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The Saudi Arabian Council of Ministers, presided over by King Salman, has given the go-ahead for foreigners living there to own 100 percent of their wholesale and retail companies without the need for a sponsor.
The choice will result in job opportunities.
According to the Cabinet statement, the decision is in line with Vision 2030 to loosen limits on ownership and foreign investment in the retail sector in order to promote regional and international brands and help citizens find jobs in this industry.
According to Reema Sameer, a top Saudi business analyst working in the private sector, this new rule would open numerous doors and generate many prospects for employment for Saudi Arabia’s youth.
The new relaxation of restrictions will also promote healthy rivalry among firms and organizations, which will lead to improved goods and services as well as a general decrease in the cost of some items.
As an illustration, someone may purchase a laser cutter and engraver and create signs and other personalized goods to sell. On social media, you can find out more about Boss Laser and see samples of what it can accomplish.
SAGIA intends to draw more foreign nationals.
The SAGIA intends to entice more overseas investors and corporations and make it easier for them to persuade them to establish manufacturing facilities for their goods inside the Saudi Arabian Kingdom.
How can I obtain a SAGIA license?
You can launch a business in Saudi Arabia without a Saudi sponsor after obtaining a SAGIA license.
King Salman said that 2106 foreigners can open 100 independent businesses in Saudi Arabia.
The SAGIA has announced that, in compliance with the new ruling, any foreign business that wishes to invest in the Saudi market must first make sure that their offer also includes the particular manufacturing time programs and plans for the introduction of any new technology.
What's your reaction about this news🥰𝙒𝙚 𝙝𝙤𝙥𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝘼𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙡𝙚. 𝙋𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙚 𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙞𝙩 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙁𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙪𝙗𝙨𝙘𝙧𝙞𝙗𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙬𝙚𝙗𝙨𝙞𝙩𝙚 𝙗𝙮 𝙘𝙡𝙞𝙘𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘽𝙚𝙡𝙡 𝙄𝙘𝙤𝙣 (𝙇𝙚𝙛𝙩 𝘽𝙤𝙩𝙩𝙤𝙢 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙋𝙖𝙜𝙚) 𝙩𝙤 𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙚𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙞𝙛𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙏𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙡𝙚.🥰
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Listen closely … the campanas (bells) are ringing, their gentle sounds flutter through the air — could it be a La Rosa Fruit Bars & Ice Cream cart on the move?
Those famous bells hanging from those familiar rolling coolers alert everyone that La Rosa is in the neighborhood.
“They are the only (frozen treat) carts with bells,” said Camila Torres, a local travel agent and a longtime La Rosa fan. “You can identify who they are right away.”
The family business has used those signature carts — and the best ingredients for the refreshingly cool goodies manufactured right here in Bakersfield — for the last 28 years. Now in its second-generation of owners, this hometown favorite plans on making its beloved products for many, many years to come.
“My vision is to get into the big businesses and have a packaged item — we have ice (cream) pints and monster cookie bars in the works,” said Norma Diaz, 48, current owner of La Rosa and the middle daughter of the company’s founders, Jesus and Rosa Diaz.
Jesus Diaz named the company “La Rosa” — The Rose — after his wife of 51 years, Rosa.
The couple — who say they fell in love at first sight — originally tried to start a cake making business by working out of their home, but ran into a few roadblocks.
“We had a hard time getting a permit to do business out of our home in Westchester,” Rosa said. “The health department turned us down.”
Still, the Diazs' were determined to carve a piece of the American dream for themselves and their family, knowing that owning their own business would be a key part of that dream coming true.
They had been through a lot since their migration to the United States, which included a journey from Chicago to Bakersfield with their children.
Rosa’s first job here was at Mercy Hospital, where she worked over the years as a receptionist, switchboard operator and admittance clerk. Her shifts were mostly nights, 2 to 11 p.m.
During this time, Jesus worked as a machinist at Hood Industries. At one point, Jesus’ boss wanted him to move the family to Florida for work — but Rosa would not agree to such a move.
By 1978, Rosa had started a cake decorating company that she ran from a second home they purchased for the business, while Jesus continued work as a machinist, but for Tenneco.
While visiting friends in Chicago, the Jesus and Rosa helped them with their ice cream factory, while also learning how to make ice cream themselves.
For two weeks, Jesus made the ice cream, while Rosa documented the entire process from ingredients to manufacturing to completion.
And this is where the idea to start their own ice cream business first began, according to the Diazs'.
So in 1980, La Rosa Frozen Fruit Bars un Pedacito de Mexico was established in east Bakersfield.
“We turned a small home into our factory,” Rosa said.
The rest, as they say, is frozen treat history ...
Secret to sweet success
It was on May 19, 1957, in Mexico City at El Templo de la Pasion, that Jesus and Rosa exchanged wedding vows.
Two days after their first anniversary, their first daughter, Lucy, arrived. Later, it would be Norma and then Laura.
The Diaz family lived in Chicago for many years until their move to Mexico City. One year later, they went back to the states — in Delano to be exact — to see Jesus’ mother and brother. During their visit, the Diazs' bought a home in Bakersfield — and they’ve been here ever since.
If you’ve ever tasted a La Rosa bar — and who hasn’t? — it’s doubtful that you can ever turn down that temptation ever again.
There’s a reason for that, according to the Diaz family — every fruit and ice cream bar is made from frutas cut by hand right there in the factory, which is now located just off Niles Street. La Rosa has a total of four employees, including Norma; the cart salesmen (paleteros) are not La Rosa employees, but rather customers who purchase the bars and rent the carts to sell them on their own.
In 2007, an estimated 750,000 to 1 million La Rosa bars were either sold or donated, according to Norma.
Prices for La Rosa bars — available in 26 flavors — range from 89 cents to about $1.25, she said.
“With our ice cream bars, we use premium cream to produce our delicious flavors, as we’ve all tasted,” Norma said. “Then we blend them by hand with the fruit.”
The various liquids are poured into molds and frozen. Then the packaging process takes place on an assembly line.
Rows and rows of multicolored ice cream and fruit bars whiz by along the moving belt. Each is individually wrapped with the La Rosa rose logo on the packaging and boxed up for delivery, either by paleteros directly to residents in neighborhoods, parks or at community events, or trucked to various Kern County stores as well as parts of Fresno.
Stores that regularly carry La Rosa products include: Vons, some Rite Aids, Foods Co., Young’s Market, Chevron, Texaco, and Howard’s mini marts.
“All of our products are never more than a few days new, so every bar you taste is fresh, fresh, fresh — that is our main ingredient, that is our motto.”
One early lesson for Jesus and Rosa came at the cost of a lot of wasted ice cream.
The couple had hired another couple from Mexico to help them with their new venture. But the combination of poor timing — the bulk of their product was ready in the middle of winter — and no buyers lined up resulted in expired ice cream bars.
The early distribution process for the bars started rather simply: Rosa would deliver them personally to stores who would carry them.
Eventually, though, Knudsen Dairy Products & Carnation Dairy distributors started to purchase the bars and delivering them, along with their own dairy products, which really “helped me out,” Rosa said.
From there, the taste of the local ice cream and fruit bars made a positive impression on customers, turning them into loyal followers. People seem to get cravings for their personal favorite flavors, and well, that sound of bells ringing has come to mean something yummy is on its way.
“During my pregnancy, I used to have to drive to Jefferson Park to get a La Rosa bar,” Torres said. “I love them because they are fresh.”
Though those bells and those little carts that are either pushed or biked by friendly paleteros might be the most common sight associated with La Rosa, some people also search local storefronts for their gotta-have-’em bars.
“I know when La Rosa bars are available in convenience stores because they have a sticker on the window,” said Michael Solano, a self-employed carpet cleaner and yet another fan of La Rosa fruit bars — lime and strawberry are his favorites.
Looking to the future of frozen confections
Today, La Rosa’s frozen confection future looks tastier than ever.
Norma took over the family business in 2004 and has watched it gain even more happy customers.
Meanwhile, Norma has also made a strong commitment to the company’s community involvement, including La Rosa’s sponsorship of a blood drive at Houchin Blood Bank in July. The “Beat the Heat Blood Drive” gave a free La Rosa bar to anyone who donated blood. The effort was designed to increase the amount of Hispanic donors, many of whom carry a rare antigen in their blood which could save another’s life.
Business continues to grow for La Rosa — spring and the beginning of fall are the busiest times (people don’t go out as much in the summer) for ice cream and fruit bar consumption, according to Norma.
Where there once was one tank, there are now two to make the La Rosa bar formulas.
For the entire Diaz family, their La Rosa treats represent the sweet reward — literally — of having a dream and seeing it through with hard work and dedication.
“La Rosa is a legacy for something my parents built — I would like to see it grow, to see my parents enjoy the success of the business as it grows from something they built,” Norma said. “I’m the second generation and the third generation is coming through and taking over — it’s a new motivation.”
But surely, no matter what the future holds for the Diaz family and La Rosa Fruit Bars & Ice Cream Inc., those campanitas will stay just as they are ...
(As published in Mas Magazine, September 12, 2008)

