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Latest industry, technology and marketing insights

How CRM Failings Are Costing Sales Teams Revenue

MarketingProfs 03 Mar 2021 03:00 PM More than half of sales leaders say the failings of their customer relationship management (CRM) platform are leading to lost revenue opportunities, according to recent research from SugarCRM. The report was based on data from a survey conducted in November 202 among 1,000 sales professionals (manager level or above) in Australia, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Respondents work for organizations with 100-3,000 employees, in B2B and B2C verticals. Some 52% of sales leaders ac

Facebook, here’s your chance to level the playing field

What's New in Publishing 03 Mar 2021 08:30 AM You’ll never find love and gratitude with the large publishers. So go niche. Facebook’s efforts to support large publishers are largely wasted. It’s time to change direction and support digital-first media startups who need it more. The Australian Parliament passed the contentious media bargaining code, but with amendments that will give Facebook a bit more elbow room. In exchange, Facebook will turn news back on in the country. The tweaks: The Treasurer must consider “designating” digital platf

Tackling taboos and facing up to Facebook, Modibodi brings lessons from down under to the UK

The Drum 02 Mar 2021 12:00 PM When Modibodi first aired ‘The New Way to Period’ in Australia, it caused quite a stir. Unperturbed by the controversy, however, it is now bringing the spot to the UK. We catch up with the period underwear brand’s chief marketing officer as she reflects on the ad campaign that provoked policy changes at Facebook, and hear about the lessons she’s learned in the process.You might remember Modibodi from a Twitter storm back in October when Facebook decided to ban its ad for violating the platform‘

Digital giants paying for content is good news, but will it support local publishers?

What's New in Publishing 02 Mar 2021 08:00 AM That the internet has all but destroyed the business model that has always supported journalism is not news. But what has made the news around the world recently is that the Australian government has attempted to do something about it. It has passed a new law forcing organisations such as Facebook and Google, which make a great deal of money out of carrying news material on their platforms, to share their advertising revenue with media organisations. Facebook incurred a worldwide backlash by tem

Google says publishers don’t want collective bargaining as it starts news partnership talks in the US. USA Today disagrees.

Digiday 01 Mar 2021 05:01 AM March 1, 2021 by Kate Kaye Media execs in the United States want to know what Google’s publisher partnerships in Australia and other countries might mean for their own future negotiations. While emerging details about how Google compensates publishers offer some clues, from the looks of things, it could be slow-going and contentious. Some U.S. publishers support federal legislation that would let them negotiate collectively with Google and other digital platforms, but Google has signaled its re

What Facebook's Australia news ban could mean for its future in the US

Guardian Technology 27 Feb 2021 11:00 AM Kari Paul in San FranciscoSat 27 Feb 2021 11.00 GMTLast modified on Sat 27 Feb 2021 11.03 GMTFacebook’s dramatic decision last week to block news from being shared to its users in Australia is already seeing global legislative aftershocks and may present new challenges for the company in the US.Facebook in mid-February banned Australian news organizations from posting content on the platform and barred users based in Australia from linking to news articles from Australian and international outle

The collaborative future of news: Insights from Bureau Local

What's New in Publishing 26 Feb 2021 07:15 AM This week Megan Lucero, director of the Bureau Local at the Bureau of Investigative Journalism, provides us with a look at the present and future of local journalism. From the trials of finding resources to the project mentality behind some powerful stories, Lucero provides a hopeful and achievable look at how regional media is changing. In the news roundup, we discuss the fallout and hot takes from the Australia/Google/Facebook news and try to come with a workable solution to an intractable pro

Cheat sheet: Facebook brings news back to platform in Australia – who it includes and under what terms – remains murky

Digiday 24 Feb 2021 05:01 AM February 24, 2021 by Max Willens Facebook gets about two more months to divide, conquer and keep things (mostly) the way they are down under. On Tuesday, the Australian government announced it had made changes to a bill expected to pass Parliament this week. The changes, which will force Facebook to pay publishers directly for their content though under potentially more favorable terms, were enough for Facebook to announce that it would begin making news content available on its its platform.

Cheat sheet: Facebook brings news back to platform in Australia – who it includes and under what terms – remains murky

Digiday 24 Feb 2021 05:01 AM February 24, 2021 by Max Willens Facebook gets about two more months to divide, conquer and keep things (mostly) the way they are down under. On Tuesday, the Australian government announced it had made changes to a bill expected to pass Parliament this week. The changes, which will force Facebook to pay publishers directly for their content though under potentially more favorable terms, were enough for Facebook to announce that it would begin making news content available on its its platform.

“Facebook has refriended Australia”: Will restore news on its platform

What's New in Publishing 23 Feb 2021 10:57 AM Australia agrees to amendments in proposed law. Facebook reverses news ban. Facebook has agreed to restore Australian news on its platform following an agreement with the government on amendments to the media code that would’ve forced Big Tech to pay for news. After further discussions with the Australian government, we have come to an agreement that will allow us to support the publishers we choose to, including small and local publishers. We’re restoring news on Facebook in Australia in the c

“Facebook has refriended Australia”: Will restore news on its platform

What's New in Publishing 23 Feb 2021 10:57 AM Australia agrees to amendments in proposed law. Facebook reverses news ban. Facebook has agreed to restore Australian news on its platform following an agreement with the government on amendments to the media code that would’ve forced Big Tech to pay for news. After further discussions with the Australian government, we have come to an agreement that will allow us to support the publishers we choose to, including small and local publishers. We’re restoring news on Facebook in Australia in the c

Europe’s press publishers & Microsoft call for Australian-style arbitration mechanism

What's New in Publishing 23 Feb 2021 08:00 AM Europe’s press publishers and Microsoft have struck an agreement to collaborate on a solution to ensure that Europe’s press publishers get paid for the use of their content by the Silicon Valley tech giants. Industry trade bodies, including the European Publishers Council, European Magazine Media Association, News Media Europe, and European Newspaper Publishers’ Association have stipulated the solution “should mandate payments for the use of press publishers’ content by these gatekeepers and sho

