Displaying items by tag: Christmas

Not many CEOs can claim they’ve run a business successfully for hundreds of years, yet one can – Santa Claus. However, in recent years with the rise of technologies such as the Cloud and AI, Santa’s Workshop is falling behind on modern technology standards which poses a risk to the entire operation of Christmas.

GUEST RESEARCH: During the winter holidays, online scams and unsolicited emails increase considerably and malicious spammers, as usual, begin celebrating early.

Australian telecommunications provider Telstra has warned consumers to be vigilant as cyber scammers are on the hunt to exploit more victims this coming peak shopping Christmas season.

Stuck with what to get the techie in your life for Christmas? Or not sure what to put on your own Christmas wish list? Try some of these ideas.

GUEST RESEARCH:  As more consumers rely on digital applications for all aspects of life, from banking and shopping to entertainment and communication, they fear failures can generate frustration and even spoil their festivities this year.

Australia is among the top ten recipients of Christmas-themed spam, according to Bitdefender Antispam Lab, but with only 1% of the total volume we're a lot better off than Ireland. Despite the emerald isle having a population that's less than a fifth of Australia's, it has been hit by 24% of the world's seasonal spam.

Amazon Australia has shared its holiday order cut off dates and shopping tips for Australian customers wanting to order on the Australian site and receive their items before Christmas, while also announcing an extended returns window – with label-free returns with Australia Post and ParcelPoint – making returns even easier and enabling customers to shop with ease this holiday season.

It's beginning to look a bit like Christmas, and Huawei has announced new deals across wearables, PCs, and audio devices - running from now until 10 December 2022. Take a look this week, with something for everyone.

Australians are urged to protect themselves from bogus holiday deals and shopping scams this Christmas season, with research that 74% of Australians plan to cut costs due to rising living costs.

Lifestyle and cultural shopping destination The Galeries will be collecting unwanted gifts on behalf of the Red Cross from December 26 as it brings attention to,  and expresses concern, that 80% of Australians receive unwanted gifts every year.

With the festive season approaching, social enterprise Arnies Recon is offering its free recycling services for consumers who do not know what to do with their old or outdated devices.

New retail data from Eftpos has revealed the Black Friday sales surge moved beyond online to music shops, fashion outlets, department stores and appliance retailers

New Zealand’s consumer competition regulator The Commerce Commission has recommended that consumers buying online for Christmas do their research before using an online store for the first time and check any statements on the website about when the goods will be delivered. 

Communications firm Zoom will remove the 40-minute limit on its free accounts on a number of days during the Christmas season, the company says.

Aspera Mobile has launched two new low-cost models ahead of the Christmas peak buying season, with one being the AS6 smartphone for $149 and the second being the F42 flip phone with pre-loaded social media apps for $99.

It’s not just fun and games for kids this Christmas, as more 56% of Aussie parentsare expected to buy their children toys they secretly want to play with, according to new research from eBay, with 62% of Dads the main culprit.

SPONSORED NEWS (Sponsored by iTWire): As Australians start to think about the gifts they will share over the festive season, children’s education charity The Smith Family urges them to also consider stepping up to help change the course of a child’s life, by supporting their education to break the cycle of poverty.

Product comparison firm iSelect says it has seen an average increase of about 40% in the number of Australians inquiring about changing their Internet plans after the festive season.

COMMENT Fitting right into the "bah humbug" category, we find research that notes endless repeats of Christmas music is bad for mental health.

Children as young as 12 will more than likely be getting their first smartphone this Christmas, with research by Telstra revealing that many parents will buy their kids a phone to keep them safe when they are away from home.