Emeritus Professor Steven is a world renowned authority in structural and computational mechanics with over 40 years experience in this field and works closely with industry on many large scale engineering projects. He is also the founder of Strand7 one of the world’s leading Finite Element Analysis software companies with about 4000 commercial users. Emeritus Professor Steven said: “I am delighted to join the board of Intresto, the inventors of Rocksolver. Rocksolver is a highly innovative solution to the optimum arranging of irregular shaped tiles for paving and rocks for walls, it is bound for commercial success, and I am looking forward to helping to enable this”. Intresto founder Malcolm Lambert commented: “Having Emeritus Professor Steven on board is a big bonus for us. He will add significantly to the technical competence of the company and is highly regarded in industry and he has started up his own software company in the past. We are delighted he has chosen to join the Board”. In May 2013 Intresto released the first beta version of Rocksolver for optimising the layout of irregular-shaped stone pavers. See http://malbertsinvention.wordpress.com/ for details.

2013-05-23T00:56:00Z acquia-revenue-more-than-doubles-as-its-open-source-solutions-soar

Acquia Revenue More than Doubles as its Open Source Solutions Soar Acquia Achieves Record Revenue in 2012, Grows Bookings in First Calendar QuarterPORTLAND, OR – DrupalCon Portland – May 22, 2013 – Acquia, where great digital experiences begin, today announced significant growth in revenue and bookings as the company’s open source solutions are becoming more widely adopted. Acquia’s year-over-year revenue grew by 108 percent in 2012. Momentum continued in the first quarter of 2013, as Acquia’s bookings increased 52 percent compared to the first quarter of 2012 and more than 15 percent over the quarter prior.Acquia achieved significant growth in bookings and revenue as organizations accelerate their adoption of solutions to manage their digital experiences, particularly among life sciences, high tech, media, government and higher education. With businesses of all sizes seeking ways to fast track their digital marketing efforts, increased demand for solutions that blend content, community and commerce have been particularly popular among chief digital officers, digital executives and digitally-focused CMOs.“Customer engagement starts with a great digital experience, and organizations require solutions that are agile, resilient, and integrated,” said Tom Erickson, CEO of Acquia. “We’re proud to earn the trust of some of the world’s most well known brands, and we’re passionate about helping them deliver sites that integrate content, community and commerce.”As marketing software and enterprise IT continue crossing paths, the recent increase in creative agency adoption of Drupal has spurred more opportunities for developer growth within media, entertainment and publishing. The open source Drupal community has also grown into the largest open source community in the world, offering a developer community of more than 950,000 people in 228 countries speaking 181 languages. The Drupal community is expected to hit the 1 million registered members mark by this summer.A recent survey on the Future of Open Source identified growing trends driving open source adoption; more than 60 percent of survey respondents said they looked to open source to help drive innovation in their organizations. Another bellwether underscoring open source growth may be found in the quarterly earnings shortfalls recently recorded by legacy enterprise software vendors, as CIOs seek to replace systems from Oracle, IBM and other legacy vendors with solutions that innovate faster while providing reduced total cost of ownership.“Open source software is disruptive for the enterprise software market, and at Acquia, we’re enabling our customers to build disruptive digital businesses in an open source way,” said Dries Buytaert, CTO and co-founder, Acquia.Acquia adds greater flexibility for digital innovation at the enterprise with its Open SaaS platform for Drupal Gardens, which delivers the disruptive benefits of Drupal’s open source innovation along with the freedom that a Software-as-a-Service platform provides. With Drupal Gardens, organizations like Warner Music Group are rapidly launching hundreds of branded websites – all with advanced features and designs – and managing them centrally through a browser.Company News Year-over-year revenue more than doubled in 2012. Secured $30 million funding with existing investors and new investors: Investor Growth Capital and Accolade Partners. Acquia doubled its employee count in the past 15 months to more than 340 employees globally. Acquia recently relocated its European headquarters to Reading, U.K., and late last year opened a tech center in Portland, Oregon. Acquia also established presences in Germany and Sweden in the first quarter of 2013.Customer and Partner Expansion Acquia’s customer base has reached more than 3,800 customers, up from more than 2,000 at the end of 2011. New enterprise customers include Georgetown University, Olympus Corporation of the Americas, Polycom and Sprout. Acquia added more than 50 new partners in the first quarter of 2013, bringing the total number of global partners to nearly 650. Systems integrators that recently have joined the Acquia Partner Program include Aquilent, Crown Partners, Capgemini, Cognizant, EPAM Systems, SDG Corporation and Tieto. Acquia has also partnered with several digital agencies, including Digitaria, Emakina, Nurun, Possible, Razorfish Healthware and RoundArch Isobar."Leading digital marketing agencies are transforming the way brands communicate and how businesses run through immersive digital experiences," said Dan Khabie, CEO of Digitaria, a WPP company. "Through its open source solutions, Acquia is helping Digitaria drive innovative digital marketing campaigns and build engaging communities to create a strong digital advantage for our clients."Product & Market Highlights Unveiled Acquia Media Drive. Acquia Media Drive provides digital marketers, developer and site owners with a single, centralized, Drupal-integrated SaaS repository for rich media files. With Acquia Media Drive, organizations can manage brand assets more effectively, assist with digital rights compliance, and deliver syndicated content across multiple web channels with ease. Released Drupal Commons 3.0 to accelerate the creation of digital communities and social applications. More than 1,500 communities rely on Drupal Commons to develop better relationships with customers to improve satisfaction and engage brand advocates. Launched the general availability release of the Mollom Content Moderation Platform, a cloud platform that filters and removes spam from websites. Released the source code for Drupal Create, providing developers with a fully functional codebase from which custom mobile apps that communicate with Drupal sites may be built. Acquia was named a contender in the 2013 Forrester Wave for Web Content Management for Digital Customer Experience.Awards & Accolades Dries Buytaert named to World Economic Forum’s Young Global Leaders. Acquia's Angela Byron was named among the Top 5 Women in the Data Center Industry 2013. Acquia was named an AlwaysOn OnDemand Top 100 winner. Acquia named one of the Best Places to Work in Massachusetts by the Boston Business Journal two years in a row. Acquia named one of 25 Enterprise Startups to Bet Your Career On by Business Insider. Acquia named the Private Company of the Year by the Massachusetts Technology Leadership Council. Acquia was the #1 software company on the Inc. 500. Dries Buytaert named Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year. Dries Buytaert named CIO of the Year. Dries Buytaert named to Business Insider’s 50 Most Powerful People in Enterprise Tech.About AcquiaAcquia is where great digital experiences begin. Acquia is helping some of the world's leading brands succeed, including Twitter, Mercedes Benz, Warner Music Group, and Stanford University. Join the more than 3,800 organizations that are moving at the speed of the web with Acquia’s solutions for content, community and commerce. Acquia offers developer tools, cloud solutions and global expertise to drive success the open source way.Dream It. Drupal It. Acquia.See who’s using Drupal at http://www.drupalshowcase.com, and for more information visit www.acquia.com or call +1 781 238 8600.# # #All logos, company and product names may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.Blurb: Acquia’s year-over-year revenue grew by 108 percent in 2012. Momentum continued in the first quarter of 2013, as Acquia’s bookings increased 52 percent compared to the first quarter of 2012 and more than 15 percent over the quarter prior

