Category Archive for ‘The Cloud’ at diversity.net.nz

Archive for the 'The Cloud' Category

MYOB on the block

Published by Ben Kepes on November 19, 2008 in Business, IT, SaaS, Strategy and The Cloud. 2 Comments

Interesting to read that suitors are coming from far and wide for MYOB.

Guinness Peat Group is supporting a takeover for the business in which it already holds a 13.6% stake. It has joined in with another three investors who jointly hold 34% of the company to form a united takeover body.

Even funnier to read was the suggestion that Sage has approached MYOB looking for an acquisition - if ever someone wanted a case of two old world players (very large and profitable old world players it must be said) looking to dance the Samba before their industry dies, this is it. Sage is apparently impressed with MYOB’s investment in cutting edge technology. They must have upgraded the water coolers and coffee machines recently, because there’s nothing obvious with their software which deserves the term “cutting edge”.

My assessment of MYOB is that it’s a highly lucrative business which has however, significant medium term risks that it’s facing.

Like other traditional desktop software companies it needs to make the change, at least in the medium term, to an on-demand delivery method and with that go through the pain in terms of revenue and profit. The potential investors will know this and will either be looking to make an opportunistic purchase while during a time of economic uncertainty or alternatively will be confident that MYOB can ride out the culture shift that it’s going to have to face over the next few years.

My assessment is that the bid is more of the former than the latter and that much underestimation is happening in terms of the impact that Cloud Computing will have on MYOB’s bottom line.

Watch this space!

Could We Be Getting an Australasian Data Centre?

Published by Ben Kepes on November 7, 2008 in Business, Efficiency, IT, New Zealand, Strategy and The Cloud. 4 Comments

News that the self-proclaimed Google “Duke of Data Centers” is in Australia holding some high level talks. Despite Google’s staunch “nether confirm nor deny” policy, some leaks seem to indicate potential for a Google data centre to be built in Australia.

Clearly Australasia is a little hamstrung partly by the latency issues caused by having most of our data sources on the other side of the world, but also because our content predominantly sits on the other side of the world. So potentially a local data centre could make life easier for us - depending on exactly what Google does with it’s data centres - if they used an Australasian data centre as a massive cache store - speeds here could be improved greatly.

There are potentially some implications for locally based data centres - with Google’s economies of scale where des it leave Australasian based business storage providers - with a much smaller customer base is the only conclusion I can come to.

The other question is what happens to the smattering of web services that the big telco’s provide? With localised (both faster and less jurisdictional concerns) and cheaper options they’ve got to be watching this one very carefully.

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And the Winner Is…..

Published by Ben Kepes on October 30, 2008 in Blogroll, SaaS and The Cloud. 1 Comment

After an unprecedented response (people are so shallow out there - you offer something free and they swarm like vultures) the time has come to make the draw in the Diversity Bleeding Edge Competition.

First though I’d like to run you through the exceptionally high tech process used to decide the winner.

Step One - The Holy Grail

It might look like just a hat to you but don’t be fooled. Given to the Editor by his brother nigh on two decades ago, this is a genuine, made in Porirua hat from none other than Hills Hats. Obtained (possibly with a dodgy twist - I wouldn’t know) when my brother was doing some work for the former proprietor Harry de Krey.

Step Two - It’s All in the Tool of Choice

And this, dear reader, may look like a simple pair of scissors but in fact it is a genuine pair of Tupperware scissors bought, unbeknownst to me, by my wife at one of those God-awful Tupperware party that I thought only happened in deepest, darkest suburbia. They’re actually quite cool, with a flick of the wrist they split into two pieces - great for cleaning!

Step Three - Papier!

This dear readers may look like a simple piece of (recycled - or post consumer for those in the know) paper….. and it is. (I used the other side)

Step Four - My Lovely Assistant (Actually More Cute Than Lovely)

Age 6 1/2 and he already has high-stress roles to fulfil - this time he was chief assistant deputy vice president for selection facilitation.

Enough of that - Who Won?

OK - I’m pleased to announce that the winner of the inaugural Diversity On the Edge competition was JAG from Adelaide, South Australia. Thanks everyone for entering and stay tuned for more free stuff from time to time.

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Diversity Competition - Experience Life at the Edge

Published by Ben Kepes on October 10, 2008 in Business, Business and the Environment, Efficiency, IT, SaaS and The Cloud. 81 Comments

Over on Geekzone Mauricio wants to send someone into space. Here on Diversity we’re not up to that level (yet) but we do want to send someone to the bleeding edge.

I’m a firm believer in the Net PC concept - the idea that a low power machine, leveraging web applications and storage, is a useful tool - lightweight in terms of ecological footprint and lightweight in terms of cost.

I’m excited to introduce TechNovus, a company out of Australia that is launching their hybrid Cloud Computer to the Australasian market. As part of their launch, and in recognition of the fact that Diversity is a Cloud Computing evangelist, TechNovus and us are joining together to run a competition. One lucky winner will receive - gratis - a Nova Navigator ‘hybrid’ cloud computer along with a 6 month subscription to TechNovus’ cloud based applications.

The subscription gives users Cloud based updates, protection, storage and applications - after the trial period the subscription will run to around $20/month - not much for a managed, secure and accessible environment!

The Nova Navigator is a smart, low energy, low cost and completely managed computing solution. It provides customers with a choice of apps from Windows, Linux or Mac with Peace of Mind Computing.

The specifications of their device are as follows;

Processor: 1.6Ghz Intel Atom
Size: 12in X 10in X 2.5in
Multi OS: Windows, Linux, & Mac Apps
Local Apps: Firefox, Skype, Mediaplayer, Multi network IM, Notepad, Image Viewer
Cloud Apps: Open Office, MS Office*, Others coming soon
Storage: 50 GB online storage, use from anywhere through a browser
Devices Supported: USB I/O Devices (Keyboard, Mouse, Mass Storage Devices like USB Drives, External HDD, Printers)
Audio: In - Microphone, Out - Speaker
Networks: Ethernet, USB Wifi Dongle Supported
Technical Support (Phone & Email): Free
Peace of Mind: Yes (No Virus, No Spyware and No Software Installations)
Energy Consumption: Maximum of 22W
Req. Bandwidth: Works with 512Kbps connection, 1 Mbps recommended

So how do you enter? Simple really - write a comment on the bottom of this post and you’re in with a chance. We’ll draw a name using a top-secret random number generator (some pieces of paper and a hat) and TechNovus will ship the device directly to the winner.

Entry is only available for our Oceania readers (but that’s only fair - normally we get cut out of US competitions) and the winner will be drawn on the day of the official launch of the Nova Navigator - October 27th.

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