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Google, once the contract goes through, will soon be the proud owner of an entire New York City block. The tech giant is in the process of finalizing a $1.8 billion deal to purchase 111 Eighth Ave., which already houses the companies New York offices (along with offices for Lifetime, barnesandnoble.com, Nike and Deutsch advertising and more). The building boasts 2.9 million square feet of office space—more than the Empire State Building!
Google Buys A Whole Block
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"It puts more of a burden on New York — puts more of a burden on 49 other states."
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The Nexus 6 had a long run for a phone originally released in 2014, but last October seemed to mark the end of software updates. For a phone that stopped seeing major Android upgrades in 2016, Google kept security updates rolling until 2017—even if they sometimes came with some unfortunate and obnoxious baggage. Now here we are in 2018, and somewhat randomly a new update seems to be rolling out for the Nexus 6.
The new build is N8I11F, and so far as we can tell, the only difference seems to be a change in baseband. It's still Android Nougat 7.1.1, it's still on the October 2017 security patch, and the kernel version appears to be the same. Read More
It might not be available in the US just yet, but HMD Global is already preparing to update the entry-level Nokia 3 to Android 7.1.1. The phone launched with Android 7.0 Nougat, which isn't too shabby, but 7.1.1 will bring with it a few new features. If this is a predictor of future software support, customers that pick up one of the new Nokia Android phones may have a lot to look forward to. Read More
Until recently, it almost seemed like most phone manufacturers were skipping Android 7.1 in favor of the upcoming Android O release. Thankfully, we've seen several manufacturers start to push 7.1 updates to at least some of their devices, and Sony's Xperia X and X Compact phones are up next. Read More
Now that Android O is on the horizon, it seems like many phone manufacturers have opted to completely ignore Android 7.1. A few devices have been updated, such as the OnePlus 3/3T and Nextbit Robin, but not many. Now it seems the Moto Z Play has become Motorola's first phone (in the US, at least) to get Android 7.1. Read More
The most nostalgic new entrant into the Android space has updated its ostensible flagship device—the Nokia 6 is starting to see a rollout for 7.1.1. The device launched with 7.0 in most markets, so it's nice to see it updated so quickly as other devices continue to chug along on older versions. Read More
Google's shiny new Pixel phones and the slightly older Nexus 5X and 6P, and the Pixel C tablet have had access to the latest and most tasty flavor of Nougat for a month now, but the Nexus 6 (from 2014, if we're keeping score) has been puttering along on the more outdated 7.0 build. As promised, the 7.1.1 update is now available for Nexus 6 owners in both full system image and over-the-air update form - though of course, it may be a while before you see the actual OTA roll out to your phone. Read More
Every new phone has at least a couple of issues out of the gate that need to be addressed (and can hopefully be fixed with a software update, rather than scrapping a billion-dollar product line). So it is with Google's Pixel and Pixel XL: last month a subset of users reported spotty connection problems with the flagships, apparently when using LTE Band 4 (1700MHz) on certain carriers outside the US. Owners aired their grievances on Google's product forum, and were heard fairly quickly. Read More


