Logitech has expanded its Master Series with two new mechanical keyboards – the full-size MX Mechanical and minimalist MX Mechanical Mini – and MX Master 3S mouse. Logitech’s Master Series brings advanced digital creators ultimate productivity tools, featuring high-performance mechanical typing and precision tracking.

“There is a growing community of software developers who fell in love with mechanical keyboards when they started playing games, and now they want the same feeling of precision and control with their professional desktop keyboard,” said Tolya Polyanker, head of the MX Series for Creativity and Productivity at Logitech. “MX Mechanical combines the best of both – Logitech’s gaming keyboard expertise with MX Master Series signature experiences.”

MX Mechanical and MX Mechanical Mini offer the latest generation of low profile mechanical switches. The tactile Quiet (Brown) key switch makes it Logitech’s quietest mechanical keyboard ever with an amazing mechanical typing feel. Clicky (Blue) and Linear (Red) switch options are also available in select markets. The keyboards are designed with dual-coloured keycaps for an optimised peripheral view. Smart backlighting, in six lighting options, automatically adjusts brightness for ambient light and switches off when not needed for efficient battery consumption.

To better address the needs of our advanced creators, MX Master 3S features an 8,000 DPI optical sensor that tracks on most surfaces including glass and offers faster workflow with high-resolution monitors. Clicks are now 90% quieter compared to MX Master 3 while keeping the same satisfying precision feel so that you can focus on your work, not the noise.

The MX Master 3S features the MagSpeed Electromagnetic™ wheel that zips through 1,000 lines in one second, the side scroll wheel for faster horizontal navigation, and a unique ergonomic shape crafted for long hours of comfort.

MX Mechanical, MX Mechanical Mini and MX Master 3S are all compatible with Logi Options+ software – now out of Beta. Users can customize individual buttons, use pre-defined or create their own app-specific profiles, adjust tracking speed, select backlighting effects, and more to optimise their workflow. All three products, equipped with both Bluetooth and proprietary Logi Bolt wireless technology for a reliable, secure connection even in congested environments, can connect to up to three different devices and are compatible across a variety of operating systems, including Windows, macOS, iPadOS, Android, Chrome OS, and Linux.

Sustainability of MX Mechanical

At Logitech, products are designed to deliver great user experiences and minimize environmental footprint and the MX Mechanical and MX Mechanical Mini were designed with your future in mind. A portion of the keyboards’ plastic parts is made from post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic: 45% for MX Mechanical and 47% for MX Mechanical Mini. Plus, the aluminium top case for the keyboards is made from low carbon aluminium and produced with renewable energy rather than fossil fuels for a lower carbon impact. The MX Master 3S mouse is also made with PCR plastic – 27% for graphite and 22% for pale grey.

All Logitech products, including MX Mechanical, MX Mechanical Mini and MX Master 3S, are certified carbon neutral. When you purchase a Logitech product, the carbon footprint of that product has been reduced to zero by supporting forestry, renewables and climate-impacted communities that reduce carbon.

Pricing and Availability

The MX Mechanical, MX Mechanical Mini and MX Master 3S will be available in July 2022 on logitech.com and at selected retailers. The suggested retail price for the MX Mechanical keyboard is $269.95, the MX Mechanical Mini keyboard is $229.95 and MX Master 3S is $169.95.

Also read Small Business Answers Guide to buying a keyboard.

Cook, lawyer, TV presenter, author, and now Australian Made Week Ambassador Adam Liaw is urging consumers to seek out and buy genuine Aussie products bearing the trusted green-and-gold kangaroo logo to support the country’s makers and growers, as well as safeguard against access and supply issues highlighted by the pandemic.

Taking place 6–12 June 2022, Australian Made Week highlights the makers and growers that are boosting the local economy, particularly in a post-pandemic climate where locally sourced product is more important than ever.

Liaw said that buying Australian Made comes with a feel-good factor as you’re making socially, economically, and environmentally responsible purchasing decisions with far-reaching benefits.

