Despite a permanent uplift in demand for lower density housing, new home building starts have dropped again during the June 2022 quarter – the fourth consecutive quarterly reduction – according to the ABS Building Activity figures released today.

Master Builders Australia CEO Denita Wawn says while the volume of new detached house starts is still higher now than it was in the lead up to the pandemic, the phasing out of exceptional fiscal and monetary stimulus propelling new home building starts means today’s figures are not surprising.

According to the latest ABS figures, there was a 2.7 per cent fall in new home building starts during the June 2022 quarter. This included a 3.1 per cent reduction in the number of new medium/high-density home commencements, and detached house starts inched down only marginally at 0.2 per cent.

“Despite the volume of new home starts dropping over the past year, there were still over 240,000 new homes under construction at the end of June. This is higher than ever before and is related to the supply bottlenecks in the building pipeline which are slowing the pace at which new homes can be built,” Ms Warn said.

“However, over the next three years, Master Builders forecasts that new home building starts will fall significantly short of 200,000 per year, the volume of output that will be needed to meet demand. Our forecasts indicate this threshold will not be exceeded until 2026.

“Our 2022-26 residential forecasts predict a bumpy road with a downturn over the next few years. Forecasts will trend upwards as inward migration and interest rates stabilise, and pent-up demand shifts the dial.

“The building and construction industry continues to be frustrated with lengthy delays in approvals for land title, building applications, and occupation certificates. Shortage of land in the right places, high developer charges, and inflexible planning laws also restrict opportunities to meet the housing needs of our future.

“We look to working with the Federal Government to assist with finding and delivering solutions,” Ms Wawn said.

In July the Albanese Government introduced the ‘Electric Car Discount Bill’ to parliament, intending to remove fringe benefits tax (FBT) from electric vehicles to give more Australians access to battery-operated, hydrogen fuelled and plug-in hybrid cars. New research has revealed the Bill’s popularity among businesses – mostly SMEs – with 40 per cent indicating they would purchase an electric vehicle by the end of 2023 if the Bill passes.

The finding was derived from a survey of an independent panel of 210 Australian SME owners and decision makers, commissioned by Small Business Loans Australia, a comparison website helping business owners find the best financing and loan options in Australia. The respondents comprised 44 per cent of micro businesses (1-10 employees), 27 per cent of small businesses (11-50 employees) and 18 per cent of medium-sized businesses (51-200 employees) and 11 per cent of businesses with over 200 employees. The full survey results, including breakdowns across business sizes and States, can be found here: https://smallbusinessloansaustralia.com/resources/electric-vehicles.html.

To meet its 2050 net-zero target, Australia will need a dramatic shift towards electric vehicle ownership. Ingrid Burfurd from the Grattan Institute specified that, as cars are on the road for an average of 15 years, Australians must purchase almost entirely electric vehicles by 2035.^[1]

Fortunately, the Small Business Loans Australia survey shows that most business owners and senior decision makers are happy to make the shift sooner. If the Electric Car Discount Bill passes, 66 per cent of businesses would be incentivised to purchase an electric vehicle. While just 9 per cent would be ready to purchase this year, the bulk of purchases – 31 per cent – would be in 2023. Eleven (11) per cent would acquire an electric vehicle in 2024, and 15 per cent from 2025 onwards. Only 34 per cent of business owners would not invest in electric vehicles, regardless of the Bill’s introduction.

Small Business Loans Australia analysed responses across the States. Victorian businesses are more likely to buy an electric vehicle at some point if the Bill passes, chosen by 71 per cent of Victorian respondents. This is followed by 68 per cent of NSW businesses and 67 per cent in South Australia. Businesses in Western Australia and Queensland are least likely to invest in electric vehicles, with just 62 per cent and 58 per cent, respectively, choosing to switch if the Bill passes.

