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That prayer is getting answered, and increasingly, the results are disastrous. The device ��� be it the BlackBerry, the iPhone or just about any other smartphone ��� that promised a world of convenience and freedom to millions of busy professionals is now threatening to make their relationships unravel as users increasingly get addicted to their 24x7 connectivity.
Psychologists and social scientists that ET spoke to for this story said smartphone-triggered divorces are on the rise, especially in the last one year. Smartphone sales were up 27% this year so far over the corresponding period in 2008, and is slated to jump 30-35% in 2010, says Gartner.
The complainants in these cases are mostly women who feel their husbands are busy checking mails or updating their Facebook status or tweeting, completely oblivious to the family at the dinner table. They start the day heads bowed checking messages, never mind the kids waiting in vain for the morning wish or the wife the peck on the cheek.
���This is a recent phenomenon,��� says senior advocate Geeta Luthra, a specialist in marital separation cases.
���A year ago, no one ever came to me saying ���my husband doesn���t talk to me because he is always on the phone���. They don���t suspect their husbands of infidelity. But they surely blame the phone for cracking their relationships,��� she says.
Kiran (name changed) recently filed for divorce from her CEO husband, and deposed in the court, that her husband���s smartphone addiction was the most important reason. ���That device is like his wife,��� she said in court.
Delhi-based psychologist Sanjay Chugh says this is a case of classical dependence. ���Such people want to know if they have been contacted in the last few minutes, or in some cases, even in the last few seconds. If they find there has been no contact, there is a tinge of disappointment and anxiety,��� he says.
Smartphones exploded in the Indian market around five years ago, with the launch of Canadian firm RIM���s BlackBerry. A horde of similar products followed, mostly notably Apple���s popular iPhone.
Research firm Ascendia estimates that the smartphone market in India stood at around 5 million units in 2008. Gartner expects such devices to have a 4-4.5% share in total mobile phone sales in India in 2009.
In developed markets, the addictive nature of smartphones have led to the BlackBerry, the most popular of such devices, being dubbed the Crackberry, a reference to crack cocaine. In fact, the internet is replete with personal accounts of smartphone addiction and ways to overcome it, a la quitting cigarettes.
In the US, President Obama himself is said to be a compulsive BlackBerry user, so much so that the Secret Service had to amend rules to let the man pursue his passion.
RIM declined to divulge its sales figures for India, but a rival phone maker says of the 90 million phones in use in the country today, some 2% (around 180,000) are high-end phones.
According to Comscore, which tracks social networking trends worldwide, India is among the fastest-growing markets in this area. The total internet audience in the country in August 2009 was 35,432,000, up 17% on year-ago levels. Social networking audience in the same period grew 21% to 22,259,000. The number of Facebook users grew 220% to 81,54,000, while those for Orkut grew 34% to 152,76,000. Twitter users grew 2435% to 1,098,000.
Not all these people access social networking sites using cellphones, but the numbers clearly indicate a surge in usage.
Sure, for every Crackberry addict, there are three who vouch how smartphones have made their lives easier. For many senior executives, using the phone for texting, social networking and checking emails, is also a stressbuster besides a corporate companion. ���Such people find this a way to relax after a tiring day at work,��� says Dr Harish Shetty, social psychiatrist with Mumbai-based Dr LH Hiranandani Hospital.
���But eventually, these can become bigger issues as stress points emerge leading to marital disharmony,��� adds Dr Sandeep Vohra, senior consultant psychiatrist at Delhi���s Apollo Hospital.
Psychiatrists say Crackberry addicts suffer from wanting to ���broadcast to the world��� all the time. ���This gives them the feeling of one-upmanship, especially if they get comments,��� says Mr Chugh. ���What���s more, such people never agree they are addicted. They have a valid rationale ��� that they are working.���
Dr Shetty points out that if there is an addiction, there will be a remedy. So, many corporate families are trying to take assertive action, by coming together, once the user realises his problem (addiction). ���Kids are the best to regulate the use of the BlackBerry,��� he says, citing a case where the family decided that the father, once he reached home, would deposit his phone with the kids, who will then regulate its use during the evening. And for those already separated, they have the phone for company.
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LocalResponse’s First Major Brand Campaign Performs 100x Better Than Traditional Online Media Buys, With a 60% Redemption Rate
New York, NY, July 14, 2011- LocalResponse, the first social advertising platform that aggregates public posts and “check-ins” across multiple platforms to help brands and local businesses reach their customers, today shares its first major brand campaign results across a leading automobile manufacturer, a consumer packaged goods manufacturer, and a fashion retailer.
“These campaigns represent the first few of dozens in the pipeline this year, and their statistics are representative of the campaigns we’ve run thus far,” says Kathy Leake, President of LocalResponse. “The click-through and redemption rates we’re seeing from these campaigns are truly remarkable. I think we are seeing this performance because we are providing marketers with the opportunity to respond with contextual offers to public check-ins in real-time, via mobile ”
LocalResponse worked with a leading automobile manufacturer to target consumers checking-in on Twitter, Foursquare, Gowalla, Instagram, Flickr, and dozens more, at and around events hosted by the brand. This led to a drive in consumer engagement on the client’s mobile website and an increase in the brand’s following on Twitter. With the delivery of an extraordinary 22% click-through rate (CTR), the client saw a 10% increase in Twitter followers over the 3-day campaign, while 58% of clickers converted to their mobile website. The 22% CTR is almost 100x what traditional online banners are seeing today (source: iMedia).
LocalResponse partnered with a major CPG to send in-store coupons to consumers and brand enthusiasts expressing positive sentiment via Twitter, prompting massive point-of-purchase redemption. This campaign saw a 15% CTR and a 60% post-click redemption rate.
A major fashion retailer partnered with LocalResponse to drive foot traffic and participation at the grand opening event for a new retail location. As a secondary execution, LocalResponse also utilized the viral nature of Twitter to turn consumers into word-of-mouth marketers for the brand. Click-through rates increased over 200% during the course of the campaign as a result of consumers actively retweeting the offer, effectively taking the execution viral. The client also saw a 40% redemption rate while only 0.1% of targeted users opted-out of the advertising.
About LocalResponse: LocalResponse is a social advertising platform that aggregates public posts and “check-ins” across multiple platforms to help brands and local businesses reach their customers. LocalResponse enables brands and agencies to leverage this real-time inventory for mobile activation. LocalResponse empowers local businesses to manage their customer relationships through a self-serve web interface at http://www.localresponse.com. LocalResponse is backed by Verizon Ventures, Metamorphic Ventures, Extreme Venture Partners, Charles River Ventures, BOLDstart Ventures, Jim Pallotta, Greycroft Partners, and several others and is based in Chelsea, NYC.
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The OpenStack Foundation claims the open source community has a collective problem with product integration, making it difficult for users to realise the full potential of their IT investments
Any business that is online is susceptible to denial of service attacks and should ensure it has the capability to mitigate such attacks, says an industry practitioner who explains how
Located in Melbourne and Canberra, the two centres will help Australian organisations build digital capabilities when ready in 2018
Reports by 451 Research and the OpenStack Foundation suggest enterprise use of the open cloud platform is on the rise, as issues around installation and upgrades are addressed by the developer community
Insider threat research has revealed that 24% of workers purposely shared info with other companies and nearly 50% have received an email by mistake
Analyst Gartner told IT leaders at its annual CIO Symposium event in Barcelona that businesses must increase the pace of digital transformation
Bank of Scotland pilots artificial intelligence within its iPhone banking app.
As Brexit approaches, prime minister Theresa May says the country must work together to make Britain an “international centre for transformative technologies of the future”, and calls on industry to increase its R&D investment
Tell us who you think should be chosen as the most influential person in the UK tech scene for 2017 by submitting your vote now
Quip is expected to become the new Salesforce collaboration standard in Dreamforce unveiling; AppExchange and Einstein announcements reveal push into new markets.
Industry and government must collaborate on skills and retraining to get to grips with new innovations, CBI conference told
Hackers are exploiting the popularity of blockchain technologies in spamming and phishing campaigns, warns Kaspersky Lab
Businesses need to redress the lack of trust in their ability to keep personal data safe to enable innovation, according to the Information Commissioner’s Office
Nasuni's customer base has expanded to large enterprises, and most are right to be concerned about cloud storage performance, says CEO Andres Rodriguez.
Software-defined Datrium DVX storage is mostly used with standard servers. New Compute Nodes and Data Nodes with end-to-end flash expand on proprietary hardware launched in April.
Organizations that perform repetitious business tasks can benefit from Citrix ShareFile's workflow feature, which has seen numerous updates recently.
Latifa Hospital’s new communication system is intended to improve staff response times and create a quieter environment for patients
There is still much work to be done before UK SMEs are fully prepared for the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), business barometer shows
Salesforce CEO bangs drum for AI-infused cloud CRM as plank in so-called “fourth industrial revolution”, with increased customisation of its software to the fore
OpenStack Foundation executive director, Jonathan Bryce, admits to being caught on the back-foot by the growing number of enterprises using its software to build edge computing environments
At Dreamforce 2017, Marc Benioff announces public cloud partnership with Google in keynote embracing AI-driven fourth industrial revolution
The recruitment company has built a cloud-first, mobile-first platform aimed at helping smaller businesses to recruit temporary staff
Revenue from public cloud services grew by 28% for the first half of this year, compared with the same period in 2016, says IDC
All-flash arrays SC5020F and SC7020F boost performance by several times over existing former Compellent products in Dell EMC range that could be configured as all-flash
Ten human rights organisations challenge lawfulness of UK surveillance legislation and mass internet surveillance by UK intelligence agencies in Strasbourg court
Gartner CIO survey shows digital business is changing mindsets and culture at organisations that are successful in transformation
A fake WhatsApp app bypassed Google's Play Store checks and was downloaded 1 million times, but one expert said Google's store is still the safest place to get apps.
Fujitsu’s Duncan Tait says the skills gap and the increased need for digital workers will cause mass competition over recruitment in the future
The UK government is pursuing various short and long-term initiatives aimed at promoting the cyber security profession and growing skills in the sector, including supporting a professional body
'Everything forward will be Lightning,' was advice from one analyst at Dreamforce 2017. CommScope's experience proves a move to Salesforce Lightning may be easier than you think.
Endpoint security expert CrowdStrike plans to double its workforce in the APAC region next year on the back of triple-digit growth in sales and bookings since it opened its Sydney regional headquarters in June 2016
Utility organisation is harnessing the latest technologies, including artificial intelligence and blockchain
Swiss incumbent operator Swisscom commits to nationwide gigabit 4G from 2018, and 5G from 2020
The number of non-Estonian people who applied for e-residency of the Baltic state exceeds the birth rate so far for this year
Study from Sage finds technology early adopters and consumers are ready to try artificial intelligence, but there are concerns over ethics
Latest version of open source OpenStack-targeted software-defined storage adds CephFS, ISCSI and storage that can be deployed in containers to save hardware
CIOs discussed the best practices in driving digital change at the recent Gartner Symposium event in Barcelona
Most US companies risk fines for non-compliance with new European data protection laws that apply to all organisations processing any personal data of EU citizens
New Panasas appliances upgrade CPU and RAM to double throughput while changing hardware architecture. Clustered NAS specialist says all-flash and tiers of flash are on the roadmap
Everyone has a role to play in cyber security, including big market players – but if this is not done voluntarily, legislation may be required, says the European commissioner for security union
Dell EMC all-flash inclusive added to the mix for SC Series and Unity arrays. The vendor said each of the midrange storage products has a large customer base.
Red Hat updates Ceph storage software with support for CephFS file system, iSCSI block interface and Linux container-based storage implementations, plus usability improvements.
The latest security release from Google patched the Android KRACK vulnerability affecting Wi-Fi's WPA2 protocol, but update confusion leaves users unsure if they are safe.
A joint steering committee will meet twice a year to address cyber security issues, among other measures to shore up Malaysia’s cyber security capabilities
Bangalore ranked as the number one location for businesses looking to access the right ecosystem to support digital transformation
Ex-GCHQ head says despite the growing number of sophisticated cyber threats, tackling them is not impossible, but business has to find new ways of finding cyber defenders in previously untapped pools of talent
Bank’s latest addition to its mobile apps is a facial recognition option for Apple iPhone X users
Almost half of contactless payment users in the UK don't always check the amount they are paying before tapping
Broadband partners say their collaboration will help the government hit five million properties with full fibre by 2025, which is half of its target
Internet service providers are perfectly positioned to make a significant contribution to cyber security for everyone, BT’s Gavin Patterson believes
University is investigating a second leak in six months, illustrating that data breaches are often caused by non-malicious insiders and that organisations are not getting to grips with the problem
New court documents indicate an FBI hacking operation may have crossed international borders and infected systems in Russia, China and Iran.
Security experts are questioning the wisdom of WikiLeaks releasing more source code for US intelligence agency hacking tools
The UK is calling on social media campaigns to do more to detect and remove “militant messaging” automatically, while former MI5 head issues another caution against tampering with encryption
Research by Vanson Bourne, on behalf of HCL, shows that the majority of CIOs doubt digital transformation strategies will be fully put into effect
BT, Sky, TalkTalk, Virgin Media and Zen Internet have agreed to introduce automatic compensation for consumers when their broadband service goes down
The Royal Society calls for more investment in computing education after finding many schools in England still do not offer a computer science GCSE
New remediation engine in Nyansa Voyance flags the cause of network troubles and recommends changes to correct it. Other improvements include more syslog data for better analytics.
Government Commercial Function's guidance on exiting large, monolithic outsourcing contracts says disaggregation takes longer than thought, and must be run as a business transformation programme
Tech firm Accenture has launched a programme for people aiming to return to the workplace after a career break
Open standards will help organisations comply with new EU data protection regulations, while ensuring interoperability and a good user experience, according to a global standardisation group
News roundup: Following the massive Equifax breach, the CEO said he doesn't know if customer data is encrypted or not. Plus, flaws were found in IEEE's P1735 standard, and more.
At its annual partner conference, PSA software vendor ConnectWise said it aims to build out its ecosystem of integrated vendors and highlighted its recently announced alliance with Cisco.