“We are absolutely spoilt for choice in Australia as we have the best products in the world, manufactured and grown to the highest standards right here in our own backyard,” Liaw said.

“COVID reminded all of us that we need to think and buy local ­­– and move away from reliance on imported goods – if we’re going to have manufacturing self-sufficiency and reliable supply chains, ensuring we can obtain products we want, when we want them.

“As a passionate supporter of local industry, I’m so excited to be part of this campaign. My view is it’s a no-brainer to choose Australian Made when you can. When you do, everyone wins – be it through job creation, consistent supply of consumer goods, or just getting a top-quality product.

“To get involved in Australian Made Week, when you’re making purchases – whether it’s flowers, woks or socks – go for Australian Made or Grown and spread the word on your socials by posting about your buy with #AustralianMadeWeek.

“Something new that’s been added to this year’s activities and worth looking out for is a series of special events targeting specific industries and interests, including family and small business, technology, Indigenous business, agriculture, and e-commerce.”

Australian Made Week 2022 follows on from the huge success of last year’s inaugural campaign that prompted more than 70% of Aussies to increase their efforts to prioritise local product purchases. The same Roy Morgan survey found that nearly three-quarters (74%) of participants are concerned about the number of products sold in Australia that are made overseas.

Australian Made Chief Executive, Ben Lazzaro, said Australian Made Week was a great time to draw attention to the benefits of buying local.

“The pandemic has really opened people’s eyes to the dependencies and vulnerabilities of relying on imported goods and how we can all play our part in making small changes that have a huge impact on our quality of life and our economy,” Lazzaro said.

“When you buy Australian Made, you have a direct economic impact on the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of Australians throughout the supply chain.

“Manufacturing is an essential part of our economy. Every Australian Made product purchased is directly supporting a sector of almost one million people from a hugely diverse range of backgrounds, education and skillset.

“Australian Made Week is also a fantastic opportunity to shine a spotlight on the interesting and inspiring people behind the 4,200-plus businesses that consider their Australian Made certification as a badge of honour.”

The Australian Made Week advertisements were filmed in Melbourne and captured Adam Liaw at: South Melbourne Market; commercial catering equipment manufacturer Luus Industries based in Sunshine West (Victoria); and family-owned furniture company Eaststyle (Tullamarine, Victoria). The advertisement can be viewed here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufYuO8C3Uu4 Learn more about Australian Made Week and find genuine Aussie products at www.australianmadeweek.com.au

Ideal for small businesses working with remote staff, partners or customers, the free version of RingCentral video and integrated team messaging product offers significant advantages over most meeting platforms available today.

RingCentral Video Pro is HD audio and video quality that works equally well and securely via mobile, desktop or browser. You can host as many meetings as you like for up to 100 participants, and there is effectively no time limits on those meetings (up to 24 hours duration). The free platform is also a rich feature set, including live transcription, screen sharing and cloud recording.

Integrated with video, the free RingCentral Team Messaging platform enables organisations to boost online team collaboration and productivity securely. Features include a group chat function with both internal and external users, personal folders and customisable tabs, as well as file sharing and task management tools.

While a free, high-quality video conferencing solution that doesn’t cap your meetings at 40 minutes might be enough to get most people excited, it’s the RingCentral Add-ins that truly set the platform apart. This gives you the opportunity to integrate third-party applications very simply into the team messaging experience – there are hundreds of pre-configured integrations available, so there is a great chance some of these other applications will already be in use by your business today.

The table below gives a great snapshot of the features offered by RingCentral’s free video meetings platform. More information on RingCentral and its free offer can be found here.

 Jabra, a leader in personal sound and office solutions, introduces the Jabra Talk 65; a premium Bluetooth mono headset, engineered for people who are always on the go and want to stay connected – whether it be for commuting, or working, or just getting things done. Jabra is also upgrading its existing Talk 15 and Talk 25 mono headsets.  

The new Jabra Talk 65 is specially designed for hassle-free calls in noisy environments as it has an unparalleled 80% noise cancellation with its 2-microphone technology, ensuring clear communication with no annoying sound interruptions, wherever you’re calling from.

