Renaissance has reported its Preliminary full year result to 31 December 2009 (available here), which indicate a preliminary unaudited loss before tax of $2.721m for the 2009 year. The document outlines a mixed result near the end of the 2009 year, with Natcoll doing very well and MagnumMac (who's performance is described a "disappointment" elsewhere in the document) and the Education Division (RED) doing poorly. It appears that a minor increase in sales were offset by one-off costs and write-offs that totalled $3.425m. New CEO Richard Webb has commenced a full review of the business and more information about any changes will be available when the annual report is released in March.

As of today, Apple customers in Australia and New Zealand will have access to a group of local, independent experts that can help them make the most of their technology investment. The Apple Consultant Network (ACN) members are certified professionals who deliver technology advice, innovative ideas and expert implementation over the phone or in your home or business. Although not employed by Apple, each member company is staffed with technical personnel who hold the latest Apple Certifications.

Offering technology services that span the entire spectrum - from basic set-up and configuration for a home-user with a new Mac, to advanced enterprise solution deployments - you can search for members with the capabilities you want in the location you need.

Members of the ACN community in Australia and New Zealand today include:

• Computers Now
• Digistor
• gizmo
• Key Options Technology
• Kytec Group
• Renaissance Limited
• Winthrop Australia
• XciteLogic

Further details on ACN can be found at https://consultants.apple.com.au/ or https://consultants.apple.co.nz/

New Zealand's Southern Institute of Technology (SIT) has achieved worldwide recognition with its 'Intensive English' video course featured as the number one download on iTunes U. The Intensive English series, which is abundantly illustrated throughout with skits, takes students from elementary level right through to advanced English language is available as a free download from iTunes U - a part of the iTunes store http://deimos3.apple.com/WebObjects/Core.woa/Browse/sit-ac-nz-public.1651740214.01651740216

Waikato University joined the mobile learning revolution today, as they became the third New Zealand university to join iTunes U, a dedicated area within the iTunes Store (www.itunes.com). iTunes U offers free educational content including course lectures, language lessons, lab demonstrations, and campus tours, all available for download in the same way individuals access music and movies on the iTunes Store.

Q: How many insanely busy Web Masters does it take to bring in a new look for a Joomla website?
A: One, but the website has got to need to change!

NZiPhone.com - the home of the iPhone in New Zealand - has relaunched with a new look. This is the "it won't happen overnight, but it did happen" change, that was bought about due to technical reasons...although I'd never been happy with the look of the site from launch (just some trivial things I couldn't do that frustrated me). Although the site runs on an open source system known as Joomla, I tend to use commercial templates for the look and feel of both NZMac.com and NZiPhone.com. Unfortunately, you're also in the hands of the template makers in terms of how much support they'll give you...and the last one was very poor.