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Sep.04 - The British Retail Consortium says the London Olympics failed to boost sales as hoped last month, with households preferring to watch the games rather than go shopping, giving stores one of their worst months of 2012. Ciara Sutton reports.
The UK may have struck gold at the London Olympics, but games fever didn't reach the retail sector. The British Retail Consortium says like-for-like sales fell by 0.4 percent, with August being one of the worst months this year. BRC director general Stephen Robertson says online activity was particularly hurt. SOUNDBITE: BRITISH RETAIL CONSORTIUM DIRECTOR GENERAL, STEPHEN ROBERTSON, SAYING: "Online we have seen 10 to 20 percent growth every month for several years. August turned in a very miserable under five percent growth. So clearly we are seeing that everyone was absolutely transfixed by those games, and shopping didn't get near the top of their list." There was some appetite though - warm weather over the Olympic period helped sales of party food and drink. But that was more than offset by weak performance for non-food goods. And the poor summer results could cast a cloud over the forthcoming festive period. SOUNDBITE: BRITISH RETAIL CONSORTIUM DIRECTOR GENERAL, STEPHEN ROBERTSON, SAYING: "Retailers cannot expect strong growth figures. We've seen how retailers have responded, they've cut prices. Now cutting prices is good news for shoppers but it means margins are particularly thin. So it is critical as we run up to Christmas, and it is just round the corner, lots of retailers are now thinking about what sort of stock levels they'll need for Christmas. I suspect they are going to be quite cautious." The government, under pressure to boost the economy as its austerity drive becomes increasingly unpopular, had been hoping for an increase in consumer spending to support growth. But no amount of Olympic cheer seemed able to outweigh the mounting worries about the economy. Ciara Sutton, Reuters.


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Best Affordable Cars 2020
No car with a price tag that starts in the mid-to-late thirty thousands can be described as cheap, but Tesla’s Model 3 is far more However, while I think its big brother Model S is one of the best The government has announced that it is reducing the amount of company car tax that buyers of electric vehicles will be charged in a bid to accelerate the switch to zero-emission vehicles. For 2020 .. The 2020 Toyota Supra may never have happened without Hollywood Supra’s development team made no bones about its target — the Porsche Cayman/Boxster, the best-handling sports car on the planet for
For drivers that are looking for an affordable and incredibly fuel-efficient new car, the 2020 Toyota Yaris Hatchback is going to be an easy pick for them as it offers a very impressive fuel Chevrolet shocked the world last week when it announced that the 2020 Corvette Stingray will start at under $60,000. Just how is that possible? While speaking with Motor Authority at the new car’s The Corolla’s well-assembled but basic, all-black, mostly plastic cabin looks and feels like the cheap alternative; if you want more luxury than the Corolla LE provides, the Insight is the way to go.
Best Affordable Cars 2020 – Honda Insight and new-for-2020 Toyota Corolla hybrid models appeared. Neither is shaped like a tadpole (although the original Insight was), and most onlookers would never guess that these This car is the s a much more affordable alternative to the A5 Sportback. The Vantage sports an exquisitely sculpted bodywork, and those 21-inch wheels fill in the arches nicely without ruining A slew of long-range electric cars are expected to hit the market by 2020. Several of these electric vehicles will hour battery and a range of 250 miles per charge. But perhaps the best thing will


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If you aren’t familiar with the Zenonia franchise, we understand. Not everyone has time to keep track of every mobile RPG, after all, but the most recent entries in the series (Zenonia 4 and Zenonia 5) are available right now if you’d like to check them out. But the series is going places beyond that, as Gamevil and Com2uS have announced the upcoming World of Zenonia as a mobile MMORPG.
Of course, this announcement comes without any sort of assets, date, or anything else, so it seems this new title is a way away from any actual release; it also has no official confirmation of any sort of US release, but as Gamevil is specifically lined up as the global publisher it seems all but inevitable. Pity that they didn’t go with Zenonia World and thus ensure that it would be one of the only MMOs starting with the letter Z, isn’t it?


