Items filtered by date: Tuesday, 02 December 2014

New Zealand’s beleaguered developer ready with major global tech breakthroughs

Kim Dotcom might have faded in New Zealand, his adopted country that wants to evict him. But he is on fire in Europe with his Megaupload2 product which threatens to introduce a startling new tech innovation in the form of the marriage of file and money handling.

His new Megaupload2 product devolves into BNK2TheFuture (banking in the future) and Bitcache which is under the co-development of Englishman Simon Dickson of Bitcoin, writes our European correspondent.New Zealand’s latest information technology product takes the global IT industry into an entirely new sphere in terms of block size processing. The blocks being the size of the chunk of machine language that can be processed in any given split-second.

Traversing the block size bottleneck will give the new Megaupload2 the ability to process the mass micro finance/ file sharing transactions that gave its Mark 1 version Megaupload five percent of the world file sharing market.

According to Kim Dotcom the unique selling proposition of this new version from the user point of view will be complete security in terms of user identity and of content.

The scheme is to bestow economies of scale on content transactions in the entire news and publishing sphere which according to Mr Dotcom have both suffered from a mechanical inability to simultaneously issue something and then get paid for it.

In Europe Mr Dotcom is known as “Washington’s Most Wanted Pirate.”

He was originally settled in New Zealand, though nobody wants to talk about it, in order to ginger up the entire information technology sector which enjoyed a promising commercial start in the 1970s.

But since then the sector has declined into an import added value one. Or into sectors such as games where New Zealand has taken on a sweat-shop role.

In blending micro finance and file transfer Mr Dotcom, if still a New Zealand resident, will make up a troika of New Zealand international computer pathfinders. The other two being Leslie John Comrie of Papakura who invented the computer bureau and Bill Phillips of Dannevirke who invented computer modelling .

If Mr Dotcom can solve the block size bottleneck his place in volume trading and thus in IT history will be assured.

Meanwhile in the role of a prophet decidedly without fame in his own country, or at least, his ungrateful adopted one, Mr Dotcom may see certain changes in his favour in the New Zealand –United States relationship.

It will be recalled that for reasons that remain unexplained to this day, the original Megaupload server farms were located in the United States.

This gave the FBI the power to pull the plug on the entire Megaupload service. Then launch a campaign to extradite Mr Dotcom to the United States in order to face piracy charges.

What followed was the most picaresque series of judicial events in New Zealand history complete with a bizarre airborne storming of the Dotcom digs in suburban Auckland.

Mr Dotcom says that his new venture will attract the most “brilliant” information technology practitioners, and that he will remain constantly in the background guiding its fortunes.

From the MSCNewsWire reporters' desk - Monday 10 October 2016

Auckland travellers will have the opportunity to fly to Bangkok on a double-decker A380 for the first time when Emirates starts its service to the Thailand capital at the end of this month.

And it will launch the new route with special introductory fares from $999 Economy Class return.

Emirates will be operating five daily A380 flights from New Zealand from October 31, and among them will be its new Auckland- Dubai service via Sydney and Bangkok.It will be the only service to Thailand from New Zealand featuring the flagship A380 aircraft and the only same-plane daily service from New Zealand to Bangkok.

Emirates will also be offering special fares to other popular points in Thailand – Phuket from $1,049 return, Chiang Mai from $1,099 return, and Koh Samui from $1,149 return. The connecting flights from the capital to these destinations will be by Bangkok Airways.

The introductory fares will be on sale from today only until October 17*.

Emirates Skywards members can also take advantage of the recently introduced Cash+Miles offering, which allows customers to book a seat on any Emirates flight, in any class, and pay with a combination of cash and Skywards Miles.Passengers in all classes can enjoy the unparalleled quietness of the aircraft and the 12- time award-winning ice in-flight entertainment system with a choice of over 2,500 channels on-demand. Those travelling on the A380 can stay easily connected to family, friends and colleagues with up to two hours’ free onboard Wi-Fi.

As with all Emirates flights, passengers benefit from a generous baggage allowance of up to 35kg in Economy Class, 40kg in Business Class and 50kg in First Class and are able to check-in for their flights up to 48-hours before departure.

Bookings can be made through www.emirates.com/nz on freephone 0508 364 728, or through authorised travel agents.

