Digest - Thursday the 12th of May 2016

NAS Team Member Bio

Matthew Kimberley

In 1996 I received my Bachelor of Business degree from QUT and began working at Raleigh Paper with my father who was the Queensland branch manager. Working alongside Dad in those early years were some of the most enjoyable and professionally enriching of my life and to this day I strive to live up to the values he instilled in me. It was also during this time that I began dating Kim, who I later married. In 1997 I formed my first band Floodboy with four of my friends from high school and I developed a lasting passion for music. Floodboy supported several national touring bands during our time together, including Alex Lloyd, The Whitlams, and Mental As Anything, as well as recorded with Aria Award winning producers Magoo and Steve James.

I moved to Melbourne in 2003 with Kim to pursue my career in the music industry. I worked several different day jobs to support this endeavour including stints at Avon Graphics and LSE Technology which was a part of the Leighton Contractors Group. At LSE I was proud to be involved in the roll out of the Emergency Services Alert Network, which provided paging communications to the Rural Ambulance Service, Country Fire Authority, and State Emergency Service. Whilst living in Melbourne, I enjoyed my greatest success in the music industry, performing sets at St Kilda Festival, Peats Ridge Festival, One Movement Festival, and the 2008 Big Day Out with my Melbourne band The Pryor Theory. I also had the pleasure of attaining high rotation airplay on triple J radio with The Pryor Theory for our single "Caught in the Middle" which earned a 5/5 star review from Richard Kingsmill himself.

I returned to Brisbane in 2008 after 5 fruitful years in Melbourne in order to be closer to my family and worked at JB Hi Fi for 6 years before taking up the opportunity to work at NAS. In many ways my job at NAS reminds me of my time working at Raleigh Paper many years ago, and I am honoured to be accepted by the team and excited by the prospects going forward.

NAS Australia Joins NECA

As our product range continues to diversify and allied industries converge through IP, it was time for NAS to join a proactive Industry Organisation to assist us to ensure our products allow best installation practices whilst adhering to relevant standards.  With this goal in mind, NAS is proud to announce we have joined the NECA Network.

News Articles

Queensland Electricity Distributors Merger

It has been reported recently that the Palaszczuk Government is planning to merge Ergon and Energex.  According to the government, the merged business will offer new services that others struggle to provide.  Suffice to say, Industry is not happy.

NECA expresses surprise with Ergon and Energex

"The Executive Director of the National Electrical and Communications Association (NECA) Queensland Chapter, Mr Mick Logan has expressed his surprise at reports that the Queensland Government owned Ergon and Energex electricity distributors and regulators were preparing to set up a new business division to enter the electrical contracting sector."  The complete article can be accessed here.

Small business will strenuously oppose Energex-Ergon merger

"The Chamber of Commerce and Industry Queensland (CCIQ) will fight against any plan to allow a merged GOC between Energex and Ergon to compete against small business electrical contractors for services to Queensland households."

"CCIQ Director of Advocacy Nick Behrens warned that a monopoly GOC could not be allowed to enter the residential and commercial electrical contracting market."  The complete article can be accessed here.

No plans to compete for work from licensed electrical contractors

“While the final direction and business model for the overall merger of Ergon and Energex is still being finalised, we can assure contractors that the energy services business is expected to offer new services where there are limited service suppliers or resources available to customers such as in remote areas of Queensland including Indigenous communities."  The complete article can be accessed here.

Security

Security Firms to Face Challenges Ahead Amid Disruptions within the Smart Home Market: IHS

"As the smart home continues to evolve rapidly, security companies – who helped play a pivotal role in the growth of the industry – may soon find themselves bound by challenges in the years ahead, reports said."

"According to IHS Technology, companies in the security sector will be affected with the release of UL-compliant Z-Wave sensors in 2017. In other words, Z-Wave detectors can soon be used for professional alarm installations."  The complete article can be accessed here.

SVOD

Quickflix appoints Ferrier Hodgson as voluntary administrator

"ASX-listed video streaming pioneer Quickflix has called in a voluntary administrator after a restructure and cost cutting failed to save it from increased competition."  The complete article can be accessed here.