2013-05-13T00:50:50Z yourcarlog-com-launched-in-australia

YourCarLog, the simplest and  most  effective way to keep a car log for FBT or reimbursement purposes, has today been launched in Australia online at www.yourcarlog.com by Sydney-based start-up Positive (Gamma) Technologies. YourCarLog Founder and Positive (Gamma) Technologies CEO Ben Caplan said the technology behind the service is a world first. “YourCarLog brings together several aspects of commonly used technologies and marries them to produce an automated logbook solution that is extremely simple and cost effective,” Mr Caplan said. Caplan said the need for a simple car logging solution has been a requirement of corporates and SME’s for years as businesses wanted to find an easier way to maintain the data, reduce FBT liability and to free up valuable employee time. “Many of us have laboured and begrudgingly filled in a manual log book for our car expenses or tax requirements, and even large fleet operators believe they only get between 60 to 70 percent compliance. A painful compliance requirement can be simplified by using every day systems,” Mr Caplan said. “And even when the log books are completed properly, it still requires manual data entry from the book to an accounting or finance system. This creates significant double handling by adding an extra layer of expense, which in today’s business world is simply ineffecient.” YourCarLog produces Car Usage reports that can be used for Australian tax purposes and expense reimbursement. A user only requires an electronic diary, such as Microsoft Outlook, gCal or iCal to log the destination of each meeting. YourCarLog calculates the kilometres travelled to produce the required reporting and will assist in identifying the difference between personal versus business related trips at the click of a mouse. “YourCarLog can save large companies with fleets and small business owners, hours of unnecessary paperwork, improved accuracy and transparency, whilst  increasing productivity. YourCarLog is the missing link in this once complex compliance requirement. The system works on the users existing platforms – no hardware to buy or software to install,” Mr Caplan said. Subscriptions start from as little as $18 per month and reports are securely stored for five years. Enterprise solutions can be customised to meet business requirements. _________________________________________________________________________ For all media enquiries please contact:   Ben Caplan CEO, Positive (Gamma) Technologies M: 0419 277 747 E: ben_caplan@positivegamma.com.au   Julian Khursigara COO, Positive (Gamma) Technologies M: 0418 679 283E: julian_khursigara@positivegamma.com.au

2013-05-12T22:51:00Z growing-number-of-businesses-owned-and-operated-by-women

12 March 2013 Growing number of businesses owned and operated by women New Zealand currently has more women than ever in business and they are having a significant impact on the economy — earning more and employing more staff. According to the latest MYOB Business Monitor, a survey of over 1,000+ SMEs, 41% of small and medium businesses in New Zealand are owned and operated by women. MYOB national manager, enterprise division, Allison Fairkettle, says although females are still outnumbered by men in terms of business ownership, the increase of women in business is incredibly positive. “Three years ago, only 37% of SMEs were owned by women, so it’s great to see that a growing number of women are running their own businesses. “Not only are they paving the way for more females to do the same but they are also having a positive impact on the wider economy,” says Mrs Fairkettle. The Business Monitor highlighted that on average, females employ more staff than males — 33% of females have one or more employees, while only 29% of males do the same. “This is fantastic news for local job seekers,” says Mrs Fairkettle. “Although numbers have been rising recently, New Zealand’s current job market can benefit from more women in business who, according to our survey, are more likely to employ staff.” Examining where women choose to run their businesses, the Business Monitor revealed that rural New Zealand has a strong appeal for women, with 25% of females in business working in rural areas compared to only 19% of male business operators. Due to the rebuild, Christchurch has become the engine room of the country’s economy and is the main centre with the smallest gender gap for SME operators. “41% of Christchurch SMEs are owned and operated by females, compared to 39% in Auckland and 37% in Wellington. “Last year, the Business Monitor revealed that businesswomen in Christchurch were disproportionately affected by the earthquakes reporting a higher revenue loss than males and lower levels of optimism. “Despite the challenges of the earthquakes, its great to see so many women in Christchurch still owning, running and starting new businesses,” says Mrs Fairkettle. Some regional areas show even stronger representation of women in business, with 57% of businesses in the Waikato owned by women, 51% in Northland, and 50% in the Bay of Plenty. In Manawatu-Wanganui, however, just 19% of SMEs are owned by women. In addition to a growing representation of women among business owners, the Business Monitor highlighted that women are now earning just as much, if not more, than men in business. A higher number of women are reporting higher revenue gains in the Business Monitor (33%) than men (31%), while fewer are reporting losses (25% of women in business compared to 29% of men). “The Monitor also indicates that a higher percentage of businesses operated by females earn more than $200,000 a year,” says Mrs Fairkettle. “This is despite the fact that on average female business owners work 5.5 hours a week less than males – an indication perhaps that women are finding ways to work smarter in their business. “Overall, it’s inspiring to see that more women are establishing their own highly successful businesses and that they are having a positive impact on the local economy by doing so.” -ends- For further information or to arrange an interview please contact:Gerard Blank Elaine KollerThe Agency Communications Limited MYOBTel: 03 341 5841 Tel: 09 925 3514Mob: 0275 243 629 Mob: 029 777 0256Email: gerard@theagencynz.co.nz Email: elaine.koller@myob.com About the MYOB Business MonitorThe MYOB Business Monitor is a national survey of 1,000+ New Zealand small and medium business owners and managers, from sole traders to mid-sized companies, representing the major industry sectors. It has run since 2009, commissioned to independent market research firm Colmar Brunton. This most recent survey ran late January/early February 2013. The Monitor researches business performance and attitudes in areas such as profitability, cash flow, pipeline, technology usage and the government. The weighting of respondents by both geographical location and sector is based on overall market proportions as established by Statistics New Zealand and is drawn from an independent survey group, which includes both MYOB clients and non-clients. About MYOBEstablished in 1991, MYOB is one of New Zealand’s largest business management software providers. Its 50+ products and services have been employed by over one million businesses in New Zealand and Australia. MYOB serves businesses of all ages, types and sizes, delivering solutions that simplify accounting, payroll, client management, websites and much more. With a network of more than 20,000 accountants and other professional partners, it provides the support and tools that help make business life easier. Today, MYOB is extending its solutions online and delivering innovation through cloud computing, enabling clients to make smarter connections with business partners and customers. Visit myob.co.nz/smarterconnections.