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Japanese Minister of State for Economic and Fiscal Policy Kaoru Yosano said yesterday the government may need to spend between ￥10 trillion and ￥15 trillion (US$184 billion) on reconstruction in the wake of the devastating earthquake that hit the country’s northeast in March.
The government may need to issue bonds to meet the cost, but should not do so without coming up with ways to pay for redemption, Yosano said, signaling that some form of tax hike would be inevitable.
“I understand those who say we need to issue bonds for quake [reconstruction], but we shouldn’t borrow recklessly without thinking about how to pay the money back,” Yosano told a television program.
“If we were to issue bonds for reconstruction, we need to decide in how many years we would pay the money back and how. That’s important in maintaining market trust in Japan’s fiscal state,” he said.
Japan is reeling from the triple disaster of an earthquake, tsunami and prolonged nuclear crisis, with the government struggling to find ways to pay for the biggest reconstruction effort since the aftermath of World War II.
Damage from the quake pushed Japan into recession with the economy shrinking much more than expected in the first quarter of the year and set to contract again in the second quarter as power shortages and supply chain disruptions hit factory output.
The Diet earlier this month passed the government’s ￥4 trillion first extra budget to meet immediate disaster relief costs.
The government plans to compile a sizable second extra budget for reconstruction, although lawmakers are divided on how to pay for the extra spending.
Japan’s public debt, at double the size of its US$5 trillion economy, is the biggest among major industrialized economies, limiting room for additional fiscal stimulus.
However, lawmakers are hesitant to raise tax, particularly the politically sensitive sales tax, for fear of scaring voters away, even as the cost of quake reconstruction adds to the huge social welfare spending for a rapidly ageing society.
Yosano, regarded as a fiscal hawk, has said that raising tax is crucial for Japan to meet ballooning social welfare costs and fix the country’s tattered finances.
Semiconductor stocks on Friday took a beating after a grim profit warning from Idaho-based Micron Technology Inc sparked fresh worries about the US’ earnings power as the country is potentially heading for a recession. Despite a broader stock market rally, the Philadelphia Stock Exchange Semiconductor Index dropped 3.8 percent after Micron, the largest maker of memory semiconductors in the US, flagged that demand was cooling for chips used in computers and smartphones. The index — which is home to US chip giants Advanced Micro Devices Inc and Nvidia Corp, as well as Micron — is down 38 percent this year. Historically, semiconductor
WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY: Costco Wholesale said it expected the purchase of the remaining 45 percent stake to add 1 to 1.5 percent to its earnings per share US-based Costco Wholesale Corp on Thursday said that it had purchased the remaining 45 percent stake in Costco President Taiwan Inc (台灣好市多) for US$1.05 billion, making the local company a fully-owned unit. “We estimate that the purchase would add about 1 to 1.5 percent to [our] earnings per share,” Costco said in a statement. Costco President Taiwan was established as a joint venture with Kaohsiung-based President Group (大統集團), which held a 45 percent stake. Since the first Costco store opened in Kaohsiung in 1997, 14 outlets have been set up in Taiwan, company data showed. PROFITABLE Three Costco stores in Taiwan — in Taipei’s Neihu
MOBILITY SOLUTIONS: Tata Technologies’ participation marks more progress in Hon Hai’s efforts to expand its ecosystem through the platform, the Taiwanese firm said India’s Tata Technologies Ltd has become the latest member of Hon Hai Precision Industry Co’s (鴻海精密) MIH Open Platform to jointly develop sustainable mobility solutions for customers worldwide, the Taiwanese company said yesterday. It might include embedded and electrical, electric platform development and battery management system solutions, among others, Hon Hai said. Tata Technologies’ participation marks more progress in Hon Hai’s efforts to expand its electric-vehicle (EV) ecosystem through the MIH platform, it said. The open platform has about 2,380 members around the world, with an aim to jointly develop EV ecosystems and shrink the time to market for products. Hon Hai made the
SOARING PROFITS: Semiconductors and shipping have knocked automaking and construction out of the 10 highest paying industries, stock exchange data showed Mobile phone chip designer MediaTek Inc (聯發科) posted an average of NT$5.15 million (US$173,249) in annual compensation for non-managerial employees last year, marking the highest among all firms listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange (TWSE), exchange data showed. That is a 66 percent increase from the company’s average compensation of NT$3.08 million in 2020, as its earnings per share (EPS) expanded from NT$26.01 in 2020 to NT$70.56 last year. That is also three times higher than the average compensation of NT$1.7 million in the nation’s semiconductor industry, the data showed. The increases helped MediaTek advance its ranking from third in 2020, replacing