Netflix's global growth is slowing - and Australia is to blame

"The streaming video company reported its quarterly results in the US this morning. Shares have tanked by as much as 10 per cent in after hours trading, after it forecast weaker than expected growth in subscribers in the current quarter - and it turns out Australia is a key part of that."

"Netflix said it expects to add 2.5 million subscribers globally in the June quarter - 500,000 of them in the US, which is in line with previous quarters; but just 2 million in "international" markets -  down from 2.4 million a year earlier."
 
"The reason for the international slowdown? In a word, us." The complete article can be accessed here.

Netflix allocates $7.8 billion for creating original content in 2017

"NETFLIX is putting its money where its mouth is."

"In November it was announced that the streaming giant had pledged a staggering $US5 billion ($A6.49 billion) for producing original content this year."

"The unprecedented sum led many to tout the end of the company’s supreme dominance in the market. It was a risk, they said. It would tank the company’s previously surging stock price, they said."

"Well, despite the naysayers out there, Netflix is set to step it up again."  The complete article can be accessed here.

Foxtel

Foxtel has stopped marketing its iQ3 set-top box

"Foxtel has stopped marketing its troubled iQ3 set-top box as the pay TV giant scrambles to iron out bugs that have plagued the video recording device since it was launched just over a year ago."

"Foxtel's websites are now pushing earlier iterations of the box, the iQ2 and even the iQ1 with some offers, while all promotion of the much-heralded iQ3 box has been quietly removed."  The complete article can be accessed here.

FTA TV

Seven to finally broadcast footy in high definition

"AFL FANS across Australia will finally be able to watch free-to-air games in high definition.

Channel Seven has confirmed to AFL.com.au the HD simulcasts will begin on Friday night when Patrick Dangerfield returns to Adelaide Oval as the Cats face the Crows.

It's expected all games on Seven will be simulcast in HD from this weekend.

The HD telecasts will be shown on Channel 70, the network's newest channel, which went to air on Tuesday.

For fans in Melbourne and Adelaide, the 7HD channel will simulcast the network's main channel for AFL broadcasts.

For viewers in Perth, Sydney and Brisbane, 7HD will simulcast 7mate, which is the primary home for AFL telecasts in those cities." The complete article can be accessed here.

Ten Network has enlisted help from US-listed Brightcove to fix buffering on catch up TV service

"IF YOU consume your free-to-air television using an online catch up service, chances are you have encountered the spinning circle of death.

Slow buffering caused by commercial breaks inserted into programs is the cause of great concern for people wanting a seamless streaming of their favourite television shows.

To combat this issue, Ten Network has enlisted help from US-listed Brightcove to introduce anti-ad-blocking and server-side video-insertion technology across its online content." The complete article can be accessed here.

NBN

'Abandon FTTN for FTTdp': Internet Australia calls for NBN rethink

"Lobby group Internet Australia is calling for a rethink and urging the government and the opposition to "put politics aside and agree on a bipartisan NBN strategy".

This comes with the availability of new, lower cost, optical fibre used in FTTdp trials and survey results that show 80 per cent of Internet Australia members are dissatisfied with the current mixed-technology method (MTM)." The complete article can be accessed here.

IoT

Smart homes keep getting smarter

"Long before the first home was listed online, people have been searching for the perfect home: one that’s comfortable, efficient and safe. As this high-tech world we live in continues to bring new advancements to the market, more and more home buyers are also searching for a home that is smart.

I had the opportunity to serve on a panel at the 2016 CES Conference in Las Vegas, where it was confirmed that smart-home technology is quickly becoming mainstream. In fact, it’s happening even faster than many predicted.

A recent study by Coldwell Banker Real Estate, the Smart Home Marketplace Survey, revealed that almost half of all Americans either own smart-home technology or plan to purchase it this year. The survey, which polled more than 4,000 adults, also showed that more than one in four people who do not currently have smart-home technology say they will incorporate it into their lives in 2016." The complete article can be accessed here.

Who says Senior Citizens Can’t Keep Up with the Hype?

"While North America continues to account for the world’s largest share of the smart home market, a new study conducted by the National Smart Home Survey revealed that people over the age of 60 in the United States are more "extremely aware" about the evolving technology than their younger peers.

According to reports, 15.09 percent of those over 60 are "extremely aware and has multiple smart home devices at home," compared to 7.95 percent for the 45-59 age group, and 13.27 percent for 30-44, and 10.21 percent for 18-29, respectively." The complete article can be accessed here.