2013-05-07T03:49:09Z rimtech-software-rebrands-to-foresiight-following-mcommerce-development

Brisbane, Australia, 7 May 2013 – Rimtech Software, a leading provider of retail software, today announced it has rebranded to ‘Foresiight’ to better reflect its broader offering and strategic direction, as a result of its move into the development of ground-breaking mCommerce technology, Sniip. “Foresiight is a software development company focused on the needs of Australia’s ever-changing retail sector,” said Manny Gill, CEO, Foresiight. “We have always been focused on developing state-of-the-art solutions that truly improve business process management, and aim to create a unique customer experience, utilising all of the advances in technology as they become available. “Our evolution as a business over more than 20 years has culminated in our development of the Sniip technology, as our traditional bricks and mortar retail clients are now embracing an omni-channel strategy. “Sniip is the first true ‘clicks and mortar’ experience – where traditional mediums meet the online world, creating ‘reach’ both in-store and out-of-store.” The most recent advancement in technology complements Foresiight’s existing retail-specific software, and follows the consumer trend that 90 percent of mobile phone users are forecast to own a smartphone as their primary device by 2015. “We have recognised the need to meet the rapidly growing consumer appetite for using mobile devices to do almost everything – from basic web browsing and social media to retail shopping and paying bills,” said Mr Gill. “We have developed this technology so that retailers can now engage their customers anywhere, anytime through their mobile device.” Development of the Sniip mobile application is in its final stages and is on schedule to be launched in August. “Foresiight, along with the names of its core product line, is spelled with two ‘i’s. This is not a mistake – the ‘i’s represent the theme that runs through our entire business – information innovation. We are not just committed to the pursuit of developing robust, fit-for-purpose business software, but to the innovation needed to make the application of information technology truly relevant and adaptive to the modern world,” explained Mr Gill. Foresiight has three separate parts to its business – mCommerce, general retail solutions and business software for pharmacy. Head Office Relocation in Brisbane The new Forsiight office is now located at: 31 Navigator Place, Hendra QLD 4011 Ph: 1800 061 670

2013-05-02T22:35:00Z citrix-unveils-podio-instant-messaging-and-video-chat

For media inquiries:Ellen Sinclair, Howorth02 8281 3228 or ellen@howorth.com.au Citrix Unveils Podio Instant Messaging and Video Chat Enhanced real-time collaboration in Podio keeps teams even more connected and productive from anywhere SYDNEY, AUS. — 3rd May, 2013 —Today, Citrix announced the availability of Podio Chat, including instant messaging (available now), as well as video and audio chat, planned for release this summer. Designed for the increasingly mobile and dispersed, modern team, Podio Chat enables ad hoc conversations with the right people to flourish, whenever discussion needs to happen – so teams can respond quicker and make decisions even faster. With the addition of one-to-one and group instant messaging (IM), as well as one-to-one video and audio chat, Podio now makes it even easier for teams to instantly connect and get the context they need on projects, tasks, business processes and everyday workflow outside of an organised meeting setting. “Any effective team will tell you that the key to success is having open and accessible communications, whether it be in a physical office, face-to-face on a GoToMeeting with HDFaces session, an audio call, through live comments on Podio or via instant messaging,” said Bernardo de Albergaria, VP & GM, SaaS Products and Markets at Citrix. “Podio Chat bridges the gap between ‘real time’ and ‘my time,’ increasing the velocity of communications within Podio and making purposeful collaboration happen faster and more effectively – no more waiting for answers.”Today, Citrix Podio also became the first collaboration service of its kind to provide IM and video chat “in context,” giving more meaning to ad hoc conversations as they happen around projects, tasks and business processes. Unlike standard IM tools, Podio Chat gives teams the ability to see which contacts are online, across the entire company ecosystem, whether it be internal employees or external contractors, suppliers or partners working with a team in a Podio workspace. Teams can now ask questions, share updates or discuss a project in real time and, ultimately, work together more effectively on their tasks. Podio also gives teams the option of using Video Chat for easy, unplanned, and ad hoc 1:1 face-to-face discussions, as well as setting up regular, recurring and more planned team video conferencing using GoToMeeting with HDFaces. “The real value of IM and video chat is when it’s used in the context of the work in progress – the tasks, projects and deliverables in action that require discussion to get done,” said Tommy Ahlers, VP of social collaboration at Citrix. “With Podio Chat, teams can experience seamless, fluid workflow, where questions get answered quickly because the right people are online, available and focused on the same work at the same time. The immediacy of in-context Podio Chat dramatically improves team efficiencies, not only by providing a central hub for communication, but also by retaining the rich history of information exchanged between team members, so nothing gets lost.” “With a geographically dispersed team and many siloed projects, Podio has revolutionised the way we streamline collaboration, making information accessible and actionable, and people accountable across the entire company,” said Paul Hunt, President & Head of Strategy and Development, Graduate Consulting Group. “The new instant messaging capability coupled with the 1:1 video functionality is a great example of how Citrix listens to customer feedback and responds with new and valuable features. We’re looking forward to a much more personalised experience with the ability to create, share and communicate across this truly innovative and sophisticated platform.” Key Benefits: Get quick responses and make decisions faster by connecting your whole company and/or team. Podio chat lets team members see who’s online and available to chat – including displaying time zone information – granting immediate access to people in users’ core teams as well as coworkers across the wider organisation, helping to ease business silos and connecting dispersed teams like never before. Unify communications on Podio by enabling teams to communicate in a variety of different ways to get work done, all without email or third-party communication tools. Users can instant message one-on-one or in a group, use audio-only chat for quick discussions, hold one-to-one ad-hoc video meetings as needed, comment and “like” status messages, tasks and projects. To stop receiving IMs, users can simply close the chat pane and messages will divert to the Podio inbox.Power mobile workstyles and enable dispersed teams to chat from any iOS or Android device, anywhere, anytime, with Podio’s mobile apps for Android, iPhone and iPad. Switch between computers and mobile devices with ease, continue chat sessions on the go and never miss the chance to connect with a teammate. Retain information, discussion history and ideas while easing the pain of having “too many tools” for collaboration. Use Podio Chat instead of email and third-party chat services, save conversations, files, and decisions in one place and make use of message search to surface information you need, whenever you need it. Share files seamlessly and instantly as needed from all Podio-connected file-sharing services, including; Sharefile, Google Drive, Sugarsync, Dropbox, Box, Microsoft SkyDrive, UbuntoOne and YouSendIt. Podio’s social business platform brings collaboration and business processes together through Podio workspaces and Podio apps – more powerful, collaborative and social alternative to spreadsheets, email and software point solutions. Podio apps can be found in the Podio App Market and customised by any team using the simple drag-and-drop Podio App Builder, a unique tool that enables anyone to create custom business apps for their work – whether it’s managing sales, CRM or IT; interfacing with clients or partners; planning a conference; coordinating email marketing or receiving customer feedback. No technical skills or IT support is needed to create a Podio app – anyone can set one up in minutes. Sign up for a Podio demo here. -ENDS- Related Links● Learn more about Podio Chat● Blog: Real Work in Real Time: Podio Chat, Out Now! ● Blog: Let the Live Show Begin with Real-Time Commenting ● Blog: Make the Most of Your Meetings: Upgraded Apps & GoToMeeting Integration!● Analyst Report: Ovum Research; Enterprise 2020: Examining Citrix’s View of the Road Ahead for the Knowledge Worker● Infographic: The Business Value of Face-to-Face Conversation Follow Us Online● www.podio.com,www.citrixonline.com● Twitter:@Podio● Facebook:Podio on Facebook● Workshifting blog:http://workshifting.com About CitrixCitrix (NASDAQ:CTXS) is the cloud company that enables mobile workstyles—empowering people to work and collaborate from anywhere, securely accessing apps and data on any of the latest devices, as easily as they would in their own office. Citrix solutions help IT and service providers build clouds, leveraging virtualisation and networking technologies to deliver high-performance, elastic and cost-effective cloud services. With market-leading solutions for mobility, desktop virtualisation, cloud networking, cloud platforms, collaboration and data sharing, Citrix helps organisations of all sizes achieve the speed and agility necessary to succeed in a mobile and dynamic world. Citrix products are in use at more than 260,000 organisations and by over 100 million users globally. Annual revenue in 2012 was $2.59 billion. Learn more at www.citrix.com.au. For Citrix InvestorsThis release contains forward-looking statements which are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The forward-looking statements in this release do not constitute guarantees of future performance. Those statements involve a number of factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, including risks associated with the impact of the global economy and uncertainty in the IT spending environment, revenue growth and recognition of revenue, products and services, their development and distribution, product demand and pipeline, economic and competitive factors, the Company’s key strategic relationships, acquisition and related integration risks as well as other risks detailed in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Citrix assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking information contained in this press release or with respect to the announcements described herein.The development, release, timing and combination of any features or functionality described for our products remains at our sole discretion and are subject to change without notice or consultation. The information provided is for informational purposes only and is not a commitment, promise or legal obligation to deliver any material, code or functionality and should not be relied upon in making purchasing decisions or incorporated into any contract. # # #Citrix, GoToMeeting, GoToWebinar, GoToTraining, Podio, GoToMyPC, GoToAssist, ShareFile and Citrix Receiver are trademarks of Citrix Systems, Inc. and/or one or more of its subsidiaries, and are or may be registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and in other countries. All other trademarks and registered trademarks are property of their respective owners.

