First hyperLINK IT Newsletter from Canterbury Software Cluster
We know that you are interested in New Zealand's technology capabilities, and are sending you this first copy of the
new hyperLINK e-zine which contains original stories and news snippets from the country's leading region for IT
development.
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Welcome to the first issue of hyperLINK, a weekly e-newsletter produced by Canterbury Software Inc to promote CSI's
objective of "success through connections" for the Christchurch IT and wider tech sector. hyperLINK editor is
Christchurch business and IT journalist Carol Webb.
An html version, complete with photos and graphics, is available here http://canterburysoftware.org.nz/current.htm
hyperLINK will be emailed free to CSI members and the wider Canterbury tech community every Thursday. You can subscribe
or unsubscribe here: http://canterburysoftware.org.nz/news.htm
hyperLINK will carry IT sector news and views from Canterbury's movers and shakers. It will also keep an eye on what's
happening around New Zealand, and provide a glimpse of IT sector news from around the world. Your suggestions are
welcome. hyperLINK will also carry information about the CSI's Friday Tech BBQ and other CSI events.
You are welcome to forward this newsletter or freely re-use the feature stories provided due acknowledgement is made of
the credited feature story writer and hyperLINK as source.
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FRIDAY TECH BB
qCanterbury Software Inc is keen to promote the Friday Tech BBQ as a meeting point for the Christchurch tech community.
If it's been a while since you last checked out the BBQ scene, now could be the time. If you know of anyone who might be
interested in coming along, especially those new to the sector or new to Christchurch, forward this to them. The BBQ is
an informal social and networking event that takes place every Friday, 5.30pm to around 7.30pm. It gives members of the
tech community a chance to meet other similar people in a relaxed environment, talk shop, network and get to know each
other better.
MAY 9: The venue for tomorrow's Tech BBQ is LA's Bar and Cafe, 31 Dundas St, from 5.30pm. The delightfully decorated
Marilyn's Room (named for that early tech luminary Marilyn Monroe) is being made available to CSI. Food and drinks
available at the bar. Dundas St runs off Colombo St between the Smiths City buildings and behind Pak'n Save. Parking is
(usually) pretty easy.
MAY 16: Diary next week's BBQ now. It will be at the multi-dimensional ID, Level 2, 99 Victoria St (just north of the
clocktower). ID recently took over CSI executive member Kim Ryan's Media FX and has many strings to its bow.
For further information, see the Tech BBQ page at http://canterburysoftware.org.nz/bbq.htm
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hyperLINK contents: Issue 1, May 8 2003
+ Don't write off Unify's NZ.com + BBQs, elevator cafes, newsletters, workshops ... what's going on at CSI? + Tech
Newsbytes from all around + Incredibly useful website of the week + What's happening at www.canterburysoftware.org.nz +
Hot topics at the forum + Contact us, subscribe/unsubscribe etc
Coming next week in hyperLINK: + Ultralab hits town
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*FEATURE STORY*
DON'T WRITE OFF UNIFY'S NZ.COM By CAROL WEBB Christchurch-based Unify Group still has a valuable asset in the nz.com
domain space, despite the Government’s $1 million purchase of the NewZealand.com domain name as the country’s prime
internet brand. [more here http://canterburysoftware.org.nz/current.htm#feature1 ] ------------------------------ *FEATURE STORY*
WHAT'S GOING ON AT CSI? Christchurch’s Friday tech barbecues have entered a new phase with Christine Moore, organiser
for the past three years, handing over the cyber-reins to Canterbury Software Inc. [more here http://canterburysoftware.org.nz/current.htm#feature2 ]
------------------------------ *NEWSBYTES*
PRESTIGIOUS MENTION: CSI member Shaun Ryan reports that his company, SLI Systems, has won a mention in the prestigious
New Scientist magazine for its very clever search engine technology. New Scientist reported: ”Some websites try to trick
search engines into giving them undue prominence. Site owners simply fill hidden fields on their homepages with
searchable but only vaguely relevant keywords that let them deliver a sales pitch to hapless surfers. Now SLI Systems of
Christchurch, New Zealand, claims it has found a way to beat the trick (US 2003/55831). Every time a search engine
carries out a search, it logs the search terms, along with the list of sites found and the sites the searcher actually
visits. By combining the results of many user searches over a long period, the engine builds a priority list of sites of