Europe’s press publishers & Microsoft call for Australian-style arbitration mechanism

What's New in Publishing 23 Feb 2021 08:00 AM Europe’s press publishers and Microsoft have struck an agreement to collaborate on a solution to ensure that Europe’s press publishers get paid for the use of their content by the Silicon Valley tech giants. Industry trade bodies, including the European Publishers Council, European Magazine Media Association, News Media Europe, and European Newspaper Publishers’ Association have stipulated the solution “should mandate payments for the use of press publishers’ content by these gatekeepers and sho

Facebook to restore Australian news pages after government agrees to amend legislation

Telegraph 23 Feb 2021 04:50 AM

Facebook reaches deal to reverse Australia's news ban

Mashable 23 Feb 2021 04:27 AM Image: Muhammed Selim Korkutata/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images) Australian Facebook users and Pages will have their ability to share news links restored in the coming days, according to a statement released on Tuesday afternoon by the country's federal treasurer and communications minister. The government announced amendments will be made to its controversial News Media Bargaining Code, apparently appeasing Facebook enough that the tech giant has struck a deal with the government to allow news con

Publishers lose up to 20% traffic after Facebook’s news blockade, but there’s some good news

What's New in Publishing 22 Feb 2021 01:06 PM Australia wanted Big Tech to pay for news. Facebook didn’t. Rather than pay media companies in return for linking to their stories, as a forthcoming Australian law would require, the social network blocked sharing of news on its platform in the country, the most extensive restrictions it has ever placed on publishers anywhere in the world. Facebook’s move had an immediate impact on traffic to Australian news sites, according to early data from New York-based analytics firm Chartbeat. Total tra

Getting news from Facebook and Google is convenient — but it comes at great collective cost

What's New in Publishing 22 Feb 2021 08:00 AM Digital platforms like Facebook and Google give us easy access to media and information. But our collective dependence on these tech giants could in the long run reduce the quality of journalism, making us all worse off. The tension between convenience for readers and funding for journalism has been highlighted by Facebook’s recent move to block news in Australia rather than pay media companies under new regulations. Situations like this, where each individual acts in their own best interest but

Misinformation runs rampant as Facebook says it may take a week before it unblocks some pages

Guardian Technology 19 Feb 2021 05:28 PM Facebook may wait up to a week before unblocking some of the pages of hundreds of non-media organisations caught up in its news ban, while anti-vaccination content and misinformation continues to run rampant on the social media platform.Content designated as news was blocked on Facebook in Australia on Thursday morning in response to the federal government’s news media code, which would require the tech giant to negotiate with news publishers for payment for content.The decision continued to mak

Facebook’s news blockade in Australia: A ban with global implications

What's New in Publishing 19 Feb 2021 08:00 AM Sharing is caring, Australian government says. Facebook disagrees. The media world is watching Australia. Landmark media legislation would force Google and Facebook to pay for content displayed on their platforms. Google already struck deals with several publishers. Meanwhile, Facebook issued a ban on Australian news outlets, the weather bureau, police agencies and health departments providing crucial COVID-19 information. The proposed law – set to enter into force this week – came from the A

Facebook’s news blockade in Australia: A ban with global implications

What's New in Publishing 19 Feb 2021 08:00 AM Sharing is caring, Australian government says. Facebook disagrees. The media world is watching Australia. Landmark media legislation would force Google and Facebook to pay for content displayed on their platforms. Google already struck deals with several publishers. Meanwhile, Facebook issued a ban on Australian news outlets, the weather bureau, police agencies and health departments providing crucial COVID-19 information. The proposed law – set to enter into force this week – came from the A

The WeChat model: How Facebook’s ban could change the business of news

What's New in Publishing 19 Feb 2021 08:15 AM Facebook’s “news ban” in response to Australia’s proposed media bargaining code, has been hard to miss if you’ve spent any time on social networks in the past day or so. The social media platform has effectively halted all posting of links from Australian news pages and stopped people in Australia from posting or viewing international news as well. The change happened overnight, and may be undone if either Australia or Facebook backs down. But if the current situation continues, it may leave Fac

The must-read publishing stories you may have missed this week

What's New in Publishing 19 Feb 2021 07:52 AM Google handing out millions to publishers. Facebook pulls the plug on news. It is the best of times. It is the worst of times. In the ongoing saga of Platforms v. Publishers, the duopoly has broken ranks, leaving the publishing community perplexed about which way the tide is turning. Facebook has pulled the trigger on news content for its Australian users, and all Australia news from the rest of the world, in a warning shot heard all across the globe. On the other hand, Google has been inking mu

Measure any surface right away with this digital ruler – Future Blink

Mashable 18 Feb 2021 09:05 PM [unable to retrieve full-text content]The ROLLOVA, a digital ruler, can take measurements just by rolling over surfaces. Read more...More about Mashable Video, Digital, Ruler, Measurement, and Future Blink

Future of Media: How tech polices brand safety, Oz news laws, Tide turns on accessible ads

The Drum 18 Feb 2021 01:00 PM By John McCarthy-18 February 2021 13:00pmThe Drum's senior reporter and media correspondent John McCarthy rounds up the latest media trends and developments. Also available in your inbox every Thursday as The Drum's Future of Media email briefing. Sign up here. This is an extract from The Drum’s Future of Media briefing. You can subscribe to it here if you’d want the full thing in your inbox once a week.Happy media Thursday. John McCarthy (Twitter, Linkedin, email) here. We're halfway through F

Why Google is now funnelling millions into media outlets, as Facebook pulls news for Australia

What's New in Publishing 18 Feb 2021 07:42 AM Over the past few days, Google has been inking multimillion-dollar deals to pay media companies for news content that will appear on Google News Showcase. Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp is the latest beneficiary of a partnership with the tech giant. It will receive significant payments over three years, a share of ad revenue, and inclusion in the development of a subscription platform. News Corp, owned by media magnate Rupert Murdoch, signed a three-year agreement with Google which will span its glo