*Various travel dates and other conditions apply.

Labour Market Statistics (Income): June 2016 quarter 

Median weekly earnings from paid employment rose $44, to reach $924, between the June 2015 and June 2016 quarters, Statistics New Zealand said today. This increase of 5.0 percent was the largest annual increase since the June 2007 quarter. Paid employment includes both wage and salary earners and self-employed people.

“A rise in the proportion of full-time wage and salary earners, and the number of hours being worked, together pushed up median earnings for workers,” labour and income statistics manager Mark Gordon said. Full-time workers (working 30 or more hours) typically have higher weekly and hourly earnings than people in part-time employment.

Workers living in Auckland, Waikato, Gisborne/Hawke's Bay, and Canterbury received significantly higher median weekly earnings from paid employment than a year ago. In the North Island as a whole, earnings increased 7.0 percent (up to $944 a week), compared with 2.0 percent (to $880 a week) in the South Island.

“While the increase in weekly earnings is similar to that before the 2008 economic downturn, increases in hourly wages were more modest,” Mr Gordon said. “Median hourly earnings from wages and salaries increased 2.9 percent, similar to increases in the past seven years, but well below the 6.1 percent increase 10 years ago.”

Labour Market Statistics (Income): June 2016 quarter – for more data and analysis

 Widely used technology routinely ignored in New Zealand claims process engineer.

European technology that converts milk and meat processing plant effluent into self- contained waste consuming and energy generating plants is now available in New Zealand.Napier industrialist Ken Evans said the technology allowed milk and meat processing plants to become their own standalone waste treatment units with the added advantage of these plants using the waste so consumed as their own source of energy.

As an example he cited large scale milking centres in Europe that were self sufficient in power simply because all the waste they generated was converted into electricity.He said that the era in which factories could discharge their waste in any volume or in any proportion into the public domain should have ended many years ago. It was now time to apply a readily available solution, and one widely used internationally, he said.

The problem he said was that there had not been the concerted nationwide will to do something about process waste finding its way into the water system.This he said was itself a by-product of uncertainty about the ability of technology to cope with the problem.

“You look at the situation today in which vehicles that drive themselves are now on the roads. Yet we still have copious amounts of concentrated waste matter allowed to penetrate the nation’s water system.”

He said that waste-to-energy plant technology in primary processing had been allowed to be placed in the “too hard” basket.

He said that the conservation lobby had allowed itself to become over-focused on international issues at the expense of seeking solutions to problems in what he described as the nation’s “back yard.”

He said that he would now ensure that milk and meat processors in New Zealand were acquainted with this waste-to-energy solution that was so widely used in Europe. His objective he said was to make New Zealand’s processing plants their own waste consumers, and thus their own energy suppliers.

It was he said a relatively low cost solution, and one with its own pay-back. This proven technology was now readily available in New Zealand backed by his specialists with the experience to install it.

From the MSCNewsWire reporters' desk - Monday 5 September 2016Ken Evans can be contacted on phone 64 6 843 0632 , mobile 64 027 293 2678 and by email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Ford closure marks an end but also the beginning of a new era.  Ford Australia will produce its last car ever this morning, with pictures of “The Last Falcon Sedan” appearing on a Ford Facebook fan page.

Nine.com.au reports that the car is expected to be finished at 10 am at Broadmeadows, as the company ends its Australian manufacturing operations today. It produced its last engines at Geelong last week.

About 580 workers will finish their jobs with the factory shutdown today, marking the end of 91 years of production in Australia. The Geelong factory opened in 1925, and the Broadmeadows site in 1959.

Read more on Manufacturers' Monthly

New Xtra Capacity boom boasts expanded outreach and exceptional range of motion.  

REDMOND, WA (September 27, 2016) – The Genie® SX-135XC self-propelled telescopic boom lift delivers industry-leading outreach and capacity throughout the full working envelope for incredible operational accessibility. The first model in the new Genie Xtra Capacity (XC) family, the Genie SX-135XC boom lift is packed with industry-leading features, including 90-ft (27.43 m) of outreach, 660-lb(300 kg) unrestricted lift capacity, the ability to work 19 ft 8 in (6 m) below grade and a 12 ft 11 in (3.94 m)x 13 ft 6 in (4.11 m) compact footprint.