2013-04-23T05:06:44Z embarcadero-technologies-unveils-multi-device-true-native-app-development-suite

SYDNEY, Aust. – April 23, 2013 – Embarcadero Technologies, a leading provider of software solutions for application and database development, today announced the availability of RAD Studio XE4, the app development suite for Developers who need to create true native apps for PCs, tablets, and smartphones and get them to market fast. Built for Developers by Developers, RAD Studio XE4 lets users manage one codebase, one team, and one schedule without sacrificing performance. True native apps run directly on the device hardware with no scripting or interpretive layer. They give developers more control, tighter security and a better user experience. Many multi-device solutions today rely on virtual implementations or are interpreted at run time and are not true native apps.“This year nearly a billion smartphones will be shipped, and for the first time tablets are also projected to outsell PCs,” said Malcolm Groves, Embarcadero’s Sydney-based Senior Director, Asia Pacific and Japan. “At the same time, ISVs and Enterprises are under tremendous pressure to quickly deliver a great user experience across multiple device platforms. Unlike HTML5 and JavaScript-based mobile development solutions, RAD Studio XE4 enables organisations to deliver script-free, true native apps across smartphones, tablets, PCs, and Macs with a single codebase.”“This is an exciting announcement,” said Gary Barnett, Ovum. “Embarcadero has drawn on a long and impressive history of delivering solid development tools. Developers can create multichannel apps that are truly native for each platform, and do it using one code base in a single development environment.”RAD Studio XE4 delivers multi-device development for ARM and Intel devices, including Apple iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, Mac OS X, Windows PCs, Slates, and Surface Pro tablets. Benefits include: Multi-Device App DevelopmentWith RAD Studio XE4, developers can now create apps that are compiled and optimised for multiple device platforms. Complexity is reduced with one set of development resources to create apps for multiple platforms – one codebase, one team, and one schedule. Build True Native AppsTrue native app development offers the best performance and tightest security without scripting engines or virtual machines, allowing developers to take advantage of the full range of capabilities available on each device to deliver the best user experience. On Device Rapid PrototypingDevelopers or designers can quickly create no-code, visual mockups with live or simulated data and deploy to actual target devices (PC, phone, tablet) or simulate on Windows or Mac, giving clients and team members a far more accurate and impressive prototype experience. Key features of RAD Studio XE4 include: Full application framework for iOS, Windows, and Mac OS X, with support for Android coming soon. Full visual designer for iOS, Mac, and Windows user interfaces with multiple device types, resolutions, and orientations. iOS native styled user interface controls and native services such as motion and camera sensors and Geo location, sharesheet, and notification services. Local database support for SQLite, IBLite, and InterBase Embedded ToGo. Built-in Multi-tier Enterprise connectivity for Oracle, Sybase, IBM DB2, InterBase, MySQL, Microsoft SQL Server, Microsoft Azure, Amazon Web Services, SOAP and REST services and more.What customers are saying“In these multi-OS times, software developers have been eagerly waiting for stable source code reuse from an IDE. Embarcadero has the strategic base technology for future mobile, including Android later this year. RAD Studio XE4 marks the birth of the first REAL native multi-platform IDE.”– Simon Choi, president and chief developer, MaxPaper“iOS support in RAD Studio XE4 is amazing, and the amount of code reuse is very high. I've personally migrated a 600,000+ lines of code Excel reader/writer/viewer from Windows and it is working great. I am really impressed and excited by this release.”– Adrian Gallero, product manager, tms softwareAvailabilityRAD Studio XE4 is available immediately from Embarcadero and from Embarcadero partners. To download a free trial, visit http://www.embarcadero.com/products/rad-studio/downloads.About RAD StudioEmbarcadero® RAD Studio XE4 is the multi-device, true native app development suite for developers that need to create apps for PCs, tablets, and smartphones, and get them to market fast. RAD Studio includes the award winning Delphi, C++Builder and HTML5 Builder development environments. Additional information on RAD Studio is available at: http://www.embarcadero.com/products/rad-studio.About Embarcadero TechnologiesEmbarcadero Technologies, Inc. is a leading provider of award-winning tools for application developers and database professionals so they can design systems right, build them faster and run them better, regardless of their platform or programming language. Ninety of the Fortune 100 and an active community of more than three million users worldwide rely on Embarcadero products to increase productivity, reduce costs, simplify change management and compliance, and accelerate innovation. Founded in 1993, Embarcadero is headquartered in San Francisco, with offices located around the world. www.embarcadero.com