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KickingTiresSuzuki filed for bankruptcy Monday, officially eliminating its automotive arm in the U.S. That leaves current and potential owners with a lot of questions. We answer the most significant ones below, but if you have a question, please ask it......
Tags: Financially Distressed Companies, Saab, Bankruptcy, Acura, Volvo
KickingTiresIf you've checked out our story on What You Need to Know about the Suzuki bankruptcy, you might consider buying a new Suzuki if the deal is right. Below, we break down what we like and what we don't about......
Tags: Bankruptcy, Car Engine Repair, Suzuki, Passenger Cars
KickingTiresFuel-economy packages are multiplying these days, and it seems every automaker has one. They do beef up mileage claims after all. Dodge makes the Dart Aero, Nissan offers a Sentra FE+ and Ford has its Super Fuel Economy packages. Most......
Tags: Transportation, Chevrolet, Kia, Vehicles, Automotive Equipment
KickingTiresAutomakers won't report December sales results until later today, but we have data on the month's fastest and slowest sellers. The redesigned Toyota Avalon hit dealerships in the first week of December, and it stormed the fastest-selling list, with...
Tags: Fuel-efficient Vehicles, Chevrolet, Smart Car, Volvo, Vehicles
KickingTiresCliff, shmiff. Holiday shoppers brushed aside concerns about impending fiscal doom (which Congress averted, sort of) to drive new-car sales to their best December since 2007. Pickups trucks remained atop December's sales pyramid, with Chrysler's Ram...
KickingTiresWe reported Wednesday on Hurricane Sandy's impact to October car sales, with car shoppers across 13 states potentially delaying a purchase in the final week of the month while they assessed damage. One analyst noted that while some drivers would......
Tags: Chrysler, Chevrolet, Vehicles, Hyundai, Automotive Equipment
KickingTiresAs the East Coast starts to recover from a hurricane that could end up costing more than Katrina, European automakers, whose ports of entry lay in the storm's path, are still assessing damage. The Port Authority of New York and......
KickingTiresFord says EPA ratings for the six-speed-manual 2013 Focus ST are 23/32 mpg city/highway, beating out the rival Mazdaspeed3 (18/25 mpg), Volkswagen GTI (21/31 mpg) and Subaru Impreza WRX (19/25 mpg) with manual transmissions. The automatic-transmission GTI...
KickingTiresHow much more would you pay for a certified pre-owned vehicle? CPO programs inspect and recondition late-model used cars, extend the warranty and sometimes discount the financing. But they cost more up front. Take a popular used car like the......
KickingTiresAutomakers had a mixed July as shoppers paid more for their cars. CNW Marketing Research says average transaction prices increased 8.5% versus July 2011 ??? the third month in a row of year-over-year increases greater than 8%. Compounding all this......
KickingTiresWho says old cars won???t sell? July's fastest sellers include newbies like the redesigned Nissan Altima and two Hyundai Elantra additions ??? the coupe and GT hatchback ??? but a number of cars that have been on the market a......
Tags: Fuel-efficient Vehicles, Chevrolet, Volvo, Vehicles, Infiniti
KickingTiresChrysler will launch the ad campaign for the 2013 Dodge Dart at tonight's Major League Baseball All-Star Game, Automotive News reports. Dubbed "How to Change Cars Forever," the commercial paints a fast-paced montage of how to develop a car sans......
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Tags New Locations and Growth
Tag: New Locations and Growth
Product Launches: -- Aventine Hill Communities is proud to announce that they have taken over ownership of The Heritage at Westover Hills, a beloved Assisted Living and Memory Care community in San Antonio, Texas, and are renaming the community - The June!
Launch: All-New Fontana Mazda Dealership to Begin Two-Week Grand Opening Celebration Monday in California
Product Launches: -- The Fontana automotive community is about to get a little bit bigger thanks to Fontana Mazda. The team behind the city's first Mazda dealership will open their doors on August 5, 2019 for two weeks of grand opening celebrations. The public is invited to enjoy a live DJ and many grand opening specials at Fontana Mazda.
Product Launches: -- Papa, a leader in the Elder Tech industry announced they have expanded services to California, Illinois, Texas, Mississippi, Arkansas, South Carolina, and Tennessee. Papa is expanding beyond its current markets of 19 cities throughout Florida, Michigan, and Pennsylvania. Papa Pals support older adults with transportation, household chores, technology, and companionship. The Papa Pals are like "Grandkids On-demand!"
Product Launches: -- Intelligent Office, a virtual, professionally staffed office space for mobile executives, small businesses, professional services firms, and independent contractors, is announcing the opening of a San Francisco Bay Area Peninsula site.
Advertising NEWS: -- Scan Mailboxes(R) announced today that they took just five years to go from startup to its millionth scan of client mail. Co-founders Ken Brown and Chris Landry started Scan Mailboxes in 2014 with a desire to provide a more efficient way for people to read their mail no matter where they are - saving time and environmental waste in the process.
Product Launches: -- Ashtanga House of Yoga, LLC is a new studio dedicated to the power of the Ashtanga practice and is located at 11890 Douglas Rd Suite 109, Alpharetta, GA 30005. Ashtanga House of Yoga welcomes students of all levels and yoga backgrounds.
Product Launches: -- Prepare to take your seat at the newest hot spot for Live Entertainment and mouth-watering dishes - right here in the heart of S. Blvd. of Presidents: THE VENUE - Music, Burgers, Bar.
Product Launches: -- The long awaited and anticipated Anthony Vince' Nail Spa is now open at The Shops at Worthington Place. The renovated up-scale mall is the perfect place to host this one-of-a-kind high-end nail salon in the Worthington/Columbus area. Anthony Vince' Nail Spa is focused on the pursuit of excellence and beauty. Their goal is simple: To make you feel like their only guest.
Product Launches: -- The Justice League of Food will welcome supporters, partners, community leaders, and the general public to a Grand Opening & Ribbon Cutting Celebration. Guests will include Governor Kim Reynolds.
Product Launches: -- Best Friends Pet Hotel is inviting pet-owning families to the new facility's grand opening celebration on Saturday, April 6, 2019 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event will offer free pet portraits with digital downloads, treats for pets at the Best Friends Treat Truck, refreshments for all guests, dog demonstrations, and tours of the new facility offering the latest in pet care.


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Another sign that mobile is increasingly the way more people access the internet, bypassing traditional computers in their hunt for information, comes in a post on GigaOM highlighting the growth is usage of mobile devices notably the iPad and Android smartphones.
While GigaOM’s post quotes much detail from a report by US cloud networking provider Meraki about the findings, you have only to glance at these two charts from the post to see the dramatic state of a market clearly dominated by two platforms – iPad/iPhone and Android.
As you can see, iPhone jumped from 25 percent to 32 percent from 2010 to 2011; iPad from zero to 4 percent; Android one percent to 11 percent. Nokia and Blackberry don’t even get a mention, and Windows is declining as is Mac OS X. And just look at the huge data consumption gap between users of iPads and other platforms.
Overall, the numbers might not seem that significant and they’re about usage patterns and trends in the US so there will be some variances in other markets. Yet it seems clear to me that we are seeing a visible and sustained shift in the ways in which people are interacting with content, etc, online, no matter where in the world you are.
And this comes just six months after reports citing IDC research saying that shipments of smartphones, tablets and other app-enabled mobile devices will overtake PC shipments in the next 18 months, an event that may signify the end of the PC-centric era.
Which is a good moment to highlight the concluding comment in GigaOM’s post, one with which I strongly agree:
[…] It’s also another reminder that content owners and publishers should be preparing for more people using mobile devices to consume their content. Right now, many sites are still not optimized for mobile, which can be a lost monetization opportunity. Make no mistake; the world is turning mobile, and it’s happening right now. Better to get with the program than get left behind.
I use my mobile devices a lot when out, including accessing websites from searches, click-throughs from news items, etc. At a rough guess, I’d say that for every ten companies’ websites I visit from a mobile device, eight simply serve up the standard desktop website, not one that is optimized for mobile. That’s a miserable state of affairs.
Are you ready yet?


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Stories about ownership changing in sports doesn’t always have a happy ending. But in October of 2014 the rarity became reality. After speculation about the future of the Bills in Western New York, Terry and Kim Pegula finalized the purchase of the team securing their future in a city where the Bills mean more than just the games played on the field. Now that the two largest sports teams in Buffalo were united the city was reinvigorated with civic pride. It was up to PicSix to develop a marketing campaign that could be a rallying cry for the people of Buffalo and become a mantra passed down through generations.
The result: One Buffalo.
The campaign continues to be a bond between the Bills, Sabres, and the community. It is a celebration of the future of sport in Buffalo and the family who has invested so much into the city. It is intended to bring the community of Buffalo together as a representation of teamwork and a deeper connection between Buffalo sports teams and their fans. It is a meaningful sign that we are all moving in the same direction: One Team; One Goal; One Community; One Family; One Buffalo.
In hindsight, it is clear that some things were meant to be. The paperwork was filed with the NFL and the Pegulas were officially the owners of the Buffalo Bills on October 8th. On Sunday October 12th, the Bills would play a home game where they would be formally introduced as owners. On Monday October 13th, the Sabres would play a home game and provide an opportunity to continue the celebration. One Buffalo launched on that fateful Sunday in October with a massive card stunt and a hype video voiced by the incomparable Chris Berman. It continued as One Buffalo t-shirts were strewn on every seat at KeyBank Center on Monday. Fans were called to action via a social media mosaic. Show your Buffalo pride using #OneBuffalo then the images were placed into a massive One Buffalo image made up of the community’s efforts. The wave of pride continued to swell.
The t-shirts given out at the Bills and Sabres game created a demand for One Buffalo products. The fans rallied around the idea of One Buffalo and wanted to show their support for their teams and their community as no other city had. Before long, it was not uncommon to see One Buffalo across the clothing of a proud Buffalonian.
The campaign resonated with the entire city. Expanding beyond the hallways of KeyBank Center and New Era Field and into the community. Local businesses were swept up in the new sense of pride as well and wanted to leverage the campaign to show their pride in their city. One Buffalo is so pervasive that it unifies beer, ice cream, and blood drives in a way that few campaigns can.
The unification of the brands had hit its stride. Immediately fans identified their teams under One Buffalo. The natural progression was to extend this idea into the digital space. The My One Buffalo app, featuring digital ticketing, a robust membership program, and a bevy of in-venue utilities was created to give fans a seamless mobile experience across New Era Field, KeyBank Center, and HarborCenter. PicSix was able to develop a brand around an app that not only had never been done before by any organization, but also didn’t even exist.


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Stores and malls all across Texas have already begun to open with new safety procedures and rules. Some larger department stores, however, have been cautious in reopening in the state, prepping their locations and employees to be as safe as possible. There's one particular department store company that is slowly reopening, and locals are excited to get back to their deals. HomeGoods, Marshalls, and T.J. Maxx will be fully reopened across Texas by the end of June.
TJX Companies is the parent organization that owns all three beloved department store chains. They recently announced that they will be slowly reopening to make sure they meet their ideal safety standards.
The giant stores are famous for selling a variety of retail goods at prices much lower than some of their competitors. As of 2020, there are more than 3,200 stores across the United States.
This makes TJX a major stop for Texans looking for affordable clothes, home goods, and more.
In a statement from this May, the CEO and President of The TJX Companies, Ernie Herrman, stated that "health and safety will remain a very important consideration" as they reopen their stores.
The chain stores will be implementing "newly established health protocols, including required use of face masks while working and implementing social distancing work practices."
They will also be installing protective shields at the cash registers to protect employees, along with adding "social distancing markers" in their check-out lines.
Returns and exchanges will be handled in a new way and there will be new cleaning procedures to keep everyone as safe as TJX thinks is necessary.
They also encourage all their customers to wear a protective face covering when shopping in their stores.
If you have been excited to get back to your favorite local discount retailer, from TJX to Marshalls to HomeGoods, you can look forward to reentering the stores sometime very soon.
In fact, locations across Texas have already begun to open, with many others following soon.
Be aware that tensions might be high, as seen at the reopening of a Ross in South Texas this past week.