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Vintage Gucci pieces hidden in selected Asda stores ahead of "House of Gucci" release
Ahead of the highly anticipated release of Ridley Scott’s "House of Gucci" film this Friday, 26 November, George at Asda – in association with its sustainability partner Preloved Vintage – has today hidden 30 vintage Gucci pieces in the mix of vintage clothing in some Asda stores for customers to find and buy.
Preloved Vintage Wholesale Ltd specialise is supplying George at Asda with handpicked clothing from the 1950’s through to the early 2000’s, an initiative that was introduced to 50 Asda stores, including in London, Bristol, Birmingham, Brighton and Edinburgh earlier this year as part of the retailer’s "George for Good" commitment.
However, nobody knows which stores will have the hidden women’s and men’s Gucci gems, and the hunt to find them will be fuelled by teasers on social media encouraging customers to sift through the vintage selection at their local Asda for the chance to purchase a piece of designer history for as little as £12. Fashionistas across the country will be on high alert to seek out some of the fashion houses iconic shirts, jackets and dresses.
Lauren Mallins from George at Asda said: “Whether you are a lover of vintage or just want to make more sustainable choices, our hand-picked Preloved pieces are always a treasure trove of gems and now Gucci is adding to our customers’ reasons to shop with us.”
Steve Lynam, Managing Director of Preloved Vintage Wholesale Ltd, added: “Our partnership with George at Asda is one that we are extremely proud of, so we’re delighted to be able to offer their customers the chance to pick up something they have always dreamed of owning in their local supermarket.”


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Trilliant service aims to smooth UK smart meter roll out
May 25, 2017
Trilliant has announced the SMSO smart metering system operator managed service for energy retailers.
The service consists of an operations centre and software managed by North Carolina-based Trilliant with credit and prepayment meters by Landis & Gyr and in-home consumer access devices by Green Energy Options. The programme should simplify and streamline deployment and management of SMETS1 smart meters for energy retailers in the UK.
"The SMSO combines technology, equipment and knowledge from world-class providers into an agile, easy-to-deploy solution that allows retailers to ensure a rapid rollout of customer smart meters in 2017 and beyond," said Andrew White, chairman and chief executive officer for Trilliant. "It's ideal for small and mid-size energy companies who are looking for an available, non-resource intensive solution."
The service lowers the setup and operating costs and provides a proven, scalable and secure platform to manage credit as well as prepayment meters. The data centre assures the smooth operation and quick issue resolution since all critical elements are developed and managed by the service providers.
This SMSO offering enters the market ahead of the approaching 2020 deadline by which retailers must have smart meters operational in all 26 million homes in England, Wales and Scotland.
With more than four million connected devices already, this service is the most proven in the UK. Using Trilliant's 30 years of expertise and various technology partnerships, security and scalability, the smart communications company has created a, managed cloud-based service offering for the rapidly growing challenger provider market.
"With our combined expertise we will be able to deploy a solution that will help utilities across the country prepare for 2020 and continue to deliver quality expected by their customers,” said White.
Trilliant offers the energy industry an enterprise-wide smart communications platform for connecting the IoT through a secure, standards-based, multi-technology, open spectrum system.