The Bluetooth mono headset has a wireless range of up to 100m/ 300ft, allowing for more mobility on the go and making sure you have a stable connection. The Talk 65 delivers up to 14 hours of talk time on a single charge, so you can keep communicating.

The Jabra Talk 65 also allows for the streaming of GPS information and media sources and one-touch access to Siri or Google Assistant*. The design is IP54-rated, which means it’s protected against dust and water, so it’s rugged enough to go wherever you do. The headset offers flexibility to be worn on either ear, and the lightweight design makes for a secure and comfortable fit, no matter how much you are moving around.

With the launch of Jabra Talk 65, the Danish brand also introduces its upgraded, other products in the Talk range. The Talk 15 now comes with 7 hours of talk time and the Talk 25 has 9 hours of battery life. Both products include Bluetooth® 5.0 for enhanced connectivity. 

Calum MacDougall, SVP at Jabra said: “The Jabra Talk 65 Bluetooth Mono headset is a great extension of your phone. Because of the 80% noise cancellation with 2-microphone technology and a wireless range of 100m/ 300ft, you can use the headset for work and private conversations, no matter where the day takes you. Thanks to its superior comfort and fit, you’ll barely notice it’s there.” 

Jabra Talk 65 key features and specifications:

• 80% noise cancellation with 2-microphone technology and HD voice
• Up to 14 hours of talk time
• Wireless range of up to 100 m / 300 ft for ultimate mobility and flexibility
• Streams GPS and media
• One-touch access to Voice Assistant*
• Lightweight design
• IP54-rated protection against dust and water

Jabra Talk 65 pricing and availability

The Jabra Talk 65 will be available in A/NZ from 1^st June at selected retailers, MSRP AU$149.

Two Subway® locations have become the first major Australian quick-service restaurants to serve-up eftpos QR code payments ahead of its plan to roll out the cutting-edge technology to innovation-hungry guests in partnership with Australian-made Beem mobile wallet, both of which are part of newly formed Australian Payments Plus (AP+).

Guests at Subway’s North Sydney (Miller Street) and Brisbane City (460 George Street) restaurants will be able to use eftpos QR via Beem wallet to pay for their favourite Subway 6-Inch®, Subway Footlong®, salad, or wrap. The technology will open the door to a raft of richer rewards, offers and opportunities to connect with and delight guests and is expected to be rolled out across more restaurants in the coming months.

The launch of eftpos QR code payments for Subway® in Australia is a significant milestone for both the retail and payments industries and delivers on a commitment by eftpos (now part of AP+) to rapidly have the technology live and in market.

Mark Britt, Managing Director AP+ Digital Plus said: “Australians have been telling us they want their mobile payments experience to be more valuable, and to cut down on the fumble factor by unifying and orchestrating what was once a mishmash of separate paper and plastic cards. eftpos QR payments make this happen in a simple and elegant way.”

Subway® Australia & New Zealand Communications Manager, Rhys Reynolds, said giving guests the option to pay using eftpos QR just makes sense for the brand. “We know that customisation and personalisation are driving factors for our guests,” said Mr Reynolds. “Subway guests can choose from an array of fresh, healthier ingredients to create a sub, salad or wrap that’s just right for them! We’re excited to extend that choice beyond the sandwich unit, to include cutting-edge payment options.”

For a limited time, guests at Subway® North Sydney and Brisbane City restaurants will also be able to load up on loyalty rewards with triple SubCard® Reward Dollars on offer.

“AP+ is committed to providing Australian consumers and merchants with better, simpler, highly secure and data-rich payments experiences no matter the form factor, or where the shop is – online, mobile or at the checkout,” Mark Britt said.

Square marks another key milestone in its integration of Afterpay and Square, extending buy now, pay later (BNPL) functionality to its millions of in-person sellers in the United States and Australia. Just three months after first bringing Afterpay into the Square ecosystem with e-commerce integration, Square and Afterpay moved swiftly to unlock the ability for sellers using any Square point of sale software – Square Point of Sale, Square for Retail, Square Appointments, or Square for Restaurants – to now offer Afterpay across online and in-person commerce.