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AJAS new tax irks exporters
Mark Titus, Gleaner Writer
Western Bureau:The Jamaica Exporters' Association (JEA) will tomorrow meet with stakeholders from the Ministry of Agriculture and the Airports Authority of Jamaica to settle a dispute between local exporters from western Jamaica and AJAS Limited, cargo handlers at the Sangster International Airport (SIA).
The exporters are questioning the legality of a new levy of US 4¢ per kilo that has been introduced by AJAS, sole operators at the port of entry, and have called for an immediate suspension of the charges.
"We have a major concern about this increase and will be meeting with these stakeholders to see how best to resolve this crisis," Vitus Evans, president of the JEA, told The Sunday Gleaner. "If that meeting does not resolve the issue, we will then have to seek audience with the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce."
disputing the new charge
AJAS first notified its customers of the new charges in a memo dated March 22, 2012, and signed by General Manager Carole Fox, which claimed that the new charge was being passed on to its customers because of the imposition of a "throughput fee" introduced by MBJ Airports Limited, operators of SIA.
Efforts to contact Fox, who is based at the company's administrative office, in Kingston, was unsuccessful as she was said to be out of office.
Shipments belonging to companies that have failed to comply or are disputing the new charge are not being accepted, leaving them with millions of dollars in losses.
"We question the legality of the charges and further are troubled by the way we are being forced to accept; we consider your behaviour as an assault on the export sectors in western Jamaica," said a statement from the affected exporters, in a letter dated April 11, 2012.
The letter also pointed to the difficulties being experienced by the exporters, who are still in recovery mode from the much publicised rejection of some thirteen 40ft containers of yam by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). They are also required, among other things, to upgrade their facilities as a pre-requirement for acceptance by USDA.
"Freight and other charges on export are highest in Jamaica and this latest addition will only make Jamaican exports even more uncompetitive in a climate of falling tropical food prices in overseas markets," said businesswoman Rita Hilton, in a letter to the managing director of Lascelles Group of Companies and copied to the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica, Jamaica Exporters Association and Jamaica Manufacturers' Association.
"We understand that this charge was implemented in 2009 and that the charge was not passed on by handlers, AJAS now has a monopoly as a handler in Montego Bay and seems bent on wrecking the sector with exports dispatched from this airport," Hilton continued.


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- 'Pokémon Go' will no longer work on older iPhones and iPads, says the game's developer.
- The change is due to iOS 11, the newest version of Apple's iOS operating system.
- You've got until February 28 if you're using an older iPhone or iPad.
Sorry, iPhone 5 owners who also love Pokémon: The popular mobile game "Pokémon Go" is going to stop working on your phone as of February 28.
The game's developer, Niantic Labs, said the change is a measure of compatibility with Apple's newest mobile operating system, iOS 11. "This change is a result of improvements to Pokémon GO that push the application beyond the capabilities of the operating systems on such devices," Niantic said in a statement.
Wondering if your device is included in the purge? It might be! Here's a list of all the Apple devices that are capable of receiving iOS 11 — if your phone or tablet isn't listed, it's going to lose "Pokémon Go" on February 28:
You can, of course, continue exactly where you left off in "Pokémon Go" by logging in to your account on a newer iPhone or iPad.


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DETROIT (WWJ) - Expect to be able to walk into a bar in Detroit, about year from now, to hang out and enjoy some recreational marijuana.
That's according to attorney Barton Morris of the Cannabis Legal Group, who held a "Cannabusiness Seminar" Friday at the TCF Center for people who want to learn all about pot shop and "pot bar" possibilities in Michigan.
These pot bars, he explained, will sell a selection of recreational pot to patrons over 21, who will then consume it on site.
Any interested entrepreneur, Morris said, will have to apply for what's called a social consumption license.
"And, yes, there will be places where people can go just like alcohol, where they drink alcohol, (instead) you can smoke marijuana," he said. "I think the city of Detroit will be one of the first where people can go and consume marijuana. It could be smoking it, it could be vaping it...or not...or it could be eating it."
To be clear, the state -- at least for now -- does not plan to grant licenses for the sale of cannabis and alcoholic beverages at the same location.
But what about talk of marijuana-infused booze? "Perhaps one day," Morris said. "There are people that are trying to perfect that particular elixir."
How many licenses will the state give out? That depends on how many participating municipalities choose to permit.
"So, if the city of Detroit permits 20, then the state will give 20," Morris said. "Municipalities have ultimate control over the entire scenario. So, every city gets to decide how many they would like, what type they would like, and if they want them at all...and I think that's the way it's supposed to be."
Since December 6, 2018, it has been legal for Michigan residents and visitors to have up to 2.5 ounces (71 grams) of marijuana on them and, up to 10 ounces (284 grams) at home, as well as up to 12 plants. However, stores have not yet opened as regulators continue to work on licensing.
The ball will begin rolling faster next month, when the state is expected to start accepting applications for recreational marijuana business licenses.
Morris said he expects recreational marijuana shops and pot bars to open in Michigan in 2020; perhaps as early as February, but more likely by next summer.
Sales on legal recreational marijuana will be taxed, 10 percent on top of the six percent sales tax, with the tax dollars going to schools, roads and cities where the sales take place.


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Recent research from the Electrical Contractors' Association (ECA) shows, despite the financial situation of the small majority of member firms having remained stable throughout the second quarter of 2010, there was less optimism about the future than there had been at the end of 2009.
The second-quarter findings of the association's Member Business Trends Survey showed fewer businesses (38%, down from 40%) reporting a loss in turnover and a very slight gain (1%) in the number of firms reporting an increase in turnover, to 21%. 40% of members, however, said they had seen no change in their turnover. This an increase of 4% compared to Q1.
All regions, apart from the South East and Midlands, have returned better than expected figures for Q2 in comparison to the first quarter of 2010. Relatively large businesses, those with an annual turnover of over £5m, continue to experience the biggest gains in financial performance and maintain greater confidence about the future.
Turning to views on the prospects for the next quarter (Q3), these were a touch more optimistic than they were in Q1. ECA's group CEO, David Pollock, commented however, that notwithstanding the fact that a fifth of members expect to make gains in revenue, 43% predict a fall in turnover over the next 12 months and firms have expressed a 12% drop in enquiries since Q1. He said: "I worry about growing pessimism especially in light of recent and expected spending cuts."
The survey highlighted that businesses in the North, as well as those with an annual turnover of less than £200,000, are most concerned about the downturn in business and how this will affect them.
Pollock concluded: "Larger contractors are generally better resourced to weather the current storm, but times are tough for everyone. It is encouraging to see the government taking steps to remove some of the traditional barriers to procurement by posting all public contracts worth more than £10,000 online from this September, and introducing a single pre-qualification questionnaire for all government contracts worth less than £50,000. I hope all businesses including small and medium-sized ones be are able to benefit from additional work streams."


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Technically Incorrect: In the new book "Becoming Steve Jobs," the Microsoft co-founder marvels at Jobs' ability to excite a crowd about technology.
Technically Incorrect: The Apple co-founder says he is extremely concerned about our survival, as the future is "scary." We may become the mere pets of computers.
Cutting the cord isn't always a straightforward process. Here's what you need to know.
The closely watched sex discrimination case is winding down, but both sides know that whatever the jury decides could have far-reaching implications.
A new rumor says to expect three new iPhones this year, including a 4-inch device that bucks the trend of big displays that some of your friends and family love to mock.
A newly granted patent would let you view friends, family and even pets from your mobile device as they move through their day.
The "Harry Potter" author gently responds to a fan on Twitter who "can't see" Hogwarts' headmaster being gay.
Heavy rainfall has allowed the Central American country of Costa Rica to be powered almost entirely by its hydroelectric plants.
Backed by 7.6 million followers on YouTube, the beauty guru's empire is so diverse even people least likely to watch her Barbie makeup transformation know her name. The online star still has a few secrets.
That's right, opossums. Tests show that their superpower to resist snake venom could be harnessed to save thousands of lives.