Across business sizes, Small Business Loans Australia found that small businesses (11-50 employees) are most likely to purchase an electric vehicle by the end of 2023: 57 per cent of small businesses specified they would, followed by 45 per cent of medium businesses and just 21 per cent of micro businesses.

Small Business Loans Australia sought to find out whether businesses would seek financing for these purchases in a climate of rising interest rates. The Electric Car Discount Bill offers significant price cuts; however it is applicable only to vehicles with an original sale price below the luxury car tax threshold ($84,916 for 2022-23). A model provided by an employer valued at about $50,000, would save the employer up to $9000 a year through the fringe benefits tax exemption.^[2]

The survey found that despite the savings introduced by the bill, 63 per cent of business owners would seeking financing. The larger the business, the more likely they are to finance an electric vehicle, with 69 per cent of medium sized SMEs believing that is the best option in an environment of rising interest rates. This was closely followed by 65 per cent of small businesses and 54 per cent of micro businesses.

Alon Rajic, Founder and Managing Director of Small Business Loans Australia, says: “The Federal Government understands that the price of electric vehicles has been a major barrier to their adoption in Australia. Our research suggests that the removal of this barrier will have an enormous positive influence on business purchase decisions. It also indicates that Australian business owners support realistic Government efforts to achieving net-zero emissions – so much so, that they would get financing on their vehicles in a climate of fast-rising interest rates.”

“Businesses would be wise to research loans options thoroughly – including through free comparison websites – to ensure they have secured the lowest-risk, low-rate and most suitable loan.”The full survey results, including breakdowns across business sizes and States, can be found here: https://smallbusinessloansaustralia.com/resources/electric-vehicles.html

Swann, the Leader in Do-It-Yourself security products for over thirty five years, has launched a new battery-powered Wi-Fi camera, the CoreCam™ Wireless Security Camera, to its award-winning product lineup of smart home and business security solutions in Australia. 

The CoreCam™ Wireless Security Camera​ is 100% Wire-Free with a battery life of up to 90 days on one charge. Additional features include heat and motion-sensing, night vision, smart mobile alerts, 2-way talk and siren, sturdy weatherproof design, and free local recording (to included 32GB Micro SD card) and cloud storage of clips. 

Swann continues to provide security cameras with high-definition video quality, as shown with the latest 1080p CoreCam™ which is ready to use right out of the box and installs in minutes. It comes with a secure screw-in mounting stand, Micro SD Card, USB to Micro USB, charging cable, mounting screws with plugs, operating instructions, and theft deterrent stickers. 

Swann’s CoreCam™ cameras can be monitored and set up via the Swann Security App on Apple and Android mobile devices and tablets with a high-speed internet connection. Currently, the Swann Security App has a 4.5-star rating out of 23,000 reviews in the Apple App Store and a 4.5-star rating out of 75,000 reviews on Google Play. Swann’s security products are designed to work straight out of the pack, but additional features are available via Secure+ member plans.   

“With the increasing consumer demand for Wi-Fi security solutions, we are proud to be launching the CoreCam™ Wireless Security Camera into the market,” said Mike Lucas, CEO of Swann Security. “Swann’s new CoreCam™ cameras are a fantastic addition to our market leading product lineup that provide seamless 24/7 security to everyday consumers. We look forward to bringing additional products to market that make security easy. The CoreCam™ is a great entry point for anyone looking for an easy to install, yet feature-packed security camera.”

Consumers can find the CoreCam™ Wireless Security Camera exclusively on Swann.com and at leading retailers such as Amazon and JB-HI-FI. The retail price for one camera unit is $179.95 AUD, with packages of more than one CoreCam™ Wireless Security Camera also available. 

This product also works with Swann’s Solar Charging Panel to ensure an even longer battery life. The package with the Solar Charging Panel comes with an outdoor stand to make the product more secure on whichever surface it is on. Find this all-encompassing package here: https://au.swann.com/swifi-coresol/.