Why Google is now funnelling millions into media outlets, as Facebook pulls news for Australia

What's New in Publishing 18 Feb 2021 07:42 AM Over the past few days, Google has been inking multimillion-dollar deals to pay media companies for news content that will appear on Google News Showcase. Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp is the latest beneficiary of a partnership with the tech giant. It will receive significant payments over three years, a share of ad revenue, and inclusion in the development of a subscription platform. News Corp, owned by media magnate Rupert Murdoch, signed a three-year agreement with Google which will span its glo

Facebook bans users and publishers from sharing news in Australia – video

Guardian Technology 18 Feb 2021 04:21 AM Facebook has made good on its threat to ban Australians from seeing or posting news content on its site in response to the federal government’s proposed news media code. As of Thursday morning, news publishers were unable to post content on pages, while articles were also blocked from being shared. In implementing its new ban, the social media giant also blocked a number of government departments, charities and its own page. Treasurer Josh Frydenberg lambasted the company, saying the social medi

‘I’m afraid of repercussions’: Publishing industry members question Google’s motives in paying off News Corp

Digiday 18 Feb 2021 05:01 AM February 18, 2021 by Kate Kaye Google may have struck a deal with News Corp to pacify Australian lawmakers, but some publishing industry members say the agreement to compensate the publishing giant obfuscates the power that platforms like Google and Facebook hold over smaller publishers, which Australia’s proposed media bargaining law is meant to address. Google’s three-year deal with News Corp gives its brands including The Wall Street Journal and the New York Post a home in Google’s News Show

‘I’m afraid of repercussions’: Publishing industry members question Google’s motives in paying off News Corp

Digiday 18 Feb 2021 05:01 AM February 18, 2021 by Kate Kaye Google may have struck a deal with News Corp to pacify Australian lawmakers, but some publishing industry members say the agreement to compensate the publishing giant obfuscates the power that platforms like Google and Facebook hold over smaller publishers, which Australia’s proposed media bargaining law is meant to address. Google’s three-year deal with News Corp gives its brands including The Wall Street Journal and the New York Post a home in Google’s News Show

Google and Facebook: the landmark Australian law that will make them pay for news content

Guardian Technology 16 Feb 2021 01:01 AM The Australian parliament is poised to pass a landmark media law that would make Google and Facebook pay news publishers for displaying their content.The Australian law is separate to a deal Facebook made to pay mainstream UK news outlets millions of pounds a year to license their articles, but has a similar motivation.The legislation, which will be debated this week, is designed to support Australian public interest journalism and is backed by all the nation’s media companies, big and small.Why

Microsoft's Bing ready to step in if Google pulls search from Australia, minister says

Guardian Technology 01 Feb 2021 08:13 AM Microsoft’s Bing is ready to swoop if Google makes good on its threat to remove search from Australia when the mandatory news code becomes law, the government has revealed.The communications minister, Paul Fletcher, said Google dominated in Australia with a market share of 93% but there were other players, including Microsoft and DuckDuckGo, that were talking to the government about replacing it.“Microsoft, a giant American corporation, an information technology powerhouse, is very significantly

The old news business model is broken: Making Google and Facebook pay won’t save journalism

What's New in Publishing 01 Feb 2021 08:30 AM The federal government is talking tough about making Google and Facebook pay Australian news businesses for linking to, or featuring, these publishers’ content. The digital platforms have been talking equally tough. Facebook is threatening to remove Australian news stories and Google says it will shut off search to Australia if the government pushes ahead with its “mandatory bargaining code”. The code is meant to help alleviate the revenue crisis facing news publishers. Over the past two decades

Google v. Australia: who will prevail?

The Drum 01 Feb 2021 01:00 AM While it is unlikely Google will follow through with their threat, publishers and advertisers are already preparing for a shift Google has threatened to pull its search engine out of Australia, but the government is refusing to back down. The Drum explores what this means for advertisers, publishers and consumers.The impact of Google pulling its search engine out of Australia because of the country’s proposed mandatory code of conduct for tech platforms, would be seismic for publishers and adve

Is news worth a lot or a little? Google and Facebook want to have it both ways

What's New in Publishing 25 Jan 2021 08:21 AM Executives from Google and Facebook have told a Senate committee they are prepared to take drastic action if Australia’s news media bargaining code, which would force the internet giants to pay news publishers for linking to their sites, comes into force. Google would have “no real choice” but to cut Australian users off entirely from its flagship search engine, the company’s Australian managing director Mel Silva told the committee. Facebook representatives in turn said they would remove links

Could Google really leave Australia?

BBC Technology 22 Jan 2021 03:04 PM Published4 days agoGoogle has threatened to pull out of the Australian market if a new law governing its relationship with news publishers goes ahead.So what's the row all about?Why would Google pull out of Australia?The government is introducing a law to address a long-bubbling row over whether tech giants should pay for news that appears in search or is shared on their platforms.The proposed law would mandate that Google has commercial agreements with every news organisation - or enter forced

Google agrees to pay French publishers for news, but threatens to exit Australia if media code becomes law

What's New in Publishing 22 Jan 2021 10:13 AM In a high-stakes drama unfolding across the globe, Google indicated just how much it’s willing to bend, before it reaches what it considers to be a breaking point. First, in a major digital copyright deal announced yesterday, Google said it will pay French publishers for news. The agreement comes after several months of talks between Google France and the Alliance de la Presse d’Information Generale (APIG), which represents France’s media groups. It establishes a framework within which Google

Google agrees to pay French publishers for news, but threatens to exit Australia if media code becomes law

What's New in Publishing 22 Jan 2021 10:13 AM In a high-stakes drama unfolding across the globe, Google indicated just how much it’s willing to bend, before it reaches what it considers to be a breaking point. First, in a major digital copyright deal announced yesterday, Google said it will pay French publishers for news. The agreement comes after several months of talks between Google France and the Alliance de la Presse d’Information Generale (APIG), which represents France’s media groups. It establishes a framework within which Google