To use Afterpay in-person, buyers simply tap to pay using a mobile wallet loaded with their virtual Afterpay card and pay over four interest-free instalments. Square sellers receive their full earnings from each sale immediately.

In their first quarter together, a combined Square and Afterpay has already proven to attract new shoppers and drive incremental revenue for sellers of all sizes. Sellers using Square Online are seeing the following impact on their businesses:

• Transaction sizes are up: Across both the US and Australia, the average transaction size with Afterpay is 3x greater than non-BNPL purchases.
• Rapid growth in buyers: Globally,we observed a 180% increase in new consumers leveraging Afterpay through Square sellers between February and March 2022.
• Meaningful growth among key merchant categories:
• In the US, retail businesses that offered Afterpay as a payments option on their website are seeing a meaningful lift in overall online sales, with men’s and women’s clothing stores growing 17%; specialized apparel and accessories, 15%; pet stores, 13%; sporting goods stores, 12%; and jewellery and watch shops, 10%.
• In both countries, beauty and personal care businesses saw significant upticks in online sales, registering a 26% increase in Australia and a 16% increase in the U.S.

This growth is already extending to in-person commerce; during the beta period, average order value (AOV) for in-person Afterpay purchases more than doubled in Australia, while in the US orders averaged a 50% increase.

“More than ever, shoppers expect to be able to make purchases with their preferred method of payment,” said Leslie Babineaux, owner of Fort Worth, Texas-based A Touch of Chic Boutique. “Square has made it straightforward for a business of my size to offer Afterpay, with no additional work required on our end. Our customers are thrilled that they can use BNPL when they come in store, and in a short amount of time, we’ve already seen that shoppers spend nearly double the amount with us when purchasing with Afterpay.”

Sydney-based wedding jeweller, The Callie Corp, has seen first-hand the value that offering Afterpay via Square has had on their business: “We’ve been offering Afterpay on our Square Online store and have been blown away by the demand. Our average transaction sizes are up, we’re acquiring more new customers, and more are returning for multiple purchases,” said Rebecca McIntyre, CEO and founder of The Callie Corp. “With restrictions lifted and weddings well and truly back on, we can’t wait to offer Afterpay to our customers at wedding expos and at our studio. Afterpay really helps our customers to manage their cash flow around what can be an expensive, but really special, time.”

To further sales growth, Square sellers will be discoverable in Afterpay’s Shop Directory, a marketplace available both online and from the Afterpay app that showcases sellers offering Afterpay. Shop Directory supplies hundreds of millions of leads per year to sellers and gives buyers the ability to search for Square sellers near them making it easier to shop and support local small businesses.

“Adding Afterpay to Square’s in-person commerce software furthers our goal to give all sellers omnichannel tools that unlock new growth opportunities for them,” said Alyssa Henry, Head of Square. “Omnichannel isn’t just about selling across multiple channels, it’s about meeting your consumers’ shopping habits, whatever and wherever they are. Afterpay adds an omnichannel tool to our ecosystem that our sellers haven’t typically had access to. For sellers of all sizes, Afterpay has proven to be more than just a new payment method; rather it serves as an omnichannel commerce solution that can offer meaningful value and growth to sellers.”

“Our buyers are young, high-intent consumers who prefer Afterpay and quickly become repeat customers for our merchant partners,” said Nick Molnar, Afterpay Lead at Square. “Together, Afterpay and Square can help sellers of all sizes capture the next generation shopper and compete at a larger scale.”

Square sellers can enable Afterpay starting today and try BNPL at promotional rates until September 10. Automatic enablement will roll out to eligible Square sellers over the following weeks, and Afterpay can be easily toggled on or off via sellers’ Square Dashboard at any time. For more information, visit www.squareup.com/buy-now-pay-later.

Read more about BNPL in Small Business Answers guide.

After two successful rounds which saw Shopify helping Victorian businesses start selling and growing online, Shopify is once again partnering with the Victorian Government to support its Small Business Digital Adaptation Program. 