New research released today reveals over 40 per cent (42%) of Australians are yet to have important and proactive conversations with their loved ones about inheritance, despite 74 per cent saying these conversations are necessary.

Australia is currently in the midst of the biggest intergenerational wealth transfer in history with baby boomers set to hand over $3.5 trillion to the next generation.

However, the research shows that 20 per cent are not even sure how to begin the discussion with their loved ones even though almost half of people (48%) believe that having the conversation about a legacy before a person passes away will cause less conflict amongst beneficiaries.

The research, commissioned by financial educator and communicator Vanessa Stoykov, reveals the compelling need for Australians to be confident and comfortable having conversations with family about inheritance and money.

“The time is now for Australians to become more financially literate and break down unhelpful beliefs about money and talking about it. This is about equipping ourselves with financial skills and independence,” says Ms Stoykov.

“It can be tricky to navigate difficult conversations around money, but everyone needs to have a dialogue with their partners, parents, children and grandchildren. This is not just about whether someone is leaving money, but also the financial legacy that you pass on to your children. Talking openly to them is a legacy and gift in itself,” Ms Stoykov said.

The research also shows many Australians value a partner who is responsible with money. Twenty-five per cent of participants believe their partner being irresponsible with money is the second biggest deal breaker after infidelity (53%). And younger Australians (aged 18-24) rate this higher than any other age group.

The data also shows that for many Australians, money is an important factor in their relationship. Forty-five per cent of people believe the thought of living a lesser lifestyle is the main factor in staying together.

Ms Stoykov says, “Money has the potential to cause major rifts in a relationship and this research shows that it is important to share similar values when it comes to money to avoid conflict.”

In the newly released book ‘The Five Conversations About Money That Will Radically Change Your Life’, Vanessa Stoykov explains that it is no longer taboo to talk about inheritance and that there are important conversations to be had to help Australian’s improve their finances.

The Five Conversations About Money That Will Radically Change Your Life is available at retailers across Australia and online here.
For more information and free resources on achieving financial freedom visit www.vanessastoykov.com.au

Poly, a global provider of pro-grade audio and video solutions, has announced its expanded portfolio of Microsoft Teams and Zoom certified solutions designed to take hybrid work experiences to the next level. Poly’s diverse product portfolio of Microsoft Teams and Zoom certified devices are designed for every type of meeting space and workstyle, providing greater meeting equity and collaboration worldwide. 

The latest Poly Microsoft Teams and Zoom certified devices and solution updates include:

Poly Strengthens its Suite of Microsoft Teams Rooms on Android:

o   The G7500 video conferencing system is now certified for Microsoft Teams, and the Poly Studio X70video bar is expected to be certified in November. These video solutions bring game-changing flexibility to enable Microsoft Teams Rooms on Android in large or customised spaces. Microsoft Teams will be available on Poly Studio X70 and G7500 in the Poly Video OS 4.0 software update, which is expected to be released in November 2022.

o   The Poly Studio X30 & X50 video bars are now re-certified for Microsoft Teams on Android 10, available to customers in the Poly Video OS 4.0 software update expected to be released in November 2022.

 Poly enhances the Microsoft Teams Rooms on Windows experience: 

o   Poly Studio Kits for Microsoft Teams Rooms on Windows are available for small, medium, and large rooms and are easy to procure and deploy right out-of-the-box. It features Poly DirectorAI technology providing broadcast quality video conferencing experience by using artificial intelligence and machine learning to deliver real-time automatic transitions, speaker framing and tracking. Poly Lens remote management and insights will enable customers to manage, monitor, and maintain Microsoft Teams Rooms on Windows in CYQ1 2023. 

o   Poly is the only partner that delivers people framing with advanced AI capabilities, which improves the remote user experience for every size of Microsoft Teams Rooms on Windows (people framing is also available with Microsoft Teams Rooms on Android for large rooms featuring G7500, and Studio E70 camera).

o   Poly introduces the “My First Room” promotional program which allows new Microsoft Teams Rooms on Windows prospects and customers to experience Poly’s promise to deliver more equitable meetings. 