The must-read publishing stories you may have missed this week

What's New in Publishing 22 Jan 2021 08:00 AM How to keep readers engaged in 2021, Google’s ranking system is changing, and more… The Internet as we know it is changing. Publishers need to be aware of the waves buffeting the world wide web at this very moment. Just last week, in a show of “extraordinary power”, Google started running ‘experiments’ to remove some news sites from its search results. This was in response to Australia’s news media bargaining code, something the inventor of the world wide web says could break the internet. Some

'Law unto themselves': the Australian battle to curb Facebook and Twitter's power

Guardian Technology 16 Jan 2021 07:00 PM FILE PHOTO: The Twitter and Facebook logo along with binary cyber codes are seen in this illustration taken November 26, 2019. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Photograph: Dado Ruvić/Reuters Main image: FILE PHOTO: The Twitter and Facebook logo along with binary cyber codes are seen in this illustration taken November 26, 2019. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Photograph: Dado Ruvić/Reuters Nationals MP Anne Webster and Labor MP Sharon Claydon are less concerned with why Don

One third of Australian users have not updated Covidsafe app

Guardian Technology 14 Jan 2021 05:43 AM Nearly one third of the seven million Australians who downloaded the Covidsafe app have not updated to the most recent version, as new figures show the government spend on the contact tracing app has risen to $14m.The Covidsafe contact tracing app relies on as many people as possible running it, but new data reveals that more than two million users do not have the most up-to-date version.In the nine months since the federal government launched the app, it has only identified 17 close contacts th

Google admits to running 'experiments' which remove some media sites from its search results

Guardian Technology 13 Jan 2021 08:12 AM Google has sought to downplay the significance of the move by noting the company conducts ‘tens of thousands of experiments in Google Search’ every year. Photograph: Spencer Platt/Getty Images Google has been hiding some Australian news sites from search results, in a move media outlets say is a show of “extraordinary power” as the tech company bargains with the Australian government over financial payment for content. The Australian government is attempting to impose a new code on Google and F

2020 saw showdowns between platforms and governments, with publishers set to benefit

What's New in Publishing 12 Jan 2021 08:30 AM Legislative pressures around the world are set to force the platforms to play nice with publishers. Some are taking pre-emptive steps, with licensing deals putting money back in publisher’s pockets…for now. Esther Kezia Thorpe rounds up 2020 in platforms as part of our Media Moments 2020 report. We will remember 2020 as the year of Covid-19, but for platforms, it will be the year legislative pressures finally boiled over. In the US, multiple Congressional hearings have focused on antitrust, cens

Introducing...a smartphone microscope the size of your finger – Future Blink

Mashable 08 Jan 2021 08:05 PM [unable to retrieve full-text content]The iMicro Q2 is a tiny fingertip microscope that fits on any smartphone. Read more...More about Mashable Video, Microscope, Smartphone Camera, Smartphone Accessories, and Future Blink

'Always be charging': is the great Australian road trip ready to go electric?

Guardian Technology 07 Jan 2021 04:30 PM Australia’s Great Ocean Road: ‘A famously winding and undulating road ... eats battery power much faster,’ says Oliver Pelling. Photograph: Roman Skorzus/Getty Images/iStockphoto The first blunder of my all-electric road trip occurs in Lorne, some 145km from my Melbourne home. I know, thanks to the PlugShare app – which maps most of the publicly available charging points in Australia – that there is a charger at Lorne Visitor Information Centre. What I don’t know, until I get there, is that thi

Texts, tweets and posts have replaced letters. Is our history becoming transitory?

Guardian Technology 30 Dec 2020 10:58 PM ‘People rarely write letters anymore. What sort of records are we creating now, in this year of 2020, the strangest one of all?’ Photograph: Westend61/Getty Images In the process of removing the final vestiges of my things from my parents’ house this year I find a letter from my nana – Big Nana (because she was tall), not Little Nana (who wasn’t) – written in her familiar curly script. “Last Sunday I went to D’s 80th birthday luncheon – an exciting collection of old has-beens! One old lady said

2020 round-up – the year in creative: Mouldy Whoppers, #StayAtHome, BLM & Ocean Spray

The Drum 18 Dec 2020 09:00 AM By Imogen Watson-18 December 2020 09:00amAs we wave goodbye to 2020, a year like no other, The Drum team is rounding up some of the key stories, interviews and work that have shaped the year. From media to marketing, creativity to digital transformation. Despite the pandemic hindering production, creative in 2020 has been monumental As we get ready to shake the dust off 2020, The Drum is rounding up some of the key stories, interviews and work that have shaped the year. Today, creative reporter

Tinder makes it easier to report bad actors using ‘unmatch’ to hide from victims

Tech Crunch 07 Dec 2020 03:32 PM TechCrunch is part of Verizon Media. We and our partners will store and/or access information on your device through the use of cookies and similar technologies, to display personalised ads and content, for ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Your personal data that may be used Information about your device and internet connection, including your IP address Browsing and search activity while using Verizon Media websites and apps Precise location Find out more a

Morrison government’s updated Covidsafe app unlikely to improve results, experts say

Guardian Technology 30 Nov 2020 08:49 AM Technology experts have criticised the federal government for not using Apple and Google’s contact-tracing system in an overhaul of the Covidsafe app it announced on Monday, with one cryptographer saying they would be “astounded” if the upgrade performs as well as the framework being used in other countries.Experts have also criticised the government for not engaging with the tech community before announcing the app’s central change – which largely focuses on using a new Bluetooth protocol – giv

Amplify rejigs UK team as founder Jonathan Emmins turns focus to global growth

Campaign 26 Nov 2020 02:49 PM Amplify has restructured its UK management team as its leaders, including founder Jonathan Emmins, turn their focus to group and global opportunities across the US and Australia. The UK team will be led by head of content Alex Wilson; head of production Richie Gage; head of strategy Sophy Vanner Critoph; and Zoe Lewis, who has been promoted to head of client services from head of live. They will report to Emmins along with Amplify's six other partners: chief executive Anton Mercier; strategy par

