Australians converge on CES

The Australian Trade Commission has set up an Australian Pavilion at the world’s biggest consumer electronics trade show, CES, in Las Vegas.

In addition, there are nine Australian companies showcasing in the Pavilion:

• Digital Frames , a  Sydney supplier of digital photo frames that allow the download of images into digital frames, including the world’s first digital frame to include wireless technology. 
• 3ivx Technologies   is also based in Sydney and their core product is a high quality MPEG-4 codec that allows content creators to effectively deliver audio and video at all levels of the video spectrum from High Definition Television (HDTV) down to video for mobile phones and embedded devices. 
• Atdec  is another Sydney company, which designs and manufactures visual mounting solutions for flat panel displays and supplies products to a range of client groups including: banking and finance, commercial furniture suppliers, corporate business, government departments, hospitality, information technology, medical and health care, retail and tourism on a global basis. 
• Bluebox Devices is a Melbourne company with new technologies for the emerging Digital Lifestyle market such as its wireless touch screen technology product. 

• Cylo Technology is a research and design company based at the Australian Technology Park in Sydney that aims to humanize technology through software and hardware, such as its 3style Mouse which enhances realism and control in video, audio and 3D environments.

• Deltacom is a Melbourne-based specialist manufacturer of audio and video intercom systems. 

• Kableflags is based in Adelaide and manufacture labels for plugs and cables for consumer and trade applications. 
• OZiQ is a Perth-based developer of next generation ‘all-in-one’ PC technology. 
• Novita / Skunkworks is also from Perth and is a supplier of wall brackets and arms for LCD screens, projectors and computer screens. 

Techcraunch caught up with Laurence Crew, CEO of Cylo, before he flew over to the United States for a demo of their 3d mouse – impressive stuff.

 

 

Viocorp sells Nice Shorts, grows Defhead

Sydney-based Internet broadcasting company Viocorp has sold its short film web site, Nice Shorts, to ASX-listed destra for an undisclosed sum. Viocorp launched Nice Shorts in May 2006 as a showcase for their web-based content asset management solution, Viostream.

Destra’s CEO, Domenic Carosa, commented that a move into online video is a natural next step, given they already have the largest independent network of music communities in Australia.

Viocorp will maintain its involvement with Nice Shorts, but is also focusing its attention on Defhead, a site designed to shine the spotlight on Australian music talent. Defhead is an interactive concert site that streams live music gigs from up and coming Australian music bands and artists.

The inside story from Viocorp’s CEO, Ian Gardiner, is that Defhead is getting loads of attention – his take is that Australia is the world’s capital for live music and that it needs a site dedicated to live bands — growth has been “massive” since launch late last year.

Great stuff guys!

Follow the dollars to Piczo

The Australian has a great article on the astonishing growth being experienced by social networking sites – Piczo has grown in just over a year from about 1 million to over 10 million monthly unique visitors and they are getting 2.5 billion monthly page views.

The San Francisco firm which targets teens and early adults is following in the footsteps of sites like MySpace in terms of user growth, but there is another key point to their success…the degree of engagement by their community of users. Millions of people spend hours working on their profiles: designing the page, describing their interests, writing web blogs and uploading photos.

Piczo’s CEO, Jeremy Verba, who was at AOL previously is quoted as saying, “There’s this massive thing happening, 10-to-22 year olds are coming on to the web and claiming it for themselves. This generation is grabbing on to this medium and making it their own.”

Go for your life.

We have seen with MySpace that where this demographic goes, others follow.

It’s also interesting to note that according to Jeremy they are generating revenue from promotional mini-sites — this is a great idea and a way to monetise community while still being useful to the community.