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A currently ongoing malicious spam campaign is attempting to trick users into thinking that they’ve received a legitimate Excel ‘Company Reports’ themed file. In reality through, once socially engineered users execute the malicious attachment on their PCs, it automatically opens a backdoor allowing the cybercriminals behind the campaign to gain complete access to their host, potentially abusing it a variety of fraudulent ways.
Posts Tagged: Botnets
British users, watch what you execute on your PCs! Over the last week, cybercriminals have launched several consecutive malicious spam campaigns targeting users of Sky, as well as owners of Samsung Galaxy devices, into thinking that they’ve received a legitimate MMS notification to their email address. In reality though, these campaigns ‘phone back’ to the same command and control botnet server, indicating that they’re related.
Think someone forwarded you an important attachment? Think twice. Cybercriminals are currently mass mailing tens of thousands of malicious emails attempting to trick the recipient into thinking that someone has forwarded a file to them. In reality, once socially engineered users execute the malicious attachments, their PCs automatically become part of the botnet operated by the cybercriminals behind the campaign, allowing them to gain complete control over the affected PCs, and consequently abuse the access for related fraudulent purposes.
The never-ending supply of access to compromised/hacked PCs — the direct result of the general availability of DIY/cracked/leaked malware/botnet generating tools — continues to grow in terms of the number and variety of such type of underground market propositions. With more cybercriminals entering this lucrative market segment, on their way to apply well proven and efficient monetization schemes to these hacked PCs, cybercrime-friendly affiliate networks naturally capitalize on the momentum, ensuring a win-win business process for the participants and the actual owners of the network. In this post, I’ll highlight yet another newly launched such E-shop, currently possessing access to […]
The cybercriminals behind last week’s profiled fake T-Mobile themed email campaign have resumed operations, and have just spamvertised another round of tens of thousands of malicious emails impersonating the company, in order to trick its customers into executing the malicious attachment, which in this case is once again supposedly a legitimate MMS notification message.
With the increased public availability of leaked/cracked DIY malware/botnet generating tools, cybercriminals continue practically generating new botnets on the fly, in order to monetize the process by offering access to these very same botnets at a later stage in the botnet generation process. In addition to monetizing the actual process of setting up and hosting the botnet’s C&C (command and control) servers, novice cybercriminals continue selling direct access to their newly generated botnets, empowering other novice cybercriminals with the foundations for further disseminating and later on monetizing other pieces of malicious software, part of their own arsenal of fraudulent/malicious tools. […]
A circulating malicious spam campaign attempts to trick T-Mobile customers into thinking that they’ve received a password-protected MMS. However, once gullible and socially engineered users execute the malicious attachment, they automatically compromise the confidentiality and integrity of their PCs, allowing the cybercriminals behind the campaign to gain complete control of their PCs.
The emergence and sophistication of DIY botnet generating tools has lowered the entry barriers into the world of cybercrime. With ever-increasing professionalism and QA (Quality Assurance) applied by cybercriminals, in combination with bulletproof cybercrime-friendly hosting providers, these tactics represent key success factors for an increased life cycle of any given fraudulent/malicious campaign. Throughout the years, we’ve witnessed the adoption of multiple bulletproof hosting infrastructure techniques for increasing the life cycle of campaigns,with a clear trend towards diversification, rotation or C&C communication techniques, and most importantly, the clear presence of a KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid) type of pragmatic mentality; especially in […]
Bank of America (BofA) customers, watch what you click on! A currently ongoing malicious spam campaigns is attempting to entice BofA customers into clicking on the client-side exploit serving URLs found in legitimate looking ‘Statement of Expenses’ themed emails. Once users with outdated third-party applications and browser plugins click on the link, an infection is installed that automatically converts their PC’s into zombies under the control of the botnet operated by the cybercriminal/gang of cybercriminals behind the campaign. More details:


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AMD plans to introduce a new Radeon HD graphics card with two graphics processors next year, if a report by The Inquirer is accurate. We first heard of the card just over a month ago, and it was said to be based on dual RV670 graphics processors and bear the Radeon HD 2950X2X moniker. According to The Inq, there are indeed two RV670 chips in the card, but its name is Radeon HD 3870 X2—logical, since the Radeon HD 3870 is expected to be the faster of the two RV670 parts due later this month and the "X2" suffix already denotes AMD's dual-core chips.
The Inq includes a PR shot that shows a fairly long card covered by a bulky dual-slot cooler, accompanied by the mention "New Year" and a green splash cutout showing the 3870 X2 model name. No specs are quoted in the shot, but The Inq says the Radeon HD 3870 X2 will have 1GB of GDDR4 memory and clock speeds of at least 750MHz for each of its two GPUs. Memory speed will supposedly be 1.125GHz, resulting in aggregate bandwidth of 144GB/s for the entire card (72GB/s per GPU). Pricing should range from $399 and $499 in the U.S., or roughly the same ballpark as the existing GeForce 8800 GTX.
The Radeon HD 3870 X2 won't be the only guest at the dual-GPU DirectX 10 card party. Information seeped out earlier this week suggesting that Nvidia plans to have a dual-GPU card out early next year, as well. The card will be based on the same G92 graphics processor that powers the new GeForce 8800 GT.


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The Canadian dollar was lower for a sixth session Monday amid concerns about weakening economic conditions.
The loonie fell 0.18 of a cent to 97.78 cents US, its lowest level since early July 2012.
February has not been kind to the loonie, which is down about 2.5 US cents for the month on a combination of factors.
These include sliding commodities, worries about the strength of the Canadian housing sector and the price differential between benchmark Brent crude and Western Canadian Select from the oilsands.
Traders are also concerned about U.S. economic strength, particularly as a March 1 deadline looms when more than US$85 billion in across the board spending cuts will be triggered.
Also, the U.S. dollar gained strength last week amid concerns the U.S. Federal Reserve may abandon its easy monetary policy sooner than many analysts have been predicting.
Finally, the loonie was hit at the end of last week as lower than expected retail sales for December pointed to a weakening economy while tame inflation figures indicated the Bank of Canada won't be raising rates any time soon.