Fortnite maker Epic Games sues Apple in Australia for App Store ban

Guardian Technology 18 Nov 2020 02:55 AM The company behind the popular online video game Fortnite is suing Apple in Australia for allegedly misusing its market power by taking a slice of all revenue earned by apps on iPhones, iPads and Macs.Fortnite is a big money maker for Epic, with millions of daily users logging billions of hours on the game each month. It is forecast to bring in US$5bn in revenue in 2020.However, Epic Games has long complained about Google and Apple’s policies of taking between 15% and 30% of all transactions mad

Google's Australian addition to its mobile AR puts koalas in your house

Mashable 11 Nov 2020 11:09 PM If you can't get a real live koala, AR is fine.Image: Google If you can't go to Australia to pet the koalas, the koalas will now come to you — sort of. Google has added eight Australian animals to its collection of mobile AR creatures, allowing users to size up animated 3D renditions of the country's native fauna. It's an entertaining little update, and a good tool to help you determine which ones you could take in a fight. (The answer, by the way, is "none of them," because the Australian ani

These digital pop-up shops could be the future of contactless shopping — Future Blink

Mashable 02 Nov 2020 05:08 PM [unable to retrieve full-text content]Getting physical goods on-the-go just got a little easier. Digital pop-up shops offer a full shopping experience thanks to high tech kiosks. Read more...More about Mashable Video, Contactless Payments, Pop Up Shop, Covid 19, and Future Blink

QR codes: how an old technology could help contact tracers keep the pandemic in check

Guardian Technology 30 Oct 2020 07:00 PM More and more businesses and venues put up QR code posters so people can check in via their phones. Photograph: Neil Hall/EPA Businesses across Australia are being encouraged or required to keep logs of who has been in their establishment in case of a Covid-19 outbreak. Many choose to use paper and pen to keep records, but increasingly QR code posters are up so people can check in via their phones. What is a QR code? Quick response code is a computer-generated image that looks a bit like a barc

Through Covid, journalists have regained the public’s trust in the press

What's New in Publishing 29 Oct 2020 06:50 AM OPINION The British public have a turbulent relationship with the publishing media. In May we read reports that in a YouGov poll almost three-quarters of people didn’t trust newspaper journalists. At the time this was attributed to the way the press had reported on the emerging Coronavirus pandemic, with accusations they were out of step with the mood of the nation. So in light of that, it was particularly heartening to read recently that Newsworks’ “World Without News” study showed that two-th

Traditional publishers stand to win in scorched earth aftermath of struggle with tech giants

What's New in Publishing 09 Oct 2020 07:54 AM The Australian government’s attempt to make Google and Facebook pay for news looks likely to destroy media startups caught in the crossfire as the platform giants become more extreme in their reactions to the proposed regulation. Weeks ago, Facebook announced it would ban news on social network feeds in Australia if legislation that forced them to strike deals with news companies went ahead. The expectation that Facebook’s definition of “news” will be drawn widely to avoid any legal fallout has

Great Barrier Reef: Can tech help the coral survive?

BBC Technology 07 Oct 2020 05:25 AM Australia’s Great Barrier Reef is the largest living structure on Earth measuring over 1,400 miles (2,300km) long.But rising water temperatures and a changing environment is causing the coral to bleach (turn white) and become more stressed.In March 2020 the reef suffered a third mass bleaching event in five years.BBC Click’s Nick Kwek looks at how science and technology could help give the reef a greater chance of survival.See more at Click's website and @BBCClick

The tech putting the beef into Australian cattle farming

BBC Technology 21 Sep 2020 05:08 AM Australia is the world’s second largest exporter of beef, and the farms are enormous - they can be the size of small nations - making it difficult for farmers to keep across all their livestock.So there is an increasing reliance on technology to monitor cattle. The tech can check, weight, health, eating habits, when cows give birth and even ensure there is enough water to drink.BBC Click's Nick Kwek went to Rockhampton, the Beef Capital of Australia, to find out more.See more at Click's website

Releasing Covidsafe app usage numbers could risk public safety, government claims

Guardian Technology 19 Sep 2020 08:00 PM The federal government has refused to release information on the number of Australians still using the Covidsafe contact tracing app, on the grounds it could risk public safety and harm commonwealth-state relations.Covidsafe relies on large numbers of the population running the app on their phones when out in the community to help identify close contacts in the event of an individual positive Covid-19 test.Since the app’s launch in April, the government has used the number of downloads to sell t

The LG Wing is a dual-screen wonder

Mashable 19 Sep 2020 12:02 AM [unable to retrieve full-text content]Mashable tech reporter Brenda Stolyar gets her hands on the new LG swivel screen phone. Read more...More about Tech, Smartphone, Mashable Video, Lg, and Lg Wing

Platforms vs. Publishers: Australia is just the start, Facebook and Google are fighting a global battle

What's New in Publishing 14 Sep 2020 06:15 AM Google and Facebook have launched a nationwide public relations campaign in response to the Australian Consumer and Competition Commission’s draft news media bargaining code. Rather than agree to negotiate with media companies to pay for using news content, Google has launched petitions and written an open letter complaining of the “risk” to its services, while Facebook has threatened to stop distributing news on its platform. At first glance, these responses might look like overreactions. For m

Platforms vs. Publishers: Australia is just the start, Facebook and Google are fighting a global battle

What's New in Publishing 14 Sep 2020 06:15 AM Google and Facebook have launched a nationwide public relations campaign in response to the Australian Consumer and Competition Commission’s draft news media bargaining code. Rather than agree to negotiate with media companies to pay for using news content, Google has launched petitions and written an open letter complaining of the “risk” to its services, while Facebook has threatened to stop distributing news on its platform. At first glance, these responses might look like overreactions. For m

TikTok admits restricting some LGBT hashtags

BBC Technology 10 Sep 2020 11:51 AM *:not([hidden]):not(style) ~ *:not([hidden]):not(style){margin-top:1rem;}]]>By Chris FoxTechnology reporter img{overflow:hidden;position:absolute;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;left:0;display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-box-pack:center;-webkit-justify-content:center;-ms-flex-pack:center;justify-content:center;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;width:100%;height:100%;object-fit:cover;}]]> *:not([hidde