Through this program, eligible Victorian businesses will enjoy a $1200 rebate on their Shopify subscription, equivalent to 12 months’ worth of access to its ecosystem of tools and experts to help build and scale their online business.

Shaun Broughton, Managing Director for Asia Pacific, Shopify said “Shopify is proud to once again have the opportunity to support sole traders, micro and local small businesses in Victoria with the tech tools and resources needed to adapt, grow, and thrive. Schemes like the Small Business Digital Adaptation Program are crucial for incentivising business digitalisation, setting the stage for Victorian businesses to flourish amid an increasingly competitive environment.”

Shopify is also providing additional enhanced incentives including:

• An extended 30-day free trial – Take the time you need to get your store online with an exclusive extended free trial that’s double the standard offer.
• Live training and webinars – Our Victoria educational hub offers step-by-step guidance including blog posts, tutorials and trendspotting to help you launch and grow your business with confidence. 
• Special offers from our robust ecosystem of partners, agencies, developers and freelancers – We have curated a wide variety of offers that range from basic setup to completely custom solutions, all the better to cater to different needs from merchants of all shapes and sizes.
• 24/7 customer support – Our support team is here for you every step of the way via chat, email, call-back, and social media.

Merchants must already have a registered business in Australia and will be provided the opportunity to choose from 14 different commerce vendors, including Shopify. Once businesses decide on their partner, they can visit the Victoria Government website to start their rebate process. 

For more information including eligibility requirements, visit the Shopify Small Business Digital Adaptation Program website.

Business management platform MYOB has partnered with Master Builders Australia to provide a seven-week online Business Resilience program as part of its Women Building Australia program, a joint initiative with the Australian Government. The content aims to boost the business success and resilience of women in the building industry, by bridging the digital skills divide facing women in construction.

 Women Building Australia is designed to attract more women to the building industry and provide services that support them to achieve their career potential, including as small business owners and operators.

 “Women who have completed their construction apprenticeship or certificate, and gone on to set up their own business, might come out of their training highly proficient in practical skills but still require the knowledge to run a business. Equally, women who are managing the family construction business may not have had the time or opportunity to gain the knowledge required to run a successful SME in the industry,” said Denita Wawn, CEO of Master Builders Australia.

 “With no universally available digital business course currently on offer, this program is a first of its kind, industry-led learning approach providing hands-on business skills to set them up for success from the beginning.”

 The program is made up of seven weekly webinars of 45-60 minutes each, focussing on practical elements such as managing cashflow, opportunities to generate revenue, understanding compliance such as tax requirements, as well as managing relationships with clients and suppliers.

 “The modules available in the Business Resilience Program cover vital business management basics, while introducing the benefits of digitisation that many small businesses may miss out on,” said Helen Lea, Chief Employee Experience Officer at MYOB.

 “In addition to saving time and improving accuracy, businesses with advanced levels of digitisation are 50% more likely to grow revenue[1] and eight times more likely to create jobs[2]. Helping small businesses in construction to get online not only benefits the individuals but the economy overall.”

 MYOB modelling shows one in five small businesses – around 80,000 in the construction industry – have no or low digital engagement, and that bringing those SMEs with low or no levels of digitisation online could grow the industry’s contribution to overall GDP 1.9%.[3]

 “To help more Australians benefit from digital skills, and more Australian businesses reap the productivity rewards of a digitally-skilled workforce, we see an opportunity for the Government to support the industry-led creation of targeted skills programs like this one,” Ms Lea said.

 The Business Resilience program is available free of charge for women working in construction, as well as women running a family construction business. Content will be available the week commencing 17 May and is open now for pre-registrations via MYOB Academy.

Synology® launches RT6600ax Wi-Fi 6 router and releases major update for SRM operating system

Synology announced today the launch of RT6600ax, a high-speed and security-focused router designed to provide households and offices with fast and secure connectivity. Supported by the new Synology Router Manager (SRM) 1.3,¹ RT6600ax is fully equipped to address the challenges of modern network environments, including the massive rise in connected devices and the resulting necessity to protect users against ever-increasing security threats.