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7 companies to recall over 8,800 vehicles over faulty parts
SEOUL, March 15 (Yonhap) -- Hyundai Motor Co., BMW and five other companies will voluntarily recall over 8,800 vehicles to fix faulty components, the transport ministry said Thursday.
The seven firms, which also include Mercedes-Benz Korea, Jaguar-Land Rover Korea, GM Asia-Pacific regional headquarters, Suzuki and Bike Korea, are recalling 8,875 units of 27 different models, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said in a statement.
The recalls are due to software problems with the electronic steering system in Hyundai's Avante N model, software problems in BMW's iX3 M Sport model's wireless charging system and the faulty rear camera system in the Cadillac XT5 imported by GM Asia-Pacific regional headquarters.
Vehicle owners can visit designated repair and service centers of the companies to have the parts replaced for free, the ministry added.
S. Korea to allow online permit-free entry for tourists from 22 nations to spur spending
(LEAD) Actor Yoo Ah-in questioned over alleged drug use
(2nd LD) S. Korea voices 'deep regrets' over Japan's controversial history textbooks
Tottenham star Son Heung-min sorry to see coach Conte go
KF-21 prototypes successfully conduct 1st armament flight tests


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NEW DELHI: It’s official now. Come April 2022, owners of more than 15-year-old cars will have to shell out eight times more than now to renew registration of their vehicles. Owners of heavy commercial vehicles, too, will have to pay nearly eight times higher fee to renew fitness certificates for their trucks and buses which are more than 15 years old.
The road, transport and highways ministry on Monday issued the notification for implementation of this new fee regime from next year. The notification, however, will have no impact on vehicle owners in Delhi and its neighbourhoods where more than 10-year-old diesel and 15-year-old petrol vehicles are banned.
According to the notification, the renewal of registration of a 15-year-old car will cost Rs 5,000, which now is Rs 600. Similarly, the charge for registration-renewal of old motorcycles will be Rs 1,000, for which the current fee is Rs 300. Obtaining a fitness certificate for a 15 year-plus bus or truck will be Rs 12,500, which now is Rs 1,500. The renewal of fitness certificate for cabs will also be seven times more than the current charge of Rs 1,000.
Any delay in renewing registration of private vehicles will attract a penalty of Rs 300 per month, which for commercial vehicles will be Rs 500. Similarly, delay in renewal of fitness certificate for commercial vehicles will attract a daily penalty of Rs 50.
The increase in renewal of registration and fitness certificates is aimed at discouraging people from keeping their old vehicles.
Fitness and not age shall be the criterion. Most Middle class buy a vehicle for life and would not have run even one lakh kilometers, after 15 years


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The huge opportunities for the entire consumer navigation ecosystem has a number of second- and third-tier players such as LG, Navigon, and Dash, entering the market to get their piece of the pie. IDC believes these new market players will create a shift in product differentiation from traditional hardware offerings to new forms of content and additional services, as vendors focus on total solutions instead of just devices.
"It's clear that services will become an increasingly important part of the navigation picture going forward as these devices compete with other consumer devices such as mobile phones," says Diana Hwang, research manager, Mobility. "IDC expects overall consumer navigation device growth to remain strong as GPS technology and additional services become integrated into a variety of product offerings affecting the way consumers live, play, and interact in the future."
This IDC study shows PNDs are not the only segment of the consumer navigation market that will experience sizeable growth and additional revenue opportunities. Consumer interest in outdoor activities and fitness will likely contribute to growth for outdoor and fitness-focused GPS devices as well as marine products, which IDC says are expected to represent $1.2 billion in revenues collectively by 2011.


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By Miriam Raftery
October 7, 2015 (La Mesa)—La Mesa’s annual Oktoberfest took place last weekend, on a smaller sale than in the past but with a renewed emphasis on the festival’s roots: German food, beer and music.
Crowds flocked by trolley and on foot to the festival in La Mesa’s downtown village, savoring sizzling hot bratwurst, German pancakes, and entertainment including a Bavarian band. Guests also enjoyed German beer and fresh-made root beer—popular options based on the lines queued up to sample what was on tap.
There were other culinary options, from American-style barbecue to flavors of Africa.
This year’s Oktoberfest spanned just two days instead of three, confined to three city blocks on the east side of Spring Street. The scaled-down size made it easier to traverse the entire site, with fewer vendors and no carnival rides due to budgetary constraints and security concerns in recent years.
Arts and crafts vendors offered up their wares as visitors strolled through the village, some with dogs, others with dogs, others brought youngsters to delight in carnival-style games or did some early holiday shopping at Oktoberfest vendors or local shops.
Local merchants received a much-needed boost following a year of downtown revitalization construction that has limited parking and kept some shoppers away, resulting in falling revenues for merchants along La Mesa Boulevard.
Restaurants that lost their sidewalk café-style dining over the past year, as East County Magazine reported last week, got a welcome break after the city hired workers starting at dawn to install new railings for outdoor dining to open up just in time for the Oktoberfest festivities, when La Mesa extends a hearty welcome – or “Wilkommen” to visitors from across the region.