“The business model that was broken is being re-made through technology”: How digital is helping publishers find new revenue streams

What's New in Publishing 09 Sep 2020 10:45 AM More people are consuming news more frequently, Australian media report finds Global paid digital circulation volumes of newspapers increased by 307% to reach 31.5M paying subscribers between 2013 and 2018. Print circulation figures fell by 0.5% during the same period, according to Australian Media Landscape Trends, a new report by AlphaBeta. Across all news publications globally, the fall in paid print subscriptions has been more than offset by growth in paid digital news subscriptions. Betwee

6 things you missed over summer

What's New in Publishing 09 Sep 2020 06:37 AM In this first episode back following an… eventful summer for media, the team discusses six topics you might have missed over the past month. Key stories: Facebook & Google vs. Australia The yin and yang of print magazines Podcast coverage goes mainstream Apple vs. Epic, Facebook and publishers The unstoppable rise of reader revenue plays Vogue Business must be quick learners. Only been in B2B for 18 months but comfortable enough to now will launch a membership model.Really curious about how

Australia's conspiracy theorists are increasingly energised, but police crackdowns may be counterproductive | Elliott Brennan

Guardian Technology 07 Sep 2020 04:48 AM Protesters scuffle with Victorian police at the anti-lockdown ‘Freedom Day’ protest on Saturday. Photograph: James Ross/EPA Saturday, 5 September was supposed to be the day Australian history was irreconcilably changed. It was to be “Freedom Day”, the day when “real” Aussies took back control of the streets, their airways and their collective destiny. Rather than changing it, the protests amounted to what might constitute a footnote in an awfully specific history of Australia. Disparate groups

State of play: Where the battle with Google and Facebook to pay for news is hottest

Digiday 07 Sep 2020 04:01 AM September 7, 2020 by Lucinda Southern For over a decade, regional publishers have been battling with Google, and more recently Facebook, to reimburse them for distributing publisher content on their free platforms. Those spats seem to be heating up as publisher pursuit of revenue during the coronavirus-induced recession becomes increasingly fraught. While the skirmishes differ in each region, there are a few recurring similarities; regulators want to “level the playing field” on monopolistic te

Why Google and Facebook are being asked to pay for the news they use – explainer

Guardian Technology 04 Sep 2020 08:00 PM The Australian government has released draft legislation to compel Google and Facebook to negotiate with Australian media companies. The digital platforms have responded aggressively, warning users of dire consequences and, in the case of Facebook, threatening to remove news from Australian Facebook pages. Here’s what the fight is about.Why does the Australian government think Google and Facebook should make payments to Australian media companies?It’s all about the relative market power of the n

How much should Facebook have to pay for news? We have a suggestion

What's New in Publishing 04 Sep 2020 09:39 AM The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s draft news media bargaining code has raised an interesting question: how to put a dollar value on news content? Under the code, Google and Facebook would be forced to pay for Australian news published on their sites to help fund public interest journalism. The code also proposes the establishment of a “final offer arbitration bargaining process” to negotiate the conditions of exchange between old and new media. This means the parties must barg

It’s not ‘fair’ and it won’t work: An argument against the ACCC’s news media bargaining code

What's New in Publishing 03 Sep 2020 07:00 AM Google and Facebook have threatened to limit or remove news services for Australian users, in response to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s draft news media bargaining code. This week, Facebook announced should the code become law, the company would stop letting publishers and users share local and international news on its Australian Facebook and Instagram sites. Google has also made implicit threats to limit its Australian news services – potentially by removing Google News

Facebook moves to block sharing of news stories in Australia

What's New in Publishing 01 Sep 2020 07:30 AM Facebook has announced it will ban publishers and people in Australia from sharing local and international news on Facebook and Instagram if a proposal to force tech giants to pay for news becomes law. The announcement follows the release of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s draft news media bargaining code, under which Google and Facebook would be forced to pay for news on their sites to help fund public interest journalism. Treasurer Josh Frydenberg announced in April the co

Facebook moves to block sharing of news stories in Australia

What's New in Publishing 01 Sep 2020 07:30 AM Facebook has announced it will ban publishers and people in Australia from sharing local and international news on Facebook and Instagram if a proposal to force tech giants to pay for news becomes law. The announcement follows the release of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s draft news media bargaining code, under which Google and Facebook would be forced to pay for news on their sites to help fund public interest journalism. Treasurer Josh Frydenberg announced in April the co

7 Innovative (But Simple) Ways Hotels Can Survive the Covid-19 Travel Crunch

Entrepeneur 27 Aug 2020 05:00 PM Image credit: Jon Lovette | Getty Images August 27, 2020 7 min read Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. Before Covid-19 slammed the breaks on air travel, the revenue forecasts for the global hotel trade were looking rosy. Corporate travel expenditure alone was projected in some forecasts to grow into a $1.7 trillion industry mega-segment by 2023. But, thanks to coronavirus, instead of harvesting one of the biggest revenue growth-spurts in the history of hotels, hoteli

Pay for news or face a digital tax: A warning to Google and Facebook, from down under

What's New in Publishing 26 Aug 2020 07:00 AM Have you used Google lately and been greeted by a yellow warning saying that the way Australians search on Google is under threat? Image: ShutterstockTo understand why these messages are appearing, Media Files interviewed former chair of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), Professor Allan Fels, and CEO of the Public Interest Journalism Initiative (PIJI), Anna Draffin (full recording below, recorded from home due to the pandemic). Theme music: Susie WilkinsThis episode of M

Dentsu Aegis folds Vizeum into iProspect in Australia

Campaign 24 Aug 2020 10:18 AM Dentsu Aegis Network has announced a "further simplification" of its media business in Australia, integrating the Vizeum brand into performance-marketing agency iProspect. As part of this change, Ashley Earnshaw has resigned from his role as chief exexcutive of Vizeum, the company said. Asked if Vizeum would be merged into iProspect in other markets, a DAN spokesperson said the change is only for Australia. Oliver Rapson, chief executive of iProspect, will see his role expanded to integrate the