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Byron Lars talks about upcoming honors, listening to clients – WWD
Three decades after the start of his career as an independent designer, Byron Lars is honored twice this spring.
The Pratt Institute will honor Lars with an honorary degree at its 113th launch on May 18. And Tracy Reese will present Lars with the Fashion Group International President’s Achievement Award on May 10 at the organization’s Rising Star Awards luncheon.
Revealing its lineup on Tuesday, Pratt tapped architect Toshiko Mori to deliver the keynote, and the American Museum of Natural History’s director of astrovisualization, Carter Burwell Emmart, will receive an honorary degree.
Lars changed his name to In Earnest last year and the sentiment applies to his approach to fashion. As for the recent attention, he said, “It’s gratifying to be recognized for continuing to do relevant work. We really strive to keep things here, not just what we see, but what she needs – her being our client.
Not interested in “just ticking boxes for her and moving on to the next thing”, Lars aims to strike a balance between items customers know the brand for and surprises she might not be ready for this season, but maybe the next one. “We want to evolve it organically instead of a groundbreaking arc,” Lars said.
Given the current global turmoil, the designer struggled to identify the biggest challenge. “It would be more difficult to answer what is not difficult at the moment – everything from the supply chain to the world that we will be designing for six to eight months after creating clothes. But it has also been very instructive to try to find that balance with things that can really work at home on a Zoom call and in the real world,” Lars said.
The speed of the pandemic-induced shutdown happened so quickly that many resorted to pajamas or pajama sensibility “overnight,” the designer said. Once there were indicators of waning and re-emerging positive cases, “it appears there was overcorrection in some cases with difficult adaptation and a full evening [wear]”, said Lars. “Is this really happening in the real world? I would have to say yes and no to some extent. One of our fanciest and most expensive dresses sold very well last party season. There weren’t many parties, at least actual parties. We were tagged with a few videos of people just wearing the dress twirling around the house, looking great.
The dress retailed for the holiday for less than $1,000, but the price has since “climbed way beyond that” due to inflation, he said. “At the time, we were like, ‘How much should a party dress cost without anyone going to parties?’ We felt it and it went really well – just like the really laid back stuff.
Acknowledging how a return to the holidays then began to happen to a greater extent, Lars noted how other things are happening as well, such as Omicron’s latest mutation. “I guess it’s just the new world we’re navigating and we just have to learn to be in it,” he said.
With functionality always at the center of his designs, Lars has incorporated low-profile elastic waistbands and other features for maximum freedom of movement. So much so that at a glance buyers might mistakenly assume that they cannot wear such models. The designer’s response to these types of scenarios is a confidence response, advising consumers, “No, just put it on. “We do all the heavy lifting. With the pandemic, the imperative need for comfort has only been amplified throughout the entire design process,” Lars said.
The ability to make people feel good about a design beyond having others tell them they look good is key. “You feel like you look great because you feel comfortable. You can focus on something other than pulling that skirt down or pulling that bustier up,” he said.
Need isn’t the only determining factor in purchases — an emotional component can never be ruled out despite everything, Lars said.
The way he sees longevity comes down to listening to the audience you’re playing. That means being very receptive to input from buyers in co-creating the brand, Lars said.
Reached at his Fifth Avenue studio in Harlem, Lars said, “We work so hard that we haven’t really been able to engage with the community in a way that I’d like to be part of the creative conversation of Harlem. I would really like to get involved in this creative community here.


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Every night for seven nights can be a date night, girls’ night out, family gathering, or get take-out because it’s been a long day as QC Restaurant Week is your chance to expand your taste buds by trying new things from over 55 participating businesses. In its tenth year, the annual event on March 21-27, 2022, organized by Visit Quad Cities is the perfect time to support and celebrate Quad Cities restaurants.
Visit Quad Cities encourages food lovers to explore www.qcrestaurantweek.com for all of the restaurants’ details. Small businesses are a key part of the Quad Cities region, and our QC identity includes our local restaurants to help set us apart from other destinations. The restaurant industry is still fighting a hard battle and we can continue to eat locally to support our vibrant culinary community.
In addition to supporting local restaurants, Quad Citizens have a chance to win local restaurant gift cards. Individuals who purchase a meal (or meals) from any of the QC Restaurant Week restaurants between March 21-27 can fill out the entry form on the website with a picture of their receipt, photo of themselves at the restaurant, or posing with their carryout meal for a chance to win.
This year, Visit Quad Cities wants to recognize and honor some of those in the local restaurant industry who go above and beyond to make experiences special and who bring customer-centric energy to work with them. We are taking nominations from the public through an easy online form at www.qcrestaurantweek.com through March 22, 2022. Visit Quad Cities will then select several nominees who demonstrate exemplary customer service to be recognized during QC Restaurant Week.
Follow Visit Quad Cities on social media for updates on QC Restaurant Week, restaurant gift card giveaways, and other happenings @QuadCities on Facebook, and @VisitQuadCities on Instagram and Twitter. Post about your QC Restaurant Week meals using #QCRestaurantWeek.
News and information presented in this release has not been corroborated by WTWH Media LLC.


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Ford Canada President and CEO Dianne Craig was in Sault Ste. Marie late last week, discussing the regional company’s past restructuring efforts in the wake of the economic collapse of 2000s.
“There was 120,000 employees around the globe that lost their jobs when we went through our restructuring, 57,000 in North America. When you go through that kind of pain, cutting, terrible time you need to make sure it’s all worth while in the end,” said Craig.
Ford Canada saw two of its own plants close in the process. Worldwide, the number of closures was 28. Since then, Ford’s Essex plant has reopened, today reflecting a “really strong” industry in Canada overall.
The Ford Canada CEO went on to talk about why free-trade agreements matter, and to reiterate her concerns regarding the Trans-Pacific Trade Partnership (TPP). “In 2012 we had a $700-million investment in the Oakville assembly plant. Now we have 5,200 people working out of that plant. It’s 2,200 more than was working there three years ago,” said Ms. Craig. “It’s not just the paradigm there used to be between the U.S. and Canada — and in some cases Mexico — it’s building vehicles for around the world.”
The Ford Canada CEO is most concerned with the stipulated 5-year tariff phase-out period for Canada’s automotive exports, versus a 30-year phase-out for the US. “Getting trade agreements right matters, because it attracts auto investments and ultimately to make sure we can export outside of Canada,” said Craig.


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Tinkoff chooses BPC’s SaaS payment services to drive Asia expansion
By Leandra Monteiro
Tinkoff Group, a digital provider of financial and lifestyle services, has announced that it has selected BPC’s SaaS Cloud payment services for its planned expansion to the Philippines. The project is an extension to an existing partnership between the two companies and is a testimony to BPC’s proven technical expertise in digital banking and payments.
Under the terms of the new agreement, BPC’s next generation payment processing company Radar Payments will manage the end-to-end payment experience for prospective Tinkoff customers in the Philippines. This includes virtual and physical card production, as well as debit, credit card issuance and management, SmartVista ACS for 3DS secure services and fraud prevention.
BPC will support Tinkoff in cloud SaaS payment adoption in the Philippines, a trend that has emerged globally for many reasons, including greater flexibility in accessing banking services, as well as cost savings and security.
BPC has been active in the Philippines for over 15 years serving banks, neobanks, rural banks and transport operators contributing to better financial inclusion using next-generation technology. The company has been building a strong reputation for understanding and mastering local banking and payment context and behaviour, key criteria that appealed to Tinkoff when making their selection.
Tinkoff also chose BPC for its capability to support their ambitious growth both in terms of customers and expected transaction volume. While launching a new bank in an old economy could have taken years from licensing to deployment, new economy players are looking for partners that could match their ambition to deploy efficiently and fast, while ensuring a sustainable business model.
George Chesakov, International Expansion Lead at Tinkoff, commented, “Tinkoff is excited about entering the Philippines market. We believe our technology and experience will help us build the right products, boosting financial inclusion in the country. With BPC’s payment processing business, we have a partner with whom we have a long-standing relationship and who aligns with our SaaS Cloud vision. Moreover, we value BPC’s strong local knowledge of the Philippines’ banking sector, which should help us start operating in this market faster.”
Evgenia Loginova, CEO at Radar Payments by BPC, said, “We could not be any prouder to continue our journey serving Tinkoff and its future customers in Asia. Success depends on the speed of deployment of new services in the digital banking industry, especially in the Philippines market, which will welcome a number of new market players in 2022.”
IBSi Daily News Analysis
December 01, 2023
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LG Electronics announced that two of its PuriCare dehumidifiers were among the first in the world to receive a new industry sustainability standard.
The Cleer Edge Pulse in-ear headphones mold together the realms of high-performance audio and fitness wearable in a smart, enjoyable way.
CE retailers went on quite the roller coaster ride during the first quarter of the new year, according to the Q1 2018 DS Index report.
The Cleer Edge Pulse in-ear headphones bring the traditional Cleer audio experience to sport headphones that can track your heart rate.
Amazon has recalled several hundred thousand AmazonBasics-branded power banks after reports of the products overheating and melting.
Best Buy and other retailers appear to be using the data provided by The Retail Equation to implement strict return policies.
Fitbit has not had a great showing when it comes to launching smartwatches. The Fitbit Versa, due out in April, could be a different story.
As Toys R Us faces a near-certain demise, could it be possible for CE retailers to pick up some of the slack and actually benefit from selling tech toys?
The dynaEdge AR100 HMD smart glasses are the first Windows-based smart glasses, and the first product to come out of the Vuzix-Toshiba partnership.
The iKeyp Pro smart safe is a 21st century take on the traditional lock box. A connected app and notifications make this product a unique IoT add-on.
The entire tech industry needs to remain patient with consumer tech adoption, and there's no better case study than smartwatches. Week in Review is sponsored by New Age Electronics.
A survey from Voicebot.ai breaks down the smart speaker market, detailing who owns them, how consumers use them, and their potential to grow.
The Wireless Speaker and Audio Association (WiSA) has made enormous progress getting brands to buy into the tech since President Tony Ostrom came on board.
The iKeyp Pro smart safe is a 21st century take on the traditional safe. In the age of smart-everything, the safe gets in on the action.
After the deadly Florida high school shooting, President Trump will host a summit with video game execs to discuss the industry's role in inciting violence.