2013-04-18T02:16:00Z research-proves-accountant-advice-revenue-rise

18 April 2013Research proves accountant + advice = revenue rise Business advice from accountants proves valuable yet most SMEs have tax-only relationshipFinancial ignorance apparent in almost 10% of who don’t use an accountant Wellington businesses least likely to engage an accountant New research released today reveals that small to medium business operators who use their accountant as a business advisor rather than simply for compliance purposes have a greater likelihood of financial success than their peers. The March 2013 MYOB Business Monitor discovered that SMEs who have an advisory or consultative relationship with their accountant were much more likely to see a revenue rise in the past year. They were also more optimistic about revenue in the year ahead and had significantly more work in their pipeline for the next three months. Despite survey results showing an advisory/consultative relationship is best for business, findings reveal the majority of New Zealand SMEs have a tax-only relationship with their accountant. 57% defined their relationship as being for tax return completion or GST reporting only. 28% had an advisory/consultative relationship, meeting with them regularly throughout the year for strategic business advice. The remaining 15% did not have an accountant. Over one in three (36%) of those with an advisory/consultative relationship reported a rise in revenue over the past year. Just 30% of the other SMEs reported a rise. According to MYOB’s New Zealand Executive Director, Scott Gardiner, accountants are in a good position to give valuable business advice to small and medium business owners. “Many business operators only use their accountant for tax compliance at the end of the financial year, not realising the potential breadth of their service offering. Yet the costs of a working relationship with an accountant should be considered in terms of the value brought to the business and not just the up-front payments,” he says. “Our research discovered SMEs using an accountant for financial analysis, general business advice and/or consulting on profit strategies, strategic planning and the like are 20% more likely to enjoy increased revenue than their peers. That’s a strong case to dig a little deeper and explore the possibilities of the relationship.” Tellingly, 9% of businesses without an accountant said they didn’t know if their revenue rose or fell in the past year. When comparing the major cities, Wellington-based business operators were the least likely to have an accountant. Over a quarter (26%) of respondents based there had no accountant relationship, compared to 17% in Auckland. Business owners in Christchurch were the most likely to use an accountant, with only 12% having no relationship. Revenue increase a key benefit from engaging accountantWhen looking to the year ahead, those business operators who enjoyed an advisory/consultative relationship were most likely to expect a revenue increase, at 43%. 41% of those with a tax relationship and 36% of respondents with no accountant relationship expected the same. When those without an accountant were asked if they expected their revenue to increase, 10% said they didn’t know. Only 5% of those with an advisory relationship and 4% of those with a tax relationship were unsure. “Of concern is the financial confusion that seems to result when an accountant isn’t consulted at all. They’re skilled at providing clarity around finances, including cashflow and revenue trends. By receiving this important advice business owners will be in a better position to understand where to allocate resources for the year ahead,” says Mr Gardiner. Accountant advice can relieve pressures and create investment opportunitiesBusiness operators who had no accountant relationship also reported differing pressures and investment focuses than those who employed the services of one. The pressures of competitive activity and retaining existing customers ranked higher for the former group, with 63% and 62% respectively saying these would likely affect their business in the next year. Those with an advisory relationship reported these pressures at 61% and 55% respectively whereas those with a tax relationship only were even lower still at 55% and 51%. When rating their likely investment areas for the coming year, over one quarter (26%) of those whose accountant was an advisor said they planned to increase the amount they pay employees. This percentage was much lower for those with only a tax relationship (14%) and those with no accounting relationship (15%). “Getting sound business advice from someone outside of your business can make it easier to identify the areas within your business that need particular focus. Working across a wide range of industries and clients, accountants are in a prime position to evaluate key areas that a business can build upon in order to succeed,” says Mr Gardiner. Advice on compliance most valuableNine out of 10 business operators who have an advisor/consulting relationship with their accountant find value in the service the accountant provides. 49% of this group said the service provided was ‘very valuable’ and 41% said it was ‘valuable’. Only 8% said it was neither valuable nor invaluable and 3% said it was ‘relatively invaluable’. A resounding 91% of those with an advisory relationship believed the most valuable service they receive was ‘keeping my business compliant with tax, payroll and other regulations’. This was followed by ‘advice on how best to manage the money that flows through my business’ (43%) and ‘advice on strategies that will help me grow my business’ (33%). Top 5 valuable services accountants provideKeeping my business compliant with tax, payroll and other regulations. 91%Advice on how best to manage the money that flows through my business. 43%Advice on strategies that will help me grow my business. 33%Providing me with the right advice and documentation for obtaining funds to grow the business.25%Advice on what operational business moves to make e.g. setting pricing.17% “As businesses are realising the revenue and other growth potential to be had through such simple actions as meeting with their accountant more regularly, they begin to value that relationship a lot more. It is this value that we hope more and more New Zealand business operators will begin to experience for themselves as they realise the true potential of their business,” says Mr Gardiner. -ends- For further information or to arrange an interview please contact:Gerard Blank Elaine KollerThe Agency Communications Limited MYOBTel: 03 341 5841 Tel: 09 925 3514Mob: 0275 243 629 Mob: 029 777 0256Email: gerard@theagencynz.co.nz Email: elaine.koller@myob.com About the MYOB Business MonitorThe MYOB Business Monitor is a national survey of 1,000+ New Zealand small and medium business owners and managers, from sole traders to mid-sized companies, representing the major industry sectors. It has run since 2009, commissioned to independent market research firm Colmar Brunton. This most recent survey ran late January/early February 2013. The Monitor researches business performance and attitudes in areas such as profitability, cash flow, pipeline, technology usage and the government. The weighting of respondents by both geographical location and sector is based on overall market proportions as established by Statistics New Zealand and is drawn from an independent survey group, which includes both MYOB clients and non-clients. Respondents were asked to define their relationship with their accountant in the following terms: Types of Accounting RelationshipTax RelationshipSee the accountant mainly for tax return or GST reporting purposes, typically once or twice a year. Not general business advice. Accountant does not know the ‘ins and outs’ of the business very well but knows what they need for tax purposes.Advisor/Consulting RelationshipAdditional to above (e.g. GST), also see the accountant for financial analysis or general business advice and/or consultancy on profit strategies, financial planning, general business planning and guidance, etc. An on-going relationship, accountant keeps regular contact and knows the business well.No Accountant RelationshipI don’t have a regular accountant. Either do it myself or rely on a bookkeeper. About MYOBEstablished in 1991, MYOB is one of New Zealand’s largest business management software providers. Its 50+ products and services have been employed by over one million businesses in New Zealand and Australia. MYOB serves businesses of all ages, types and sizes, delivering solutions that simplify accounting, payroll, client management, websites and much more. With a network of more than 20,000 accountants and other professional partners, it provides the support and tools that help make business life easier. Today, MYOB is extending its solutions online and delivering innovation through cloud computing, enabling clients to make smarter connections with business partners and customers. Visit myob.co.nz/smarterconnections.

2013-04-16T01:00:00Z kaseya-earns-visionary-placement-in-gartner-s-2013-magic-quadrant-for-client-management-tools

KASEYA EARNS VISIONARY PLACEMENT IN GARTNER’S 2013 MAGIC QUADRANT FOR CLIENT MANAGEMENT TOOLS Gartner, Inc. Evaluation Based on Completeness of Vision and Ability to ExecuteKaseya Offers Complete Cloud Solution and Ability to Work in a Highly Distributed Environment LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND – April 16, 2013 – Kaseya, the only vendor to provide a complete IT systems management cloud solution, along with an on-premises solution, today announced its recognition as a Visionary by leading analyst firm Gartner, Inc. in its Magic Quadrant for Client Management Tools report.* Businesses are becoming increasingly challenged with managing complex, distributed and demanding environments. Kaseya unifies IT systems management by increasing productivity for businesses of all sizes through the delivery of enhanced functionality, performance and usability and offers a complete cloud solution. Kaseya is the only solution providing a vendor agnostic command center from which IT administrators can monitor, manage and protect their IT infrastructure while at the same time automating key tasks. IT administrators worldwide save time, lower costs and improve productivity with the unique brand of automated, enterprise-class systems management technology that Kaseya delivers, available via a SaaS delivery model or on-premises solution. The benefits of Kaseya speak to C-level constituents as a solution that is cost-effective and offers system transparency and reporting to help executive leaders make quick and decisive business decisions. Supporting Quote“We are pleased to be recognized for the second consecutive year as a visionary in Gartner’s 2013 Magic Quadrant for Client Management Tools. The combination of a broad scope of integrated functionality and our flexible delivery model results in an IT systems management solution that meets the varied and evolving needs of modern IT organizations. We believe the Gartner placement affirms our unique direction and market position,” said Bob Davis, chief marketing officer at Kaseya. Helpful LinksGartner 2013 Magic Quadrant for Client Management ToolsThe Kaseya® SolutionKaseya Blog Kaseya on YouTube About the Gartner Magic QuadrantGartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in its research publications, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartner’s research organization and should not be construed as statements or facts. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties or merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. *Gartner, Inc. Magic Quadrant for Client Management Tools, Terrance Cosgrove, April 9, 2013. About KaseyaKaseya is a leading global provider of IT Systems Management software services. They are the industry’s only vendor to provide a complete IT systems management SaaS solution, along with an on-premises solution built on the same core technology. Kaseya solutions are in use by more than 10,000 worldwide customers. Their technology empowers any sized IT operation –– from individual IT professionals at small-to-medium sized businesses to large corporations and IT service providers –– to proactively manage and control IT assets remotely, easily and efficiently from one integrated Web-based platform. Kaseya solutions are used in a wide variety of industries, from healthcare to education, finance, government and more. The company is privately held with over 30 offices in 23 countries. To learn more, please visit http://www.kaseya.com. # # # Kaseya; the Kaseya k-bug logo; are among the trademarks or registered trademarks owned by or licensed to Kaseya International Limited and/or its affiliates. Other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.Media Contacts: Ashleigh Favaloro or Jennifer GillisDEC PR 02 8014 5033kaseya@decpr.com.au