 “With 10 ft (3 m) more outreach and 32% more capacity than typical self-propelled boom of this size,” says Adam Hailey, Genie Director of Product Management, Terex AWP, “the Genie SX-135XC boom lift is ideal for rental customers working on challenging jobsite applications with its unique up-and-over stylecapability to navigate obstacles at height.”

Spec’d for ProductivityBuilt to safely and quickly lift operators to full platform height — 135 ft (41.15 m) — in 2-1/2 minutes and drive enabled at full height, the Genie SX-135XC boom lift will position workers and gear exactly where they are needed. And, its powerful enough to work on most jobsites with a Deutz® TD2.9 L4 74-hp (55 kW) Tier 4/Stage 3B emissions-compliant diesel engine with four-wheel drive and four-wheel steer capabilities.

The Genie SX-135XC boom’s innovative design includes a working envelope ideal for the most extreme access jobs with a working height of 141 ft (43.15 m) and a horizontal reach of 90 ft (27.43 m). That’s 10 ft (3 m) more of outreach than any other self-propelled boom on the market offers.

Enhanced Design Adds to Jib’s Versatility and FlexibilityThe new Genie SX-135XC boom also boasts exceptional range of motion with an 18 ft (5.48 m) - 30 ft (9.14 m) Telescoping Jib-Extend™ jib, which offers operators up and over capabilities, as well as 125° of jib articulation, boasting 55° down to 70° up of vertical articulation. The working envelope is also increased with this boom’s extended reach out and down capability — 19 ft 8 in (6 m) of reach below grade.

“To accommodate the Genie SX-135XC boom lift’s increased capacity and range of motion,” says Hailey, “Genie engineers developed a new hydraulically Telescoping Jib-Extend design that is robust enough to handle all of the up, over, out and below tasks rental customers need to do. And when the job is done, the jib is designed to be stowed under the primary boom for ease of transport.”

On, Off and Around JobsitesDesigned with transportability in mind, the Genie SX-135XC boom features the new Genie mini XChassis™ axle design, which extends and retracts the axles to and from the stowed position with a more compact footprint — 8 ft 2 in (2.49 m) x 13 ft 6 in (4.11 m) retracted or 12 ft 11 in (3.94 m) x 13 ft 6 in (4.11 m) extended — to provide both stability on the job and a narrow profile for transport. “Similar in design to the full-size XChassis expanding axle on the Genie SX-150, SX-180 and ZX™-135 booms,” says Hailey, “the mini XChassis system boasts two-thirds the footprint of the full-size version for excellent maneuverability on and around confined jobsites without disrupting people or traffic.”

Weighing 47,900 lb (21,727 kg), with an overall transport length of 43 ft 7 in (13.3 m), a tail swing of 3 ft 9 in (1.14 m) and ground clearance of 15 in (0.38 m), the Genie SX-135XC boom lift is transportable on a standard trailer; no over width or over height permits are required.

Xtra Capacity Is StandardWith the ability to perform a wider range of heavier lift and access tasks on rough terrain using a single machine, the new Genie family of XC boom lifts, including this Genie SX-135XC model, offer a dual lift capacity with an unrestricted 660 lb (300 kg) and a restricted 1,000 lb (454 kg), giving your customers the ability to work with up to three people onboard while still leaving room for tools and jobsite materials. The new XC design includes a standard 8-ft (2.44 m) tri-entry platform with side-swing gate.

The Xtra Capacity, or XC, nomenclature also lets rental customers know that this new boom complies with the overload restriction guidelines in the proposed ANSI A92 and CSA B354 industry standards in North America, as well as the current European EN280 and Australian AS 1418.10 standards. Hailey notes that all Genie XC models include a new low-maintenance load sense cell technology that monitors the weight on the platform and disables function if the load exceeds the platform load limit. “The overload sense functionalities are compensated for on all Genie XC boom models by increased platform load capacity, increasing these booms’ utilization in heavy-load applications compared to units with morerestrictive platform load limits,” he says.

The new Genie SX-135XC boom shares commonality in design, parts and accessories, as well as serviceability benefits, including easy access to crucial service points, with all Genie products.

For more information about the new Genie SX-135XC boom, visit: www.genielift.com.