Poly expands its portfolio of phones integrated with Microsoft Teams:

o   The new Poly CCX 350 phone, available early next year, will offer users a durable dial pad with Microban antimicrobial protection – an ideal solution for common areas and high-touch locations. The solution is highly scalable and customisable to meet the needs of any organisation’s physical footprint across industries, such as healthcare, retail, manufacturing, warehousing, hospitality, and more.

o   Poly Rove family of wireless DECT™ IP phones is now available for deployment on Microsoft Teams SIP gateway. This collaboration extends the Poly Rove offering out to front-line workers and shift-based workspaces, where secure, wireless voice communications are needed. 

Poly elevates smart desk phones with Zoom: 

o   The new Poly Edge E Series digital desk phones are now Zoom certified, featuring Poly’s signature professional-grade audio quality that the Zoom Phone certification further augments. It provides seamless connectivity during hybrid work meetings and calls, whether taking place at home offices or office building spaces. Poly Edge E Series is equipped with Bluetooth functionality that allows users to pair their professional headsets and move freely around their homes or offices. Pairing smartphones enables users to answer incoming calls from supported Edge E desk phone models and enjoy the phone’s advanced noise blocking features. Easy troubleshooting and access to ongoing support ensures that today’s hybrid workforce isn’t left to solve issues by themselves. The entire Edge E series offers new diagnostic tests and a configurable support contacts menu, making it simple for users to self-test their phone or contact support as needed.  

“Because meetings happen anywhere and everywhere, Poly offers a wide variety and style of solutions for Microsoft Teams and Zoom, so users can look and sound their best in every meeting,” said Bill Zeng, Senior Director, Poly APAC. “Our solutions enable Microsoft Teams and Zoom customers to easily manage, monitor, and maintain every Poly device across their business, to include remote, hybrid, and on-site workers through a beautifully designed, equitable experience.”

“We’re excited to expand our long-time partnership with Poly and continue to deliver solutions that provide flexibility and choice to our joint customers,” said Albert Kooiman, Senior Director of Microsoft Teams Devices Partner Engineering and Certification. “Users can sign-in to Teams and confidently take their calls with a consistent, reliable experience, with support worldwide.”

“We are delighted to be adding Poly’s new Edge E Series smart desk phones to our growing portfolio of Zoom certified devices,” says Helen Hawthorne, Head of Solution Engineering, Zoom Video Communications, Inc. “We are always looking to make a difference in our customers’ hybrid working experience when using Zoom, whether in the office buildings or employees’ home offices. With Zoom Phone certification, companies can easily deploy, manage and use Poly smart devices for maximum productivity outcomes.”

Poly solutions for Microsoft Teams and Zoom certified solutions feature NoiseBlockAI technology, which blocks out distracting background noise (e.g., keyboard typing, paper shuffling, plastic bag rustling sounds), and Acoustic Fence technology which creates a sound barrier to focus on the speaker, and not the noise. Additional innovations like near-field communication (NFC) technology can be leveraged to simplify the office hoteling experience and new diagnostic tests – not to mention a configurable support contacts menu that makes troubleshooting a breeze. 

As the weather gets warmer, it can be tempting for small businesses to put tax and financial management on the back burner. However, these are tricky times for small business owners, with Australia experiencing rising interest rates for six months in a row. So how can SMB spring clean their finances?

An SMB spring clean is a perfect opportunity for small businesses to set themselves up to flourish and establish good financial habits.

Year-round strategic advice

To help future-proof your business, business owners can engage an accountant or bookkeeper to plan their year and budget for all the potential variables. This will help keep their business in the black and map out opportunities to save money, drive sales or seek assistance.

Many business owners say their advisors are a lifeline. Many have leant on their advisors for emotional support, as well as guidance for their business.