Designed for performance and stability

Synology’s first Wi-Fi 6-certified router, RT6600ax delivers more reliable Wi-Fi thanks to better data encoding, beamforming, scheduling, and signal isolation. A 2.5GbE port configurable for WAN or LAN deployment enables users to leverage Multi-Gig internet connections or high-performance devices such as a NAS, as well as high-speed wireless backhaul. Fast connection speeds and snappy operation are ensured by a quad-core 1.8 GHz processor, even with multiple devices connected and all features enabled.

Tri-band technology works in conjunction with Smart Connect to optimize device distribution, eliminating data transmission bottlenecks. Compatibility with the newly licensed 5.9 GHz spectrum² unlocks non-DFS channels at 80 and 160 MHz for a combined 6.6 Gbps of wireless throughput,³ higher concurrent connections, and faster VPN server performance.

Building a solid network foundation

RT6600ax is powered by SRM 1.3, the latest version of Synology’s intuitive operating system for routers. With improvements and added functionality that greatly expand network management capabilities, SRM 1.3 meets the demands for better security and more flexibility typical of today’s network environments.

The option to create up to five separate networks, each available for mapping up to three Wi-Fi SSIDs, makes it easy to strengthen security when managing multi-purpose network environments.⁴ One-way firewall rules can be configured independently for each network to limit the connectivity to and from less secure devices such as IoT equipment, while support for the 802.1q standard simplifies integration into existing networks in router, AP, and mesh configurations.⁵

Comprehensive tools for better internet ahead

The latest update also brings SRM’s host of applications for web filtering, traffic control, and remote access to the new generation of Synology routers.

Safe Access

Per-user profiles can be configured to limit time spent online or block browsing when set conditions are met. Devices assigned to the same profile will share the same set of internet access rules, without requiring repetitive manual configuration. For devices not belonging to any user that still require internet access control and auditing (e.g., guest or new devices), network-specific profiles are also available.

Parental control features include limiting internet usage time (either on a schedule or according to a quota-based system), filtering out entire categories of websites or specific domains through allow/block lists, and restricting inappropriate search results with safe search options for YouTube, Google, Bing, and DuckDuckGo. Security is enhanced by network-wide threat blocking through DNS & IP Threat Intelligence Database and support for Google Safe Browsing.⁶

Traffic Control

Available bandwidth can be distributed among connected devices, prioritizing a single client or application when specific needs arise. Real-time and historical data support granular auditing, with traffic reports generated automatically or on demand that can be easily shared in CSV or HTML formats.

VPN Plus

Remote workers and hybrid teams can leverage SRM’s suite of remote connectivity tools to access intranet-only websites directly from their browser (WebVPN), establish high-performance connections with a dedicated client over various protocols (SSL VPN), bridge multiple locations for simple resource sharing across different networks (Site-to-Site VPN), and enable remote operation of devices compatible with the RDP/VNC standard (Remote Desktop).

More powerful mobile management

An overhaul of SRM’s companion mobile app, DS router, delivers an improved network management experience while on the go. The 2.0 version⁷ brings functionalities that were previously SRM-exclusive to the smartphone, including creating new wireless networks, configuring web filtering and parental control, setting traffic control schemes, and many more.

Availability

RT6600ax is available for purchase in Australia, Canada, Europe, Japan, New Zealand, Taiwan, and the United States starting from May 11.

1. SRM 1.3 is currently only available on RT6600ax units. Availability will be extended to the other Synology routers — MR2200ac and RT2600ac — later this year.
2. Dependent on local wireless regulations.
3. Performance figures are obtained through internal testing by Synology. Actual performance may vary depending on the testing environment, usage, and configuration.
4. Multiple SSIDs per network are only available with the Smart Connect feature turned off.
5. Support for connecting RT6600ax with prior-generation MR2200ac and RT2600ac routers will be added in H2 2022.
6. An API key is required to activate Google Safe Browsing.
7. DS router 2.0 will be available for all devices running SRM 1.2 or newer.