Engineers at the University of Delaware are developing a new method for monitoring the structural health of infrastructure based on the use of a “smart skin” made of a carbon nanotube composite. The composite is mechanically robust and can adhere to practically any shape, meaning it can be used to monitor the health of roads, bridges and other structures.

Electrical Impedance TomographyThe smart skin uses a technique called electrical impedance tomography (EIT) to indicate which areas of the structure may be compromised. EIT makes use of surface electrode measurements to map the two-dimensional conductivity of the skin’s surface. The researchers tested a square of the carbon nanotube composite, with 32 evenly spaced electrodes along the boundary, to measure the surface conductivity.

Continue to full article

A set back internationally for New Zealand Progressives

António Guterres (picture), the former prime minister of Portugal, will lead the United Nations after a rare show of unity between the two most powerful security council members, the US and Russia.

This appointment due to be announced at any moment dashes the single most ardent hope of New Zealand progressives who sincerely believed that former premier Helen Clarke would be appointed.

Helen Clarke, a campaigner of Clintonesque proportions in her long campaign also sincerely believed that she had more than a fighting chance. Even in spite of The (Manchester)Guardian in an unusual tilt at one of their own roundly denouncing her campaigning while still an employee of the UN.

Even so, Miss Clarke administrator of the U.N. Development Programme, impressed the broader constituency of U.N. staff, earning the most-favored status for secretary-general in a 1,000-person U.N. survey taken last February.

New Zealand internationalists will have to be content with Terence O’Brien who was President of the United Nations Security Council during the war in Yugoslavia.

While in New York, his leadership was a critical factor in New Zealand's securing a seat on the United Nations Security Council, despite competition from more favoured countries such as Spain and Sweden.

Mr O’Brien remains an indefatigable fixture on the Wellington diplomatic cocktail scene, and is known for generously contributing his wisdom when and where it is required..The loftiest heights in the UN from the New Zealand point of view remain scaled by Sir Leslie Munro, who reached the top in three quite different vocations.

Farming, (he was a founder of the National Party, journalism (editor of the NZ Herald) and then diplomacy.

As New Zealand's permanent representative to the UN, he served as president of the Trusteeship Council from 1953 to 1954 and President of the United Nations General Assembly for its twelfth session (1957–1958). He was also three times President of the Security Council, and was serving in that position at the outbreak of Suez Crisis in 1956.

From the MSCNewsWire reporters' desk - Friday 7 October 2016

With over 1.25 million units sold and 20 years of development, Fisher & Paykel’s DishDrawer™, the innovators of the world’s first and only dishwasher in a drawer, announces the release of the most inspired model yet.

Costa Mesa, Calif. (PRWEB) October 06, 2016

Fisher & Paykel Appliances announces the launch of the latest DishDrawer™ dishwashers. The new models are quieter and more energy and water-efficient than ever, and are even Energy Star-certified. They are more durable, thanks to Fisher & Paykel’s rigorous testing for 20 years’ continuous use and thoughtfully designed with an emphasis on sleek lines and quality construction. Some models incorporate clever features such as flexible stacking and sanitize mode. The newest generation of DishDrawer™ dishwasher shows Fisher & Paykel’s dedication to continuous improvement and innovation behind the world’s first and only dishwasher in a drawer.

“The addition of the only DishDrawer to the appliance world has reinvented the way dishes are done since no other machine offers this versatility. DishDrawer is the only product on the market that allows you to wash and load dishes at the same time, easily wash a half load or customize your wash cycles per drawer,” states Amanda Glover, Fisher & Paykel North American Product Manager for Dish and Indoor Cooking. “We are proud to offer such flexibility in a product that appeals to a wide range of consumers from those who need to wash rigorously for large families to smaller households that prefer not to wait to fill a full load of dishes. This new DishDrawer design offers an updated modern appearance that seamlessly blends into any kitchen whether installed with custom panels or stainless steel.”

Keeping the market on it's toes, the DishDrawer™ breaks all the boundaries for the home by providing versatile dishwashing solutions for every household. The DishDrawer™ has received numerous international accolades and awards including the following in just 2016: Architizer A+ Most Popular Award and Better Homes & Gardens 30 Most Innovative Products.