2013-04-10T23:49:00Z aapt-connected-cities-provides-gateway-to-the-world-of-broadcast-media

MEDIA RELEASE AAPT CONNECTED CITIES PROVIDES GATEWAY TO THE WORLD OF BROADCAST MEDIA Sydney April 10 2013 – Telecommunications infrastructure company, AAPT, has just made it easier for production houses, advertising agencies and broadcasters operating globally to share, distribute and receive content with Australia. From Melbourne or Sydney to LA, London and New York, AAPT’s Connected Cities program allows broadcasters, content owners and media agencies from all of the key media hubs to connect, transfer and store content. Built on a strong domestic presence, platform agnostic infrastructure and international connectivity using AAPT’s extreme performance network, AAPT’s Connected Cities program is delivered in partnership with BT Media and Broadcast. AAPT CEO David Yuile said the media industry in Australia was still evolving as technology was driving new consumer behavior and global content became increasingly accessible. “Strong partnerships are essential to complement AAPT’s Media Connect service and to satisfy the requirements of the global industry. BT Media and Broadcast, with its long standing reputation, capabilities and reach provided the ideal partner for us,” he said. VP of Global Sales and Marketing for BT Media and Broadcast, Mark Wilson-Dunn, said he was very excited by the new partnership with AAPT for the provision of media and broadcast network services to the fast-growing Australian market. “Our ground breaking MPLS-based IP media network, purpose designed for the broadcast of live television and large media files, is growing at some pace around the world, particularly in the Asian and U.S markets. “Joining this ecosystem will literally open up a world of opportunities for Australasian media businesses,” Mr Wilson-Dunn said. AAPT’S CONNECTED CITIES PROGRAM: The business of media has undergone massive transformation in the past few years with events now being broadcast in real time, globally, delivered across multiple platforms. Pre-recorded content is distributed and screened simultaneously across continents … there are no broadcast boundaries. Recognising the opportunities to utilise AAPT’s Extreme Performance network as the platform for world-leading connect, transfer and store services into and out of Australia, the company with its alliance partners is providing media organisations with the tools they need to collaborate domestically and internationally. FURTHER INFORMATION:Louise Di FrancescoP: (0418) 617 869E: louise.difrancesco@appt.com.au

2013-04-10T03:54:00Z kaseya-advances-systems-management-with-industry-s-only-complete-cloud-solution-2

KASEYA ADVANCES SYSTEMS MANAGEMENT WITH INDUSTRY’S ONLY COMPLETE CLOUD SOLUTION, LAUNCHES NEW IT TOOLS Kaseya Offers Complete Multi-Tenant SaaS Systems Management Solution Meeting the Needs of Modern IT OrganisationsFree and Subscription License IT Tools Address Specific IT Pain Points LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND – April 10, 2013 – Kaseya, the only vendor to provide a complete IT systems management SaaS solution, along with an on-premises solution, today announced an extensive set of new SaaS IT tools. Free versions and subscription license offerings are available, depending on user needs. The cloud delivers a myriad of potential advantages over on-premises applications, from simplifying new software deployment and maintenance to enabling compliance and enhancing security, all contributing to significant cost savings to IT organisations. Kaseya is committed to its vision of providing the widest and most comprehensive range of automated IT systems management tools and is the industry’s only vendor to offer a complete cloud solution. Kaseya meets the needs of modern IT organisations that fully recognise the advantages of the SaaS delivery model and the benefits to working in the cloud. The award-winning Kaseya IT Systems Management platform has been leveraged by thousands of IT organisations worldwide to solve countless IT challenges. Kaseya now delivers targeted SaaS IT tools based on specific IT pain points. These pain point driven tools can be as simple as a patch status audit or security audit to a complete patch management solution. The free IT tools available today are: File Share Audit Determines and reports on what file shares have been created on up to 1,000 computers, including the accessibility of those files. User AuditDetermines and reports on what user accounts are configured on up to 1,000 computers, including access privileges and guest accounts. Software AuditProvides a complete inventory of installed applications for up to 1,000 computers through comprehensive reports, views and lists. Security AuditDetermines and reports on endpoint security settings for up to 1,000 computers, including AV engine(s) installed, active status and date of last update. Windows Patch StatusDetermines and reports on endpoint patch status on up to 1,000 computers, including Windows update settings and patch status information. Those who start out with free versions of the Kaseya IT Tools will have easy access to a simple and configurable upgrade path to include additional options and software services that users can consume based on their changing needs. For a minimal fee, users can upgrade to a version providing a much larger feature-set and also 24x7 support. Kaseya is also announcing the re-introduction of its SaaS bundle, Kaseya Essentials. The bundle has been reconfigured to add more value to businesses of all sizes and is available as a free trial. To download and try out any of the free, subscription-based Kasey IT tools or new Essentials bundle, go to: http://www.kaseya.com/solutions/free-tools.aspx. Supporting Quotes“We provide an unmatched IT systems management experience for our worldwide customers. We built our business to leverage the Web to make it extremely easy for companies of all sizes to quickly deploy, manage and dynamically expand as systems management needs arise and change,” said Bob Davis, chief marketing officer at Kaseya. “The market wants effective, easy-to-use and deploy systems management technology. With our complete cloud solution and our new targeted IT Tools we are answering this call.” “By leveraging a SaaS delivery model to provide free access to key IT management solutions that will identify opportunities for performance improvements, cost reductions and the achievement of compliance objectives, Kaseya has opened the door to a larger audience of organisations reliant on IT to drive business goals and profitability,” said Steve Brasen, managing research director for Enterprise Management Associates (EMA). “The free tools allow organisations to test out the value of business-focused IT automation resources without making an up-front financial commitment. Once users have experienced the immediate process improvement and simplified management that can be achieved in the free editions, it seems likely they will desire the increased capabilities available in the subscription editions, as well as in other Kaseya cloud solutions.” Helpful LinksThe Kaseya SolutionKaseya Blog Kaseya SaaS Free ToolsKaseya on YouTube About KaseyaKaseya is a leading global provider of IT Systems Management software services. They are the industry’s only vendor to provide a complete IT systems management SaaS solution, along with an on-premises solution built on the same core technology. Kaseya solutions are in use by more than 10,000 worldwide customers. Their technology empowers any sized IT operation –– from individual IT professionals at small-to-medium sized businesses to large corporations and IT service providers –– to proactively manage and control IT assets remotely, easily and efficiently from one integrated Web-based platform. Kaseya solutions are used in a wide variety of industries, from healthcare to education, finance, government and more. The company is privately held with over 30 offices in 23 countries. To learn more, please visit http://www.kaseya.com. # # # Kaseya; the Kaseya k-bug logo; are among the trademarks or registered trademarks owned by or licensed to Kaseya International Limited and/or its affiliates. Other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.Media Contacts: Nick Healy or Jennifer GillisDEC PR 02 8014 5033kaseya@decpr.com.au