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ZURICH, Switzerland (Reuters) — Syngenta is aiming to increase cost cutting to $1 billion a year by 2018, it said after disappointing the market with an 11 percent fall in profit last year.
Earnings were hit by higher seed production costs, a write down on seed inventories and lower-than-expected sales in crop protection in the fourth quarter, said chief executive officer Mike Mack.
Mack has changed Syngenta’s sales model so that a single account manager sells farmers seeds, pesticides, fertilizers and support services, and he aims to boost sales to $25 billion by 2025 from $14.69 billion in 2013.
He recently pledged to take a more disciplined approach to costs after net profit came in at $1.64 billion, missing the average forecast of $1.7 billion in a Reuters poll. The company made cost savings of $460 million last year.
Syngenta’s unfavourable product mix also hurt profitability, with sales of low-margin, non-selective herbicides up 24 percent while sales of its higher margin seeds slipped one percent, said J. Safra Sarasin analyst Philipp Gamper.
“I think the reshuffling of the organization may have cost them a bit of momentum on the operating level,” said Gamper, who has a neutral rating on the stock.
Vontobel analyst Patrick Rafaisz, who rates the stock a buy, said he was cheered by the new efficiency program, which he thinks should help improve Syngenta’s financial performance after a disappointing 2013.
The company’s shares have fallen 10 percent this year.
The stock trades at 14.9 times forward earnings, which is at a discount to Monsanto’s 19.3 times but at a premium to DuPont’s 14 times.
Sales growth of five percent at constant currency rates lagged the 10 percent growth reported by Mon-santo and the 13 percent higher sales in DuPont’s agriculture business for 2013.
Gamper said Syngenta has suffered from its weaker position in corn and soybean seeds than its peers. Seed sales for those products dropped eight percent while the smaller area of diverse field crops rose 18 percent.
Syngenta forecast an improvement in its gross margins this year and said cost savings should offset investments in research and development.
It reported a margin on earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) of 19.7 percent, down from 21.9 percent on the year.
In 2015, it expects to come in at the lower end of its target for an EBITDA margin in the 22 to 24 percent range.
The cost savings should help it raise the margin to 24 to 26 percent by 2018, it said.


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Thirty Madison launches direct-to-consumer health brand for allergies
Thirty Madison, the company behind a growing string of direct-to-consumer health brands, is moving into allergies. Its newest brand, called Picnic, lets users order allergy medications delivered their homes on a subscription basis.
The company is specifically focused on treatments for allergic rhinitis or seasonal allergies — not food allergies. Most of the treatments it offers are over-the-counter, such as the generic versions of Benadryl, Zyrtec and Flonase. It also sells a few prescription medications, which require a virtual consultation with a physician, including oral antihistamines, prescription nasal sprays and eye drops.
Part of the idea behind Picnic is to help people figure out which treatment would be the most appropriate for their symptoms. Its website steers users toward a “quiz” they can fill out with their symptoms to get treatment recommendations.
It’s also supposed to make it easier for people to get instructions on the best way to take their medications, Picnic General Manager Alexis Tarlow wrote in a blog post. For example, some people still feel sleepy after taking “non-drowsy” antihistamines.
Like Thirty Madison’s other brands, Picnic is built around a cash-pay subscription model — the company does not take insurance. Last year, the New York-based company raised $47 million to expand its direct-to-consumer model. It currently has direct-to-consumer sites for hair loss, acid reflux, and migraines, the latter of which stirred up some concerns from doctors over whether telemedicine evaluations are safe evaluating the cause of a headache.
The company launched its first brand, Keeps, in 2018, which offers prescription and over-the-counter hair loss treatments. It went toe-to-toe with other direct-to-consumer men’s health sites, including Hims and Ro.
Since then, all of them have expanded the scope of conditions they treat. Hims, which went public in January, started offering group therapy and online psychiatric evaluations for medication. After raising $200 million last year, Ro acquired Workpath, a software platform for home-based care.
Photo Credit: Estradaanton, Getty Images


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The report is mainly based on study of the output of workshops, seminar, trainings conducted by Myanmar Consumers Union (MCU) in 8 states and regions, Key Informant Interviews and complaint system including online consumer complaint system. An online consumer complaint system has been developed by MCU during one year of implementation supported by United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through its Private Sector Development Activity.
The study also reported that most of the consumers are poor in awareness of consumer rights and unfamiliar with consumer complaint system. It is reported that food safety is traditional and the most concerned problem of consumers in Myanmar. Poor quality/substandard of goods and services is also one of the consumer issues, which have most impact on consumers. Transportation services, public utilities services, electricity supply, health care services, telecommunication services are also most claimed by the consumers.
The study from events, interviews, and survey shows that raising consumer education and public awareness is the most important mechanism for consumer protection in Myanmar. Moreover, accountability and transparency of consumer protection authorities, access to safe and quality goods and services are also important measures for consumer protection. The report also includes consumer protection activities, consumer problems, challenges encountered in consumer protection, and state of consumer protection in Myanmar; general consumer protection measures, consumer protection in specific consumer areas, and legitimate needs of consumers.
Currently the report is in only English. The Myanmar version will be published soon.


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More than 2,000 Midwest City utility customers' data breached
MIDWEST CITY — More than 2,000 customers' data, including credit card numbers and billing addresses, may have been compromised after the city’s online payment system was illegally accessed.
City officials said they learned on Thursday that someone had gained access to the Click2Gov payment system, which is run by Superion. A preliminary report from the company shows that about 2,300 customers who used the service between May 25 through June 21 may have had their data compromised.
“Customer payments made through the Click2Gov online application are at-risk including payments by cards stored in the wallet. Automatic re-occurring payments, payments made over the phone, payments made with bank accounts, and payments made in person at the office were not impacted,” officials wrote in a news release.
Information compromised may include customer names, billing addresses, payment card numbers and expiration dates.
City officials said they’ve notified law enforcement about the data breach. The vulnerability that led to the breach has been corrected and that the payment system is back online, officials said.
Anyone with questions should call 405-739-1252, Monday through Friday, from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Officials ask residents to remain vigilant and review credit card, debit card, bank and other financial statements to look for any unauthorized activity. Credit reports can be obtained for free from each of the three nationwide credit reporting agencies:
P.O. Box 740241
Atlanta, GA 30374
P.O. Box 2002
Allen, TX 75013
P.O. Box 2000
Chester, PA 19016


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Anyone who has bought the products “should above all not consume them but destroy them”, French anti-fraud, customs and health products safety agencies said in a joint statement.
They said the products, marketed under names like Black Horse Honey and Jaguar Power, claim to be natural but actually contain chemical products like sildenafil or tadalafil.
(article continues below)
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These are the main substances in the anti-erectile dysfunction drugs Viagra and Cialis, which in France are only available on prescription.
These substances can have serious side-effects in people suffering heart conditions, the agencies warned, saying clinics had in the last months reported several cases of people who had consumed the products.
These included “repeated convulsions, pulmonary hemorrhages, brain swelling, or major acute renal failure that, for some, resulted in hospitalisations,” the agencies warned.