The Birth and History of the DishDrawer™

When the DishDrawer™ originally launched in 1996 this award-winning appliance had immeasurable impact on the way the world saw the dishwashing market and was featured on the phenomenally popular Oprah Winfrey Show and earned itself a spread in Time Magazine.

That’s an impressive journey for a product dreamed up in the back blocks of Mosgiel, New Zealand, by a team of Fisher & Paykel engineers standing in a kitchen talking about the poor design of the dishwasher door. Drawers, they reasoned, were practical and easy to use so why not put a dishwasher in a drawer? They built a mock-up that looked similar to a filing cabinet, a design inspired by a conversation about the changing nature of the kitchen.

Every element of a traditional dishwasher – from the motor to the electronics board to the plumbing system – had to be redesigned. Undaunted, Fisher & Paykel’s team got to work, and the world’s first and only dishwasher in a drawer was created. This unique dishwasher’s appeal was clear. It was easier to use and more flexible – catering from large households to the most compact apartments – than any other product on the market. It offers the only ergonomic solution on the market, when two single drawers are installed on either side of the sink no bending is required for use. It also suits kosher households, where two single DishDrawer™ Dishwashers can be installed to allow for wash loads to be kept separate. Fisher & Paykel’s stunned international competitors were left scrambling to catch up.

Two decades down the track, this innovative appliance is in its prime; its original benefits honed and new features added. Over 1.25 million DishDrawer™ Dishwashers have been manufactured and sold in more than 20 countries worldwide. It has cemented its reputation as a design classic, scooped numerous top industry and consumer choice awards, and continued to build global market share.

About Fisher & Paykel

Since 1934, the Fisher & Paykel design heritage has been founded on a pioneering spirit and culture of curiosity that challenges conventional appliance design to consistently deliver products tailored for human needs. Incorporating outstanding performance, and user-focused innovation; Fisher & Paykel and DCS by Fisher & Paykel appliance brands inspire people through indoor/outdoor kitchen and laundry products, designed with real life in mind. The brands incorporate innovative technologies driven from a passion to produce the most technically advanced, efficient, and contemporary styled appliances. As pioneers of the world’s first drawer dishwasher, DishDrawer®; Fisher & Paykel continues to pave the way for appliance innovation. Since the 1980’s, DCS has defined cooking appliance innovation for the commercial food industry, and designs commercial quality appliances for the home. Fisher & Paykel Appliances is a global company operating in 50 countries, manufacturing in the United States, Mexico, Italy, Thailand and New Zealand. For more information, please visit: http://www.fisherpaykel.com.

Associate Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, and Employment, and Minister for Women, Louise Upston has today opened the inaugural Women in Trades Conference, where she’s encouraged more women to consider a career in the trades.

“People need to push aside gender stereotypes and encourage young women to consider careers in trades where there is high growth and high demand, like building and construction.” Ms Upston said.

The conference, hosted by Unitec and the Manukau Institute of Technology supports the Government initiative ‘Got a Trade? Got it Made!’ campaign which aims to raise awareness of on-the-job training and career opportunities in New Zealand’s trades and service industries.

Many girls discount careers in trades as they have been traditionally considered as men’s jobs. It is up to educators, businesses and parents to ensure girls are not only aware of the opportunities that working in a trade can offer, but to make sure that opportunities are available irrespective of gender.”

The day-long conference was organised to highlight the importance to New Zealand of building capability in trades and the opportunities for young women to consider a career in the construction related trades.

Ms Upston said, “We need to support our young women to broaden their horizons. A job in building and construction can be both rewarding and lucrative.”

“We know that women want to work in construction. Following the Christchurch earthquakes in 2011, the Ministry for Women led a project to increase the visibility of opportunities for women in construction. This meant the number of women employed in Canterbury’s construction industry quadrupled from 2,100 pre-earthquake to 8,600 as of June 2015, resulting in 17.8% of all construction workers in Canterbury being Women.”

Ms Upston said more employers are getting comfortable about employing women in jobs traditionally seen as better suited to men. Employers recognise that women bring a different set of abilities that helps to broaden a company’s overall set of skills.

“It’s not about women’s jobs or men’s jobs - they are just jobs that are in demand, and I want to ensure women have equal opportunities and equal choice in the careers they pursue.”