2013-04-04T01:09:19Z australia-s-biggest-scrum-hits-sydney

Scrum Australia 2013 is the first major event of its kind to be held in Australia, attracting experts from all over the world to Sydney for two days of Scrum talks.Sydney-based enterprise software services company GLiNTECH is very pleased to have joined the event as a sponsor, helping bring more discussion and awareness of Scrum and agile practices to this part of the world. GLiNTECH’s Managing Director, Dimitri Spyridopoulos (CSD, CSM), will be co-presenting on day one with Chris Mountford, a Senior Software Engineer at Atlassian. Their talk, titled Beyond Software, will be about taking agile and Scrum beyond software development teams and into wider business.These two senior technologists will be sharing real experiences from the very different companies they represent; one an Aussie enterprise with a global customer base and the other a local software services company that works with global enterprises.Says Dimitri, ”between Chris and I, we’ve got plenty of examples of agile and Scrum working in the real world to solve real business problems - beyond software development teams. We’re looking forward to sharing some of them.”Scrum Australia takes place on April 10th and 11th in Sydney. For more information, visit the official Scrum Australia website.Follow the event on Twitter with @GLiNTECH and @auscrum, or by using the #auscrum hashtag.About GLiNTECHWe’re a Sydney-based IT services company for enterprise clients. We’re software development specialists, Certified Scrum Masters, Certified Scrum Developers and Atlassian Enterprise Experts. We also offer customised Scrum and agile training. 

2013-04-04T00:49:00Z blocks-global-signs-digital-signage-software-partnership-with-aopen

24 July 2003 Contact: Caroline ShawyerThe PR Group 0401 496 334 Blocks Global signs digital signage software partnership with AOPEN Huge global growth opportunity for Australian software innovator Melbourne, 4 April 2013 – Blocks Global, an Australian retail marketing software developer has signed a global distribution partnership with AOPEN, a leading global manufacturer of digital signage and appliance computing solutions. Under the agreement AOPEN will market and support Block’s white label eCommerce and mCommerce platform through its OpenService initiative. The deal gives Blocks access to a worldwide market through AOPEN's extensive network of distributors and channel partners. "We are delighted to partner with AOPEN as the world leader in digital signage. This deal has turned us overnight from an Australian innovator into a major global player in digital signage software, one of the industry's highest growth sectors," says Blocks Global MD Paul Wilson. "The partnership with AOPEN followed 12-months of rigorous testing of our software through in store trials. It's a key opportunity for Blocks Global to rapidly grow its business internationally, and really punch above our weight." Growth in the worldwide digital signage market is forecast to exceed 40% in 2013, growing to US$7 billion. Retail is the largest vertical, accounting for 25% of equipment and software sales. IMS predicts that retail will maintain its dominance, reaching nearly US$2 billion in infrastructure sales by the end of 2015. With traditional retailers experiencing fierce competition from online sellers worldwide, interactive, web based digital signage gives retailers an opportunity to transform the way they support customers through the shopping experience, providing a more satisfying experience overall, which ultimately leads to an increase in sales for the retailers. AOPEN’s OpenService was created as an end-to-end solution to make digital signage easy and accessible to the retail sector: from remote management, content creation and distribution, to analytics and social media engagement. . Stephen Borg, Global Director Strategy and Market Development AOPEN says the Blocks platform is a welcome addition to the OpenService family, complementing existing relationships with software providers, system integrators, installation partners and specialist consultancies within the network. "We see it as an ideal partner for the OpenService iniative. After rigorous testing, we found features that were completely unique. More than just signage, it represents holistic business tools for retailers, covering display, analytics and specialist services such as m-commerce," Mr Borg says. “Our vision for OpenService is to create value beyond signage as we know it today, by unifying end customer channels. We want customers to think of digital signage like they would a new smart phone. They can just pay a monthly fee and use it, without worrying about how it works. Instead of shopping around for all the necessary components, customers can go to one provider and get everything in one place." ENDS About Blocks GlobalBlocks Global is a privately owned and operated software company based in Melbourne, Australia, specialising in digital signage software and solutions for the retail industry. Website: www.blocksglobal.com About AOPEN AOPEN Inc., founded in 1996, is headquartered in Taiwan with offices in America, Europe, Asia and the Pacific. AOPEN has more than 10 years of IT hardware manufacturing experience along with keen insights into IT industry trends that help drive the growth of AOPEN. As the leading manufacturer of digital signage hardware solutions worldwide, AOPEN continues to expand its products and services for digital signage and other vertical application markets. With in-depth market knowledge, AOPEN can offer advice for complete digital signage platform solutions. AOPEN has cultivated a sophisticated ecosystem of premium solution providers to offer its solutions via its value added channel network to the market. About OpenServiceFounded and built upon an alliance of hardware, software, and content creation partners, OpenService seeks to tackle the challenges of traditional digital signage deployments with the expertise and experience necessary to bring a total solution to any digital signage deployment and ensure it is done right. By offering an End-to-End total solution, OpenService takes the hassles of purchasing solutions, maintaining hardware, and creating new relevant content and puts it all in the hands of professionals. Please visit us at www.open-service.org Media Contact:Caroline Shawyer The PR Group Tel: +61 (0) 401 496 334 E: caroline@prgroup.com.au

2013-04-03T23:17:00Z acquia-open-sources-mobile-app-code-for-posting-content-to-drupal-sites