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Qualcomm, Samsung form wireless power alliance
May 09, 2012 // Peter Clarke
Mobile technology companies Qualcomm Inc., and Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., have announced the formation of the Alliance for Wireless Power (A4WP).
The mission of the organization is to promote global standardization of wireless power transfer for the charging of consumer electronic equipment.
The A4WP will focus on a new wireless power transfer technology that provides spatial freedom for charging electrical devices in cars, on tabletops and for charging multiple devices simultaneously, Qualcomm said. Companies joining Qualcomm and Samsung in the AW4P include: Ever Win Industries, Gill Industries, Peiker, Powermat Technologies, and SK Telecom.
"Qualcomm is delighted to be involved in this dynamic initiative to set the standard for wireless power. WiPower Technology by Qualcomm is ideally suited for a forum like the A4WP. As a leader in delivering enabling technology solutions, Qualcomm is helping to define the next-generation consumer electronics experience," said Derek Aberle, executive vice president at Qualcomm, in a statement.
The benefits of this wireless power approach include: a transmitter and receiver antenna design that is easily implemented, a simple wireless power control system, and the ability to transfer power through non-metallic surfaces, said Qualcomm. The A4WP expects to achieve this capability without the need for costly multi-coil repeaters, which are required for other systems. A single specification is envisioned that will address simultaneous charging of multiple devices ranging from very low power products, such as Bluetooth headsets, to today’s most sophisticated tablets.
"As a founding member of A4WP, Samsung is committed to supporting standardization of wireless charging technology boasting spatial freedom, contributing to the eco-system, and exploring possibilities of a variety of services," said executive vice president KiHo Kim, head of digital media and communications R&D center at Samsung.
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Enron Parts with PGE in $2.1B Sale to Sierra Pacific
Enron's decision last week to sell Portland General Electric to Sierra Pacific Resources for a small gain after only two years of ownership was partly a result of the rapid growth of its power trading arm and its merchant generation holdings, as well as adverse regulatory changes in California and Oregon.
Under terms of the deal, which had been expected for several months, Enron will sell PGE to Reno, NV-based Sierra Pacific for $2.1 billion, including $2.02 billion in cash and the assumption of Enron's $80 million PGE merger payment obligation. Sierra Pacific also will assume $1 billion in PGE debt and preferred stock.
The sale price, if the deal goes through as currently expected, would give Enron a $137 million gain compared to the original purchase price of $2.962 billion in July 1997, according to PaineWebber analyst Ronald J. Barone. The proposed transaction, which is subject to customary regulatory approvals, is expected to close in the second half of 2000.
"We have been very pleased with the performance of Portland General," said Kenneth L. Lay, Enron's chairman and chief executive officer. "However, the rapidly evolving competitive electricity market allows us to deliver commodity services and risk management products to our customers without requiring the ownership of a regulated electric utility."
Enron spokesman Mark Palmer stressed the decision was not the result of PGE's financial performance. "The expectations were that [Portland General] would provide us some credibility and some regulated utility expertise. It's still a very well-performing utility, and I'm sure it will continue to be," he said. "Customer rates have gone down 3-4%. Service reliability has gone up, and the market is growing. Their rate of return is regulated and so the growth in income comes as a result of growth in the market and that market has been growing at about 3-4%/year."
But as PaineWebber's Barone noted, "with PGE Enron was getting a low return on capital, and it is a fairly capital intensive business so I think it's prudent that they cash in. I guarantee [PGE] provides the lowest return of [Enron's] major operating units.
"I think the plan is to get out and redeploy that capital into faster-growing, higher-return businesses, such as wholesale marketing and trading, Enron Energy Services, telecommunications. These are fast growing business, and they need capital, so why stay in this regulated business when Enron has been doing everything they can to get out of the regulated end of the business."
"The reason we bought Portland General," Palmer said, "was because we needed credibility and expertise as the market was opening up and now the market has opened so much faster than we expected. We have so much more contractual access to assets that it's less important for us to own big assets to deliver our products and services..."
Oregon regulators, however, have been tough on Enron from the beginning. And in January the company suffered a significant setback when regulators told Enron-PGE they weren't going to be allowed to spin off or spin down 2,000 MW of power generation.
Regulatory changes in California also have not gone Enron's way. Enron had hoped to take PGE's retail electric expertise across the border into California and become a dominant competitive force but legislators and regulators placed huge restrictions on the competitive market. Observers note the evidence supports the theory that Enron never really got what it hoped for with PGE.
Its revised business model, said Palmer, is "more about selling [wholesale] commodity services and risk management products to large customers all around the country," than inside the regulated service territory of a Pacific Northwest utility. "Sierra Pacific, on the other hand, is making a very strong regional play in the Pacific Northwest."
Sierra Pacific Resources just completed its merger with Las Vegas-based Nevada Power on July 28. The combined companies intend to play a major role in the deregulation of the electric industry in Nevada, which is slated to commence in early 2000. Sierra Pacific subsidiaries include Sierra Pacific Power and Nevada Power, which combined serve 843,000 electric customers in Nevada and the Lake Tahoe area of California, along with 105,000 natural gas and 67,000 water customers in Reno and Sparks, NV. PGE will bring in another 700,000 retail customers in northwest Oregon. The combined company of Sierra and PGE will have a total of more than $9 billion in assets and serve more than 1.7 million customers in three states.
"We're excited about this opportunity to transform our company by significantly expanding our scale and scope in this combination with PGE," said Michael Niggli, Sierra Pacific Resources' chairman and CEO. "Portland General is one of the premier electric utilities in the West and this transaction is an important step in fulfilling our previously stated goal of expanding our regulated utility businesses. We are looking forward to using our regulated industry expertise to enhance the value of PGE's businesses while continuing to provide safe, reliable electric service to customers. Moreover, the transaction will enable us to reinvest the proceeds from the planned divestiture of our Nevada generating assets."
Niggli will remain chairman and CEO of Sierra Pacific. At closing, Ken Harrison will resign as CEO of PGE but will continue as chairman of Enron Communications and as a member of Enron's board of directors.
Enron plans to use the proceeds from the sale for "general corporate purposes and to pay down debt. This was not a funding transaction to fund any particular business," said Palmer. "It is a strategic decision to exit a business that doesn't really suit our business model any more."
©Copyright 1999 Intelligence Press, Inc. All rights reserved. The preceding news report may not be republished or redistributed in whole or in part without prior written consent of Intelligence Press, Inc.


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Lao Vice President Bounnhang Volachith hosted a reception in Vientiane on May 23 for Nong Quoc Tuan, deputy head of the Vietnamese Government’s Committee for Ethnic Minority Affairs (CEMA), who is on a working visit to Laos from May 21-29.
|Lefaso officials announce the international footwear and leather events due to take place in Vietnam next month - Photo: Thu Nguyet|
The Vietnam Leather and Footwear Association (Lefaso) said at a news briefing that the International Footwear Conference to be attended by its 12 member countries would be hosted in Vietnam on September 6-7. Representatives of 12 leather and footwear associations from the member countries, including China, India, Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand, will join the conference.
Nguyen Duc Thuan, chairman of Lefaso, said the conference would bring opportunities for Vietnamese enterprises to learn and share experience as well as look for potential partners.
Diep Thanh Kiet, vice chairman of the association, added the conference was also expected to present solutions to help members improve product quality and tap into the regional market instead of just focusing on export to America and Europe.
Beside the conference, Vietnam will host the international footwear and leather exhibition with 200 stands in Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center in HCMC’s District 7 on September 8-11. Some 120 footwear and leather goods manufacturers, including 30 Vietnamese producers will join the exhibition to promote their brand images and find partners.
Ricky Tran, representative of Top Repute Co., Ltd. as the organizer of the exhibition, said about 100 Chinese enterprises were expected to come to Vietnam to sound out investment opportunities and look for producers interested in receiving outsourcing contracts from Chinese ones.
Tran said the exhibition would promote new products of Asian producers to boost trade in the region.
Beside the two events, Lefaso will honor excellent local footwear producers and announce the long-term development strategy of the industry on the occasion of the 20th year of the association.
A general strategy to develop the industry has been jointly prepared by Lefaso and Vietnam Leather and Footwear Research Institute, and is awaiting the Ministry of Industry and Trade’s approval. It’s expected to solve local footwear producers’ current challenges, including shortage of labor, materials and designs.