News publishers fight tech giants for better deals

BBC Technology 21 Aug 2020 04:37 AM Image copyright Reuters Technology giants are facing calls from news publishers for a better share of revenues from Australia to America.US news outlets, including the New York Times, have asked Apple to reduce the cut it takes when subscriptions are taken out on its app store.Earlier this week Google clashed with an Australian watchdog that wants it to pay more for the news content it uses.As online firms like Apple and Google have grown, many news providers are struggling to survive.Digital C

Explained: Google’s tussle in Australia over paying publishers for news

Digiday 19 Aug 2020 04:01 AM August 19, 2020 by Lara O'Reilly This week, Google has ramped up its lobbying efforts in Australia after the competition regulator there issued a draft bill that proposes forcing tech giants to pay publishers for their news content. Should the new Australian rules be introduced, it could pave the way for other global jurisdictions to follow suit — not least as regulatory pressure continues to ramp up on the digital giants in Europe. Here’s what global publishers need to know about the latest r

Covidsafe app overhaul compensates for 'handshakes' only connecting 27% of the time on some iPhones

Guardian Technology 18 Aug 2020 11:53 AM The Covidsafe app has had an overhaul of the algorithm for determining close contacts to improve the functionality of the app on iPhones. Photograph: Dave Hunt/AAP The makers of the Covidsafe app have had to overhaul the algorithm for determining close contacts to improve the functionality of the app on iPhones, Guardian Australia has learned, as new data suggests it is working only 27% of the time on some Apple mobiles. Since launching in April, the Covidsafe app has consistently struggled to

In a world first, Australia releases a “media bargaining code” to force Facebook and Google to pay for news

What's New in Publishing 03 Aug 2020 07:00 AM The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has released its draft news media bargaining code, announced by Treasurer Josh Frydenberg. The draft code allows commercial news businesses to bargain – individually or collectively – with Google and Facebook, in order to be paid for news the tech giants publish on their services. According to ACCC chair Rod Sims, the code aims to address the bargaining power imbalance between news publishers and major digital platforms, to bring about fair paym

In a world first, Australia releases a “media bargaining code” to force Facebook and Google to pay for news

What's New in Publishing 03 Aug 2020 07:00 AM The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has released its draft news media bargaining code, announced by Treasurer Josh Frydenberg. The draft code allows commercial news businesses to bargain – individually or collectively – with Google and Facebook, in order to be paid for news the tech giants publish on their services. According to ACCC chair Rod Sims, the code aims to address the bargaining power imbalance between news publishers and major digital platforms, to bring about fair paym

‘Inactivewear’ to make binge-watching Australians more comfortable under lockdown

The Drum 10 Jul 2020 08:44 AM Inactivewear will be made up of 19 individual pieces, including crew neck jumpers. Australia-based over-the-top platform Binge has teamed up with e-commerce platform The Iconic to create unisex loungewear for users who streaming shows at home during the Covid-19 lockdown.The loungewear, called ’Inactivewear’, aims to allow Binge’s users to watch shows on the platform in maximum comfort, according to The Iconic. Over half of Australians (57%) stated they have streamed at least 20% more content w

This tiny cable can charge all of your devices — Future Blink

Mashable 02 Jul 2020 07:18 PM [unable to retrieve full-text content]The inCharge6 is designed for charging on the go and works like a Swiss knife. Read more...More about Tech, Iphone, Smartphone, Mashable Video, and Future Blink

‘Stay ahead of regulations’: Publishers question Google’s motives in paying for news

Digiday 26 Jun 2020 04:02 AM June 26, 2020 by Lucinda Southern Google has made an about face in offering to license news content from publishers, after saying in September last year it would not strike such deals in France. One way of understanding the reasoning behind the change is to look at the regulation profile of where it’s running the project (and with whom) — and where it’s not. In a blog post Thursday, Google said it’s starting the initiative — paying publishers to display news — in three countries: Australia, Ger

Coronavirus: Contact-tracing apps face further hitches

BBC Technology 15 Jun 2020 02:42 PM By Leo Kelion Technology desk editor Image copyright Reuters Norway's health authority has had to delete all data gathered via its Covid-19 contact-tracing app and suspend further use of the tool.The Norwegian Data Protection Authority ruled the Smittestopp app represented a disproportionate intrusion into users' privacy.A switch to a rival design backed by Apple and Google is being considered.Elsewhere, researchers say a bug in the latest version of Australia's app means many iPhones fail to l

How are marketers in Australia coping with reduced ad budgets during Covid-19?

The Drum 15 Jun 2020 04:08 AM How are marketers in Australia spending their money? In times of immense pressure and reduced budgets, there is a natural human reaction to revert to what you know and trust. The same can be said for ad spend but as lockdown measures ease, marketers could find new channels to invest in.This is reflected in online advertising growth in Australia slowing in the first quarter of 2020, delivering overall year-on-year growth of 3.8%, due to the impact of the post-holiday season, bushfires and Covid-

Facebook incorrectly removes picture of Aboriginal men in chains because of 'nudity'

Guardian Technology 12 Jun 2020 11:11 PM Facebook incorrectly removed a post critical of the prime minister’s comments regarding slavery in Australia that featured a photograph of Aboriginal men in neck chains from the late 1800s, claiming the photo featured nudity.On Thursday, Scott Morrison said that there was no slavery in this country.On Friday he backed down from those comments and acknowledged the history of blackbirding in Australia – where people were coerced into working as indentured labourers, often through deception or forc

‘Venus flytrap hand’ has gentle touch and other tech news

BBC Technology 05 Jun 2020 06:05 AM BBC Click's Paul Carter looks at some of the best of the week's technology news stories including:Facebook staff stage a “virtual walkout” after civil rights leaders warn Mark Zuckerberg is setting a "dangerous precedent" by allowing a post by Donald Trump to remain on the platform. Mr Zuckerberg has previously defended his decision to leave the post up on Facebook, saying he disagreed with Mr Trump's words but that people "should be able to see this for themselves" A picture of a lake, cloudy s