Advisors will keep you up-to-date with the constantly changing legislation and other updates, so that you are informed and working to the latest guidelines.

Embrace digital tools

Digitising your business and using cloud accounting software provides you with important analysis, reminders and records, saving you valuable time and needless stress. For example, you can upload receipts automatically, use software to track your mileage on-the-go, see a dashboard of your finances and receive notifications to remind you to chase payments.

Digital tools can help you maximise your tax deductions and reduce the chances of human-error or vanishing files. You might also be able to deduct a further 20% when digitising your business or investing in skills and training, thanks to the Small Business Technology Investment Boost and Small Business Skills and Training Boost.

These small changes transform business bookkeeping into a seamless experience and can help to set you up for growth this spring.

Advice from Shaye Thyer, Head of Accounting at Intuit QuickBooks

Adobe announced new research revealing the growing importance of brands understanding customers at a personal level – and interacting with them as individuals in real-time.  Rejecting age-based stereotypes, the majority (86%) of consumers in APAC want to be treated as an individual with unique interests and preferences, with one in two consumers (57%) saying they feel negatively towards brands that interact with them based on broad assumptions and labels, including age-based stereotypes such as “Millennial” and “Gen-Z”.

Adobe’s research shows the emergence of a new consumer who is not defined by age, refuses to be stereotyped, and expects to be understood as the unique person they are today. Brands seeking to meet consumer’s new expectations must ensure they are equipped with the latest customer data platform technologies, creating a complete single view of every customer capable of delivering personalised experiences in real-time.

Across Asia Pacific, customers are calling on brands to demonstrate that they know them, show them, and will help them in the moments that matter – not once, but all the time,” said Duncan Egan, Vice President of Marketing, Adobe Asia Pacific and Japan. “To meet that standard, brands need to unlock preferences in real-time through customer data and use it to deliver relevant interactions and content at the right moment. Scaling that across up to millions of customers is the next step.” 

Time to get personal

The survey of 5000 APAC consumers (2000 Australians, 2000 Indians and 1000 Singaporeans) reveals three times as many APAC consumers feel closer to people who share their passions and interests (62%) than those of a similar demographic (19%). The vast majority (86%) of consumers want to be seen and treated as individuals based on their unique interests and preferences. Australians felt more strongly about this, with half (49%) rejecting the stereotypes of their generation and 91% wanting to be seen and treated as an individual.

Change is constant

Adobe found that consumer preferences and tastes are constantly evolving, reinforcing the need for brands to move away from simple groupings based on age or other fixed demographic factors. Consumers’ collective experience over recent years and months has only added to that rate of change. Most consumers across Asia Pacific see themselves and their peer group differently from how they were pre-pandemic, and 79% have adjusted their preferences and tastes even further in the past three months. The average person takes on a new interest or hobby six times a year, rising to ten times a year for people under the age of 25.

Brands’ ability to keep pace is also a significant expectation for Australian consumers. When asked, 62%of Australians said they have changed their favourite brands as their tastes and financial situation has changed. Real-time visibility and delivering experiences in line with emerging preferences is vital to keeping even the most loyal customers on side.

Individuality is key

Today’s consumers have high expectations for the brands they engage with – they expect brands to see them as unique people, keep up with their changing habits and interests, and respect their privacy preferences. Almost half of Australians (46%) now expect businesses to have a clear understanding of who they are as individuals, and only contact them with information relevant to what they are interested in at any given moment. More than one in two Australian consumers (59%)think negatively of brands that use broad assumptions and stereotypes to engage them.

Over two-thirds of consumers (66%) say they expect personalised experiences from brands they share data with, with more than half (50%) wanting real-time offers relevant to them. However, 25% of Australians say brands are not doing this well or are inconsistent in their efforts to keep up with their personal preferences. Regular efforts to engage consumers with bespoke offers related to their current interests is of the highest importance – more than three times as many people want frequent, thoughtful gestures (61%) over bigger one-off moments (14%).