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LG roped in Mr. Amitabh Bachchan when it launched the LG G3 smartphone in the country. The launch event was quite grand and it seems like that LG is all set to take things to the next level with the launch of the LG G4 Dual in the country. The Korean manufacturer has just announced the pre-orders for the LG G4 Dual which are being pegged at Rs 51,500.
Pre-ordering the LG G4 Dual will get you a guaranteed entry into the launch event of LG G4 Dual and you might get to meet Amitabh Bachchan as well. A lucky draw will be conducted for the ones pre-ordering it and one person will get his/her smartphone from the great man himself.
Let us quickly do a recap of what LG G4 has on offer:
LG G4 specifications
- 5.5-inch display, 2560 x 1440 pixels, ~534 ppi, Corning Gorilla Glass 4
- Android 5.1 Lollipop with LG UX 4.0
- Snapdragon 808 SoC, 1.8GHz hexa-core CPU, Adreno 418 GPU
- 16-megapixel rear camera with laser autofocus and OIS, dual-tone LED flash , f/1.8 aperture, 4K video recording
- 8-megapixel front camera
- 32GB of internal storage which can be expanded by 128GB
- Dual-SIM, 4G LTE Cat 6, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 4.0, A-GPS, NFC and IR blaster for connectivity
- 3,000 mAh battery, fast charging (upto 60 percent in 30 minutes), wireless charging
You will additionally get a metallic finish rear cover worth Rs 2,000, one time screen replacement worth Rs 6,500 and charging cradle worth Rs 3,500 for free.


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Restaurants Canada wants all restaurants and bars permitted to sell alcohol to go or with deliveries
Source Kitchener Today
In a previous article
on KitchenerToday, Restaurants Canada says provincial governments
should permit all restaurants and bars to sell consumers alcohol to go
or in their delivery orders.
The national association representing the industry cites other
provinces which currently allow establishments limited amounts of beer
and wine for customers to take home.
Locally, the Cambridge Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Greg
Durocher says this would only allow businesses to keep up with the
direction delivery services are going.
"I'm not so certain that Restaurants Canada here is asking for
something unusual or unprecedented. I think it's following suite with
other mechanisms that are in place to have alcohol or food delivered or
picked up, and taken home. I think it's almost a moot point and it
probably points to provincial governments and saying, 'yeah, we need to
look at this.'"
Durocher also says, this probably won't be a very controversial issue
and doesn't believe many people are panicking about this, other than
some restaurants and bars.


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Powerboat manufacturer EdgeWater Boats has entered into an agreement with sailboat developer Summit Yachts to build its new Summit 35 Racer/Cruiser sailboat.
“EdgeWater has manufactured many semi-custom recreational and commercial projects since we opened our doors in 1992,” said EdgeWater President, Peter Truslow. “However, this is the first time we have built a completely new design with an outside client. We are very excited about our collaboration with Summit Yachts. The Summit 35 is a beautiful, efficient design and the type of world-class product we like to build.”
EdgeWater already is in full production on the Summit 35, which is scheduled to make its official debut at the Newport International Boat Show, September 17 to 20, 2009. The Summit 35 Racer/Cruiser is a smaller sister to the King 40 Racer/Cruiser introduced by Summit Yachts in 2008, which was named Sailing World's 2009 Boat of the Year.
The Summit project is one of several new ventures EdgeWater has taken on as it expands beyond its core base of building 14- to 38-foot saltwater fishing and cruising boats.
“The project has helped us to refine our technology. The knowledge we've gained has helped us with development work we are doing for the U.S. Navy, as well as to improve our existing EdgeWater line,” said Truslow. “The Summit 35 and other custom projects have allowed our team to maintain steady production throughout 2009, even with the downturn in the boating industry.”