Technology

"Fortitude Valley to become Queensland's new Start-Up Precinct: Premier

Fortitude Valley will complement its night economy by becoming home to Queensland's newest Start-up Precinct.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced encouraging up to 500 start-up businesses to a new $4 million Start–Up Precinct in the historic TC Beirne Building in Fortitude Valley.

The move comes two months after Brisbane City Council announced a $5 million start-up innovation centre called the Capital, hosting 200 new business ideas in a building in the Queen Street Mall.

The council centre has prominent start-ups Fishburners and Little Tokyo Two as anchor tenants." The complete article can be accessed here.

Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak: Artificial intelligence revolution is near

"The man who helped bring Apple computers to the world says we're on the verge of an artificial intelligence revolution.

Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak told an innovation summit in Brisbane artificial intelligence would be the next big disrupter, separate from the digital revolution that changed the world with personal computers and smartphones." The complete article can be accessed here.

Wireless charging over distance the next big thing, says mobile phone inventor

"Wouldn't it be great if you never had to worry about your phone running out of juice ever again.

Well, the technology is here, and not only that — the very man who invented the mobile phone is backing it.

A little-known US company is developing wireless charging technology that can charge gadgets anywhere within a 30-foot radius of a charging dock, or "power router"." The complete article can be accessed here.

Economy

The reason to reduce the cash rate to 1.75% is explained by RBA Governor Glenn Stevens below.  I have highlighted some of the points of interest below in bold text.

Statement by Glenn Stevens, Governor: Monetary Policy Decision

"At its meeting today, the Board decided to lower the cash rate by 25 basis points to 1.75 per cent, effective 4 May 2016. This follows information showing inflationary pressures are lower than expected.

The global economy is continuing to grow, though at a slightly lower pace than earlier expected, with forecasts having been revised down a little further recently. While several advanced economies have recorded improved conditions over the past year, conditions have become more difficult for a number of emerging market economies. China's growth rate moderated further in the first part of the year, though recent actions by Chinese policymakers are supporting the near-term outlook.

Commodity prices have firmed noticeably from recent lows, but this follows very substantial declines over the past couple of years. Australia's terms of trade remain much lower than they had been in recent years.

Sentiment in financial markets has improved, after a period of heightened volatility early in the year. However, uncertainty about the global economic outlook and policy settings among the major jurisdictions continues. Funding costs for high-quality borrowers remain very low and, globally, monetary policy remains remarkably accommodative.

In Australia, the available information suggests that the economy is continuing to rebalance following the mining investment boom. GDP growth picked up over 2015, particularly in the second half of the year, and the labour market improved. Indications are that growth is continuing in 2016, though probably at a more moderate pace. Labour market indicators have been more mixed of late.

Inflation has been quite low for some time and recent data were unexpectedly low. While the quarterly data contain some temporary factors, these results, together with ongoing very subdued growth in labour costs and very low cost pressures elsewhere in the world, point to a lower outlook for inflation than previously forecast.

Monetary policy has been accommodative for quite some time. Low interest rates have been supporting demand and the lower exchange rate overall has helped the traded sector. Credit growth to households continues at a moderate pace, while that to businesses has picked up over the past year or so. These factors are all assisting the economy to make the necessary economic adjustments, though an appreciating exchange rate could complicate this.

In reaching today's decision, the Board took careful note of developments in the housing market, where indications are that the effects of supervisory measures are strengthening lending standards and that price pressures have tended to abate. At present, the potential risks of lower interest rates in this area are less than they were a year ago.

Taking all these considerations into account, the Board judged that prospects for sustainable growth in the economy, with inflation returning to target over time, would be improved by easing monetary policy at this meeting."  Reference.

Queensland resource sector job losses offset by gains in other industries

"Queensland services industry has more than compensated for the job losses associated with the resources sector downturn, new research has shown.

The research from the Australia Institute, a Canberra-based progressive think tank, found Queensland's services industry was expected to provide the majority of new jobs over the next decade.

It found health and community services, education, professional services and tourism-related services each grew over the past two years.

Each one of those sectors, according to the Australia Institute, created more new jobs that were lost from mining in that period."  The complete article can be accessed here.