Meeting consumers where they are

Adobe Real-Time CDP empowers brands to continually meet members of this new generation where they are. This customer data platform allows organisations to view and manage customer profiles, make updates in real-time, and activate customer insights through Adobe Experience Cloud applications across the entire customer journey – ideal for the sort of frequent, relevant and personalised connections today’s consumer now expects from brands.

Those sleek new wireless headphones that you purchased may look great but you can’t deny that it can sometimes be challenging when faced with wired ports. Instead of shaking your fist at the sky, meet AirFly (2nd Gen) – the newest, easiest, and most affordable way to use your wireless headphones in places that only have a headphone jack including flights, the gym, and older vehicles.

The AirFly (2nd Gen) is the latest addition to the popular AirFly family, loaded with features that make this tiny transmitter one of the most essential gadgets for your travel inventory.

Features:

• Connects wireless headphones to any wired headphone jack;
• Enjoy music, movies, and entertainment wirelessly, anywhere and anytime;
• Easy-to-use button design that pairs headphones in seconds;
• Built-in battery that lasts 20+ hours for even the longest flights;
• Integrated volume control.
  
  

Stocked in a range of retailers, the AirFly (2nd Gen) is available for a low price of AUD$59.99. The growing AirFly family also includes the AirFly Duo and AirFly Pro.

Check Point® Software Technologies Ltd. , a leading provider of cybersecurity solutions globally, has released the results from a new survey of the SMB cybersecurity market, conducted by research firm Analysys Mason. It sought to uncover how SMBs are emerging from the pandemic, and how their business and technology needs are changing. The survey revealed that, while SMBs understand the need to invest in technology to support growth in the world of hybrid working, unfortunately, many fail to prioritise security.

The survey reflects that a majority of organisations including SMBs have embraced cloud, mobile, and SaaS technologies in recent years. Compared with pre-pandemic levels, there has been an increase in IT spending to drive business growth. SMBs have accepted that the hybrid work model is here to stay and therefore have increased their investment in communication technologies and services to support remote workers. With
remote workers using home and office access points, the attack surface has expanded thereby increasing the risk of cyberattacks. With the increase in supply chain attacks across the industry, cybercriminals are increasingly using more vulnerable SMBs as an entry point into larger enterprises. This approach wreaks havoc on both the SMBs, and all the enterprises they interact with.

Given the global cybersecurity skills shortage, SMBs are struggling to properly secure their critical assets, making them a growing target for cybercriminals. Larger enterprises usually have bigger IT budgets and security resources, so they can recover more easily from a cyberattack.  For SMBs, a cyberattack can be fatal to their business. The survey found that two of the biggest impacts that cyberattacks have on SMBs include lost revenue (28%), and the loss of customer trust (16%).

The survey of 1,150 small and medium-sized businesses across the US, Germany, UK and Singapore, also revealed:

• SMBs struggle with a lack of expertise and require additional support: Less than a quarter (22%) of respondents felt they were extremely well protected against cyberattacks, and only a minority have internal security specialists or are working with a third party. This means that a large number of SMBs either have no security products in place or these products are managed by non-specialist staff. While there is a significant rise in the number of SMBs working with Managed Service Providers (MSPs) to help address IT issues, around a third of respondents noted they would like additional help from their MSP in upgrading security.

• Cybersecurity as an investment: The SMBs surveyed clearly recognised the disastrous effects of a cyberattack on their company but seemed to agree that they had inadequate security budgets. Security vendor solutions priced beyond their budgets was identified as a key challenge to having effective cybersecurity capabilities. Something has to change, to enable SMBs to take a longer-term view of the value of cybersecurity so that they can invest today to protect their growth tomorrow.