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These standards offer a significant step in developing more efficient workflows and provide the foundations for more granular data for advertising assets NEW YORK, NY – December 12, 2018 –Together, Marla Kaplowitz, the CEO of the American Association of Advertising Agencies (4A’s) and Bob Liodice, the CEO of the Association of National Advertisers (ANA) […]
Originally published in Ad Age, December 7, 2018 Marla Kaplowitz opens up to Ad Age about the DOJ production probe’s impact on the industry and where the agency world goes from here. By Megan Graham, Ad Age Now that the Department of Justice cleared five holding companies of unfairly directing production business to their in-house departments, […]
Originally published in Campaign US, November 21, 2018 by Oliver McAteer, Campaign US Two of advertising’s most important titans went head-to-head to debate in-housing and the future of agencies. Marla Kaplowitz, president and CEO of the 4A’s, clashed with Bill Duggan, group executive vice president at Association of National Advertisers (ANA), during Campaign US’ Breakfast Briefing, in partnership […]
By Jennifer Risi, Worldwide Chief Communications Officer, Ogilvy At the November 2018 3% Conference, leaders and influencers from across the creative world came together for a week of events, discussions, and networking focused on the divergence of creativity and diversity. Sadly, that intersection is all too uncommon; for those who don’t know, the 3% Movement […]
On Friday, November 9, 2018, the 4A’s submitted two sets of comments in response to the request for public comments on “Developing the Administration’s Approach to Consumer Privacy,” a September 26 notice by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, a division of the U.S. Department of Commerce. The first set of comments focuses on a high-level […]
The Trustworthy Accountability Group (TAG), an advertising industry initiative to fight criminal activity in the digital advertising supply chain, has released an updated analysis by The 614 Group that shows a reduction in fraud of more than 84 percent in TAG Certified distribution channels, compared with the broader industry average. Click here to view the […]
Just how big is the digital political advertising marketplace? According to the ad research group Burrell Associates, digital political advertising is expected to total almost $2 billion by the time the 2018 midterm elections are over, up from just $71 million in 2014. This explosion in growth is no surprise, given the amount of time American voters now spend in front of their laptops, mobile phones, and tablets.
The 4A’s is proud to partner with Today, I’m Brave for the 100Roofs Project, a joint humanitarian effort with HEART 9/11 focused on aiding Puerto Ricans still suffering in the aftermath of Hurricanes Irma and Maria.
FTC Announces Plans to Hold A Series Of Hearings On “Competition and Consumer Protection in the 21st Century” In late June the FTC announced plans to hold a series of hearings examining competition and consumer protection in the 21st Century. The Commission has indicated that the hearings will seek to discover “whether broad-based changes in […]
In early August, the 4A’s hosted its eighth annual The Face of Talent, recognizing and celebrating a diverse group of aspiring advertising hopefuls from across the 4A’s diversity and inclusion initiatives, along with educators and agency leaders who advocate and champion diversity across the marketing communications industry. It marked the first time the weeklong series of events took place under the banner of the 4A’s Foundation, which recently brought together programs including the Multicultural Advertising Intern Program (MAIP) and its alumni association, the 4A’s scholarship & grant program, and its high school initiatives, including two New York City–based public high schools: the High School for Innovation in Advertising and Media (IAM) and the Manhattan Early College School for Advertising (MECA).
In a joint statement, the CEO’s of ANA, ARF, 4A’s and AAF expressed their opposition to a new question in the 2020 U.S. census that asks “is this person a citizen of the United States?”
On April 27th Google announced that as of May 25th, the Doubleclick User ID would no longer be available in data transfer reporting from its Ad Server (DCM) and its DSP (DBM) for users in the European Economic Area. Google will also remove cookie IDs and User list names from data transfer from its exchange (AdX). Eventually this will roll out globally.


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A major West Midland supplier to the car sector has gone bust after 75 years – leading to another 90 job losses in the deepening recession.
Administrators PKF have been called in at Redditch-based Metal Pressings Group in the latest body blow to the region’s manufacturing base.
Around half of the 175-strong workforce have been shed already as the administrators battle to find a buyer for the stricken firm, a long-established first tier supplier to the automotive sector.
The Worcestershire group supplies components to a string of global car firms, including General Motors, Toyota, Ford, BMW and Nissan but has been severely hit by the slump in car sales across the world.
Joint administrator Ian Gould of PKF said: “This is a well-established manufacturing business which has a significant customer base. We are talking to interested parties about the potential purchase of the business and its assets.”
A worker, who asked not to be identified, said: “The company is still trading at the moment but nobody knows what the future holds. It’s a very worrying time for everybody here.
“At one time we had over 200 people working here but there have already been a number of redundancies in the last few months.”
Metal Pressings Group, one of the biggest employers in the Redditch area, was formed following the amalgamation of a number of West Midland companies. Its roots are in Birmingham, where it was founded more than 75 years ago.
Component Metal Pressings of Redditch was acquired in 1996, Sedgley Design and Engineering and Sedgley Pressings in 1997, Progression Presswork of Market Drayton in 2001 and Fowkes and Danks of Redditch in 2003.
Through the series of takeovers, the firm developed into a major supplier to both global car makers and other well-known automotive supply chain firms, including Delphi and TI Automotive.


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The line-up of classic cars for the F1 2017 game has been completed, with three more McLarens becoming the final additions to the list of 12.
Classic cars return to the official F1 game series for the first time since 2013 this year, with machinery from McLaren, Ferrari, Williams, Renault and Red Bull represented, spanning from 1988-2010.
While the dominant MP4/4 from 1988, available with pre-ordered or 'day one' copies of the game as part of a special edition package, was the only McLaren previously confirmed, game creator Codemasters has now added the 1991 MP4/6, 1998's MP4-13, and 2008's MP4-23, all of which won drivers' world championships with Ayrton Senna, Mika Hakkinen and Lewis Hamilton respectively.
McLaren executive director Zak Brown said: "It's pretty hard to pick just four significant McLaren Formula 1 cars – so all credit to the people at Codemasters for choosing these iconic, championship-winning machines.
"I don't think you'd be able to get away without choosing 1988's MP4/4 – it's probably the most iconic F1 car of the last 40 years, a machine that looks as sleek and fast today as when it was first raced.
"And it's superbly complemented by another Senna car, the V12-engined MP4/6; Mika Hakkinen's beautiful, silver-liveried MP4-13, and Lewis Hamilton's jaw-droppingly complex MP4-23.
"If you're a gamer, or a McLaren fan of any era, then you're going to want to race these cars in Codemasters' F1 2017."
Full photo gallery:
Career mode option
The classic cars will be incorporated into the game's career mode for the first time, with players offered the chance to compete in invitational races alongside their full-time campaign in 2017-spec cars.
The McLarens are joined in the game by the 1992 and 1996 world championship-winning Williams cars, four Ferraris (1995, 2002, 2004, 2007), the 2006 Renault and Red Bull's first title-winning car from 2010.
Full F1 2017 classic car list
1988 McLaren MP4/4
1991 McLaren MP4/6
1992 Williams FW14B
1995 Ferrari 412 T2
1996 Williams FW18
1998 McLaren MP4-13
2002 Ferrari F2002
2004 Ferrari F2004
2006 Renault R26
2007 Ferrari F2007
2008 McLaren MP4-23
2010 Red Bull RB6
F1 2017 game gets release date, classic cars
Gallery: The classic cars that will star in F1 2017