Hone your green thumb with this personalized gardening app — Future Blink

Mashable 03 Jun 2020 05:51 PM [unable to retrieve full-text content]The GrowSquares app walks you through each step of your gardening journey from which plants to order to when to water them. Read more...More about Tech, Food, Mashable Video, Gardening, and Smartphone Accessories

Drones keep a close eye on Australia’s wildlife

BBC Technology 01 Jun 2020 06:45 AM Australia's wildlife is under threat from disease and bushfires. But now drones and thermal imaging technology are being used to track their movements to help keep them safe.BBC Click's Nick Kwek joined a team spotting kangaroos and koalas to find out more. The film was made before the coronavirus lockdown.See more at Click's website and @BBCClick

The Telegraph, Financial Times, Hearst headline Digiday Media Awards Europe finalists

Digiday 21 May 2020 01:49 PM May 21, 2020 by Digiday Awards A digital-native brand, a TV trailblazer and an age-old print stalwart broke onto the 2020 shortlist for Digiday Media Awards Europe. The honorees all shared a commitment to embracing new platforms and formats — often with a social-media and video-first mindset. These media brands also explored vital issues, from elections to equality in sports, while engaging with younger audiences attuned to narratives of social and political awareness. In their pursuit of bran

Turn your analog camera digital with this device — Future Blink

Mashable 13 May 2020 08:11 PM [unable to retrieve full-text content]I'm Back 35 attaches to the back of your camera and adds a digital sensor that allows your analog camera to take digital photos. Read more...More about Tech, Mashable Video, Camera, Future Blink, and Vintage Photos

Australia wins AI 'Eurovision Song Contest'

BBC Technology 12 May 2020 07:16 PM By Jane Wakefield Technology reporter Image copyright Uncanny Valley An Australian team has won a competition to write a hit Eurovision song using artificial intelligence.An editor for Dutch broadcaster VPRO had the idea, after the Netherlands won last year's Eurovision Song Contest.And it grew into an international effort after this year's contest was cancelled because of the coronavirus pandemic.The winning song, Beautiful the World, was inspired by nature's recovery from the bushfires earlie

Coronavirus: What is the sound of music during a pandemic?

BBC Technology 24 Apr 2020 11:15 PM By Jane Wakefield Technology reporter Image copyright Rotterdam Philharmonic orchestra Lockdown has seen opera singers belt out arias from their balconies and families recreate entire musicals in their living rooms.Pop stars like Chris Martin and Gary Barlow have set up intimate jamming sessions while Radiohead is streaming one of its concerts for free every week until lockdown ends.The music has not stopped but it is a little bit harder to make it.The rest of the population may be turning to v

Can Australia save local journalism by forcing Google and Facebook to share out ad revenue?

The Drum 22 Apr 2020 10:59 PM Australia levels playing field between newspapers, Facebook and Google / prima91 - stock.adobe.com The Sunraysia Daily is a tabloid newspaper that’s been published in the north-western Sunraysia region of Victoria, Australia since 1920. Staff there had been looking forward to celebrating the title’s centenary later this year, but on 24 March they were called into a meeting and told the 28 March issue would be its last. Until further notice at least. Directors and senior management informed staf

Don't get hung up on these phone problems

Mashable 22 Apr 2020 03:05 PM Watch and learn which specs make all the difference for your phone.

Camera tech catches motorists using their mobiles

BBC Technology 22 Apr 2020 06:38 AM Cameras which can spot motorists using their phones while driving have been officially rolled in New South Wales, Australia.The company behind the technology says the system is capable of working in day or night, in all weather conditions and automatically filters out the majority of people who are driving correctly.Those caught face fines of up to A$457 ($290, £230) and up to 10 demerit points on their licence.BBC Click’s Nick Kwek finds out more.See more at Click's website and @BBCClick

Coronavirus: EU and Australian tracing apps 'ready in weeks'

BBC Technology 17 Apr 2020 02:00 PM Image copyright Getty Images Coronavirus contact-tracing apps will be rolled out in Europe and Australia in the next two to four weeks, officials say.Germany's health minister Jens Spahn said his country's app would be ready to download in three to four weeks.Meanwhile, Australia and Denmark plan to push out apps within two weeks.Australian prime minister Scott Morrison said using the app would be voluntary to begin with - but he did not rule out making it compulsory.Contact-tracing apps are be

How traditional Australian brands can change business model during coronavirus

The Drum 15 Apr 2020 05:37 AM Brands need to employ a nimble test and learn approach to marketing and innovation in product development. Traditional Australian brands should focus on four key areas, according to the IAB, to adapt to the direct brand model to address the rapidly changing market condition during the coronavirus pandemic (Covid-19).Brands need to understand the opportunity of direct-to-consumer, including the value of using new channels and routes to market that offer first-party data relationships, return to

Chip Shop Chat: Ian Mann from 1000Heads talks 'Lego Australia' entry

The Drum 09 Apr 2020 06:06 AM [embedded content] The Chip Shop Awards is the only creative celebration of advertising with no rules in the world and open to all levels of experience when it comes to creative practitioners.The annual ceremony will once again feature categories such as Best Stunt or Experience, Best Ad Which Really Should Run, Best Shop Window Post Card and even Best Use of Bad Taste.With nominations now being accepted for this year, we're discussing the creative ideas behind 2020's potential nominees in a se

Audi launches meditative ‘slow TV’ four-hour film for social media

The Drum 08 Apr 2020 04:04 AM Audi launches meditative ‘slow TV’ four-hour film for social media Audi has created a film that it hopes will help people stuck indoors to get a sense of a trip out on the open road.The four-hour-long film is designed to have a relaxing effect by taking Australians currently at home on lockdown, due to coronavirus, out to the New South Wales Central Tablelands. Nikki Warburton, chief customer and marketing officer at Audi Australia, said: “During this difficult time for many of us, Audi wanted

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