• SMBs are adapting to the ‘new normal’ but mobile security is lacking: SMBs are expecting 40% of their employees to continue working remotely for at least some of the time. The highest priority in all countries was to ensure that IT can be managed and supported remotely, validated by additional laptop purchases and increased VPN capacity. However, the survey also shows that the take up rate of even basic security products is low. The most adopted service, endpoint protection, is only used by 67% of respondents and less than half have any form of mobile security.

Eyal Manor, Vice President of Product Management at Check Point Software said: “It is reassuring that SMBs have increased their investment in cybersecurity to support business growth and the new hybrid work model, but having the correct mix of security products is only part of an effective strategy. Because there is a shortage of cyber security workers for SMBs, they require security solutions that deliver proven threat prevention, are extremely simple to deploy and manage, and offer the flexibility of an ‘all-in-one’ solution that combines security and internet connectivity.”

He continued, “SMBs should also be looking for a consolidated and unified security suite that achieves a high level of protection across their network, endpoints, mobile and email.  SMB security providers should use a prevention-first approach and one that cuts down TCO, by reducing the need to manage additional staff or security expertise. SMBs should also consider leveraging third party managed service providers to gain access to experienced cybersecurity professionals at an affordable cost. Third party advisors can provide expert advice on the best security solution for each SMB along with training and ongoing support.”

For more information about the Check Point SMB cybersecurity market survey, read the full report here.

Sony has announced the world’s smallest 3LCD laser projectors, the VPL-PHZ61 and VPL-PHZ51 that combine advanced operational capabilities with high brightness and flexible installation, making them a reliable option for a wide range of corporate, education, museum and entertainment simulation applications.

The VPL-PHZ61 & VPL-PHZ51 are compact and easy to install on ceilings in meeting rooms and classrooms with a +55% vertical shift, the widest in the fixed lens models*¹. Both sophisticatedly designed models boast impressive high brightness – the VPL-PHZ61 at 6,400 lumens (7,000 lumen centre) and the VPL-PHZ51 at 5,300 lumens (5,800 lumen centre) – that project crystal clear images, even in a well-lit meeting room or lecture theatre to enhance the collaboration and communication of users.

With the incorporation of Sony’s Reality Creation real-time signal processing, mapping and analysis technology, the projectors produce crisp and clear pictures, for effective presentation and display. Both new models support 4K60P input for compatibility with 4K video sources. This is further amplified by Reality Creation’s ability to enhance the overall sharpness, resolution, and quality of the imagery, regardless of whether it’s pictures, graphs or text. Additionally, the projectors require no converter when being used with other 4K equipment to simultaneously project 4K content and support the “Deep Colour” of HDMI and the HDCP2.3. The projectors’ new Reality Text feature improves text-based presentation materials by providing clearer letters and lines with enhanced legibility.

The projectors also feature advanced Intelligent Settings, which offer optimisation based on usage environment. The addition of customised Bright View functionality enables colours to accurately maintain their contrast and vivacity, even in brightly lit rooms. The new Ambiance feature automatically measures the room’s brightness using an ambient light sensor, and further calibrates the Bright View, colour gain and Reality Creation settings accordingly. Additionally, the new models use a new filter material which requires no filter cleaning for meeting room and classroom use*².

“Many of our customers struggle to find display solutions that provide both exceptional high brightness and sophisticated features that can enhance their content and overall user experience. We don’t want our customer to compromise on any of these asks, which is why we’ve built upon our existing legacy in developing feature-rich laser projectors, to provide compact and advanced projectors to the market. These projectors really are world-class in their technology, quality, and design,” said Anna Tan, Product Manager, Displays Australia and New Zealand.

Other features include:

• Auto Light Output – by utilising the ambient light sensor, the brightness of the projector is automatically controlled at night to save power consumption.
• Auto Power On – turns the projector on when video signal is sensed and Auto Input Select that automatically changes the input when video signal is sensed.
• Data cloning function – allows users to copy any settings on one projector to all subsequent projectors using a USB device.
• Maintenance – makes it easier for users to remove the filter and to know when the filter needs cleaning with a new sensor.