genuine interest. Sites of little interest get pushed down the list.” (New Scientist vol 178 issue 2390 - 12 April 2003) http://www.sli-systems.com
LICENSING TWEAK: Microsoft is promising to introduce new "flexibility" in its unpopular software licensing policies in
the second half of the year, saying the move will allow small to medium-size organisations to buy additional licences in
smaller increments. http://computerworld.co.nz/webhome.nsf/printdoc/D76544CF156F3886CC256D1800792655!opendocument
CHIP BREAKTHROUGH: NASA researchers may have found a way to minimize the size of interconnects (the electrical links
between different circuit components on a silicon microchip) in the shape of carbon nanotubes. Researchers at NASA's
Ames Research Center, California, have grown vertical nanotubes at selected positions on a silicon chip, and then
surrounded them with insulating silicon dioxide so that they cut a conducting channel through the film. NASA info here http://amesnews.arc.nasa.gov/releases/2003/03_26AR.html
SMALL WIN: Open Source software advocates have had a small win in their battle to get the Government onside. State
Services Commissioner Michael Wintringham has written to the heads of all government agencies, encouraging them to
assess open source options when buying software. The initiative was the key recommendation of an E-Government Unit
briefing paper on open source software. The move falls short of following countries such as India and South Africa which
require open source products to be preferred over commercial software as a matter of course. Briefing paper here http://www.e-government.govt.nz/docs/open-source-200303/
HOPEFUL OUTLOOK: British ICT and electronics group Intellect says the long-awaited sector recovery seems to have begun.
Its CEO trend survey for the first quarter of 2003 asked the question "has the recovery begun?" Almost half of
respondents reported a rise in turnover and more than half are expecting rises in the coming quarter. Intellect http://www.intellectuk.org
GOING OFFSHORE: The pace at which European companies are transferring IT services to offshore contractors is speeding
up, with the outsourcing market set to grow more than 40 percent this year, according research firm Gartner. India is
the leader in IT outsourcing, with 90 percent of offshore revenues, but regions such as Eastern Europe and Ireland are
catching up. Story here http://news.zdnet.co.uk/story/0,,t300-s2133338,00.html
------------------------------ INCREDIBLY USEFUL WEBSITE OF THE WEEK
TECHNOLOGY REVIEW: From tech HQ, MIT, comes a comprehensive review of what's happening at the cutting edge of sectors
including computing, nanotech, software, security, telecoms... and much more. Check it out: http://www.technologyreview.com
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WHAT'S HAPPENING AT CSI'S WEBSITE
CSI'S DIRECTORY A searchable Who's Who in the Canterbury Tech Community. It's free to list your company and you'll find
it a useful resource when you're looking for products, partners for collaborative work, and much more. Check it out, and
fill in the form to get your company listed. http://www.canterburysoftware.org.nz/directory.htm
------------------------------ MEANWHILE, AT THE FORUM
+Should the Government have spent $1m buying the NewZealand.com domain name for its primary web window on Godzone?
+Is the open source recommendation from the State Services Commissioner to government departments worth the paper it is
written on? Should NZ go the way of countries that insist on open source getting preference in government software
purchases? Is anyone out there brave enough to challenge the "open source is best" movement?
Tell us what you think about these hot issues by posting your thoughts to Canterbury Software Inc's Email Forum.
The Forum is your online community, where you can: +air your problems and concerns about marketing your software
internationally +get rapid and effective suggestions from others like you, who've already done it +raise and discuss
subjects of general concern to members Go to http://canterburysoftware.org.nz/forum.htm
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CONTACT US ... SUBSCRIBE/UNSUBSCRIBE
hyperLINK is the weekly e-newsletter produced for Canterbury Software Inc to foster "success through connections" by
helping keep the Christchurch IT and tech sector informed.
Information on hyperLINK email options http://canterburysoftware.org.nz/news.htm
The html version of hyperLINK http://canterburysoftware.org.nz/current.htm
Go to the Canterbury Software website http://canterburysoftware.org.nz
Send story suggestions/contributions to hyperLINK editor Carol Webb mailto:editor@canterburysoftware.org.nz
Canterbury Software Inc executive members welcome your feedback and input on CSI activities http://canterburysoftware.org.nz/about.htm