Acquia Open Sources Mobile App Code for Posting Content to Drupal Sites GitHub Code Release to Jumpstart Native Mobile App Development for Drupal BURLINGTON, MA – April 3, 2013 – Acquia, the enterprise guide to Drupal, today announced the release of the source code for Drupal Create, a mobile application that allows any Drupal content contributor to post content to their websites directly from any iOS device. Acquia has made the full Objective-C source code for Drupal Create available on GitHub, providing developers with a fully functional codebase from which custom mobile apps that communicate with Drupal sites may be built. “Drupal has thousands of community-contributed modules and themes. With this release, Acquia is kick-starting development of mobile content publishing apps for Drupal,” said Dries Buytaert, CTO and co-founder of Acquia. “As mobile quickly becomes a dominant driver of digital experiences, the Drupal community is increasingly focused on content delivery beyond the desktop. By contributing the Drupal Create codebase, we can leverage the rapid innovation of the Drupal community through offering developers powerful, open source code that they can use, tweak and, ultimately, improve.” With the working codebase as a foundation, developers can build Drupal-specific content publishing apps to address the needs of site owners and content contributors. Custom apps can be tailored to make use of an iOS device’s features, including location and social APIs in addition to its integrated camera and speaker. Drupal Create enables content authors to post new site content, including blog posts, articles, photos, and custom content types to any Drupal 7 site. Drupal Create was developed in collaboration with WorkHabit, an Acquia partner that has invested significantly in the development of real time, mobile and social applications for Drupal. Acquia and WorkHabit built Drupal Create on top of the Drupal iOS Software Development Kit, which is also available on GitHub. One example of a content publishing app based on the Drupal Create codebase is the Drupal Gardens iOS app, available from the iTunes App Store. Developers can use the Drupal Create codebase to similarly build a custom app for contributing content directly to their Drupal sites. The Drupal Create codebase can be downloaded from: https://github.com/acquia/drupal-create. About Acquia Acquia provides enterprises with the freedom to create extraordinary web experiences based on Drupal, the open source platform that integrates content, community and commerce. Offering a variety of Cloud solutions specifically designed for Drupal, Acquia gives global organizations the unparalleled ability to rapidly deploy and manage multichannel content across web and mobile devices. Co-founded by Drupal project’s creator in 2007, Acquia has helped more than 2,500 companies including Twitter, Warner Music Group, Humana, Stanford University, Mercedes-Benz and the New York MTA, to grow and scale their digital experiences with confidence. Acquia was recently named the number one software company in the 2012 Inc. 500 and was named one of the 100 most promising companies in America by Forbes Magazine. See who’s using Drupal at http://www.drupalshowcase.com, and for more information visit www.acquia.com or call +1 781 238 8600. About Drupal Drupal is a free, open-source web development platform for online content and user communities. Drupal powers some of the busiest sites on the web, and can be adapted to virtually any visual design. Drupal runs over a million sites, including WhiteHouse.gov, World Economic Forum, Stanford University, GE.com and Examiner.com. # # #All logos, company and product names may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.

2013-04-02T23:11:00Z sme-dissatisfaction-outweighs-satisfaction-with-government-support

3 April 2013 SME dissatisfaction outweighs satisfaction with Government supportMYOB calls for additional initiatives to follow the starting-out wage New research by MYOB reveals the level of dissatisfaction with government support felt by New Zealand’s small and medium business (SME) community is relatively unchanged from mid last year. This is despite their improving revenues and increasing optimism about the local economy. In response, MYOB is calling for a renewed government assistance for the sector. The March 2013 MYOB Business Monitor, a national survey of 1,000+ SMEs run by Colmar Brunton, found 29% are dissatisfied with government support while only 22% are satisfied. 46% are neither one nor the other and 3% are unsure how they feel. Dissatisfaction has fallen only one percentage point since the June 2012 Monitor. Satisfaction has also fallen, by four points. MYOB New Zealand General Manager, Business Division, James Scollay says, “Small and medium businesses are the engine room of this country’s economy. Through our latest research they’ve voiced a strong need for the government to provide them with much more support.” “The SME community deserves all the help it can get. They contribute almost one third of all local employment and in doing so help put food on the table of well over one million New Zealanders.” “Despite this, too often these business operators are undervalued and under recognised. This needs to change. While they are increasingly optimistic about the economy’s future and revenue expectations, they want to see policies that help them make the most of the recovery. Initiatives that help them become more productive and better equipped to compete with their rivals.” “Along with New Zealand’s SMEs, MYOB wants the government to take a more active role in making it easier to comply with regulations, up-skill for the future and hire the right staff. The Minimum Wage Amendment Bill, and the accompanying starting-out wage, is a solid step in the right direction for the government. Business owners are likely saying ‘fantastic – more please’.” City sentiment sees Christchurch leading Of the three main cities, those in Christchurch were most satisfied (29%). This sentiment has remained relatively steady in the past nine months, having fallen only two percentage points since the last Monitor. Dissatisfaction has risen one percentage point to 23%. Wellington tells a very different story - an increase in indifference. 34% of its businesses stated dissatisfaction in the latest research and only 20% satisfaction, compared to 42% and 24% in June. “The Government appears to be maintaining support in Christchurch, where the effects of the rebuild are now flowing through to the local economy,” says Mr Scollay. “Conversely, unlike in Christchurch, the Government has tightened spending in the capital. This is likely impacting local political sentiment. Wellington businesses were the least optimistic about their revenue in the year ahead, which would also feed into declining satisfaction.” In Auckland, dissatisfaction and satisfaction were similar, at 26% and 24% respectively. This compared to 26% and 27% mid last year. South Island SMEs more satisfied than most Canterbury, Nelson, Marlborough and Hawkes Bay were the only regions where satisfaction with the current level of Government support outweighed dissatisfaction. Hawkes Bay led, with 37% satisfied, followed by Canterbury, with 29%. SMEs in Bay of Plenty and Northland, which had another year of sluggish recovery in 2012, reported the highest levels dissatisfaction of all regions. The Manawatu-Wanganui region saw the highest proportion of respondents who were neither satisfied nor dissatisfied (56%). Top 3 regions by highest dissatisfactionTotal dissatisfactionTotal satisfactionBay of Plenty44%11%Northland39%13%Wellington34%20% Top 3 regions by highest satisfactionTotal satisfactionTotal dissatisfactionHawkes Bay37%29%Christchurch29%23%Marlborough29% 24% Dissatisfaction across the sectors Dissatisfaction with Government support outweighed satisfaction across every major industry sector. Construction and trade, and transport, postal and warehousing, were particularly unhappy. Sector by highest dissatisfactionTotal dissatisfactionTotal satisfactionConstruction & trades37%16%Retail & hospitality33% 20%Transport, postal & warehousing32% 13%Finance & insurance31%22%Primary 30%24%Manufacturing & wholesale27%27%Business, professional & property25%24% “Operators such as those in a trade and in transport have done it hard throughout the recovery. Our research shows they’re really feeling the need for greater support from the Government,” says Mr Scollay. “Even in areas seeing a healthier return to growth, like finance and insurance, a higher proportion of businesses are dissatisfied than not. This suggests there is much more to be done to convince business owners and managers that today’s policies are creating an environment in which they can thrive.” --Ends-- For further information or to arrange an interview please contact:Gerard Blank Kristy SheppardThe Agency Communications Limited MYOBTel: 03 341 5841 Tel: 09 925 3560Mob: 0275 243 629 Mob: +61 407 450 860Email: gerard@theagencynz.co.nz Email: kristy.sheppard@myob.com About the MYOB Business MonitorThe MYOB Business Monitor is a national survey of 1,000+ New Zealand small and medium business owners and managers, from sole traders to mid-sized companies, representing the major industry sectors. It has run since 2009, commissioned to independent market research firm Colmar Brunton. This most recent survey ran late January/early February 2013. The Monitor researches business performance and attitudes in areas such as profitability, cash flow, pipeline, technology usage and the government. The weighting of respondents by both geographical location and sector is based on overall market proportions as established by Statistics New Zealand and is drawn from an independent survey group, which includes both MYOB clients and non-clients. About MYOBEstablished in 1991, MYOB is one of New Zealand’s largest business management software providers. Its 50+ products and services have been employed by over one million businesses in New Zealand and Australia. MYOB serves businesses of all ages, types and sizes, delivering solutions that simplify accounting, payroll, client management, websites and much more. With a network of more than 20,000 accountants and other professional partners, it provides the support and tools that help make business life easier. Today, MYOB is extending its solutions online and delivering innovation through cloud computing, enabling clients to make smarter connections with business partners and customers. Visit myob.co.nz/smarterconnections.