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Christmas Crafts Expos I and II at the Hartford Civic Center offer that one-of-a-kind handcrafted gift.
The first part of the two-weekend crafts extravaganza runs Friday through Sunday. More than 250 exhibitors are setting up shop, selling fine art, music boxes, stained glass, wooden toys, gourmet food baskets, pottery and other items. On Dec. 12, 250 different exhibitors will display their wares through Dec. 14.
Festival hours both weekends are Friday, noon to 9 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $6.50, $5.50 for senior citizens, and free for children 14 and younger when accompanied by an adult.Shoppers who bring a new toy get $1 off admission. Toys will go to the Connecticut Children's Medical Center.Information: (860) 653-6671.


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Elephone has been making great efforts recently to hog the limelight with new smartphones that carry great specs, interesting features, and cool designs. The company produces inexpensive smartphones that are good-looking and well-packed with features, which is why the brand has gained some significant amount of popularity in the last few months. The company has been working on a new phone called Elephone S3, and it is being said that the phone will be released in April with a bezel-less screen and a metallic unibody.
A GizmoChina report says that the Elephone S3 will feature a 5.2-inch FullHD screen (1920 x 1080 resolution). There are no capacitive touch buttons, so all those Back, Menu, and Running Tasks buttons will be hidden on the display and can be brought up with a gesture. The phone is powered by an octa-core MediaTek MT6753 processor with 3GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage.
The design-focused S3 sports a 13MP Sony camera on the rear, and there will a fingerprint sensor too that sits on the back. The battery is a 2,100 mAh unit, which we think is a bit on the lesser side. But then again, it is difficult to get a slim body and a large battery at the same time.
The price of the Elephone S3 hasn’t been revealed yet, but it is being said that the phone will be sold in Grey, Gold, Silver, and Rose Gold colors. The S3 will be released next month, so we’ll let you know as soon as we hear anything about it.


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The first cars to roll off the line of Tesla's new Berlin factory could make an appearance as early as next month, CEO Elon Musk said at the site of the plant on Saturday before adding that volume production would take much longer to achieve.
Musk hopes to get the green light in the coming weeks to start production at the site. The latest consultation on public concerns towards the site closes on Oct. 14, after which the Environment Ministry will make a decision.
"Starting production is nice, but volume production is the hard part," Musk told a cheering audience at a festival at the plant site, many of whom livestreamed the speech on social media. "It will take longer to reach volume production than it took to build the factory."
He said volume production would amount to 5,000 or "hopefully 10,000" vehicles per day, and battery cells would be made there in volume by the end of next year.
He also defended the factory against critics of its environmental impact, saying that it used "relatively little" water and that battery cell production was "sustainable."
Some local residents and environmental groups are unhappy with Musk's approach, which they say flies in the face of German business culture.
"I would tell him to stop building electrocars but rather fly to Mars," said Manu Hoyer, who led a small protest of locals who oppose the project on environmental grounds, saying it will pollute drinking water.
Brandenburg's economy minister has put the chances of the factory gaining approval to operate at 95%.
Tesla has submitted plans to invest 5 billion euros ($5.8 billion) in a battery plant with 50 GWh capacity next to the site, outstripping Volkswagen's planned 40 GWh capacity site in Salzgitter.
Musk said Tesla was worried that recruiting sufficient staff would be an issue, calling for people to apply from "all over Europe."
He said he hoped the battery plant would reach volume production by the end of next year.
The company offered 9,000 tickets to the festival, with residents of Brandenburg state given priority.
"Look, Mummy! A Tesla," shouted an excited 9-year old called Emil, one of many children lined up with parents waiting for a 90-minute site tour.
Fans cheered and laughed when Musk took the stage at sunset, welcoming him like a popstar.
"This day is unique," said Tesla fan Fred Schroeder. "The Tesla factory in Germany will be opened to the public for the first time. That is a very special day."
Another had driven his Tesla from Milton Keynes in Britain, despite not having a ticket. He said it was worth it just to see the site from the outside.
About 500,000 cars a year should roll off the line at the factory just outside Berlin, Tesla’s first production location in Europe.
Not all the attendees at Saturday's party were convinced the region can take it.
"I'm sort of critical. There's not enough roads, not enough space for a factory like this here," said 35-year-old Marlen Winkler.
On the same 300-hectare (740 acre) plot, Musk also plans to build "the world's biggest battery factory."
And the site will equally boast the "world's largest die-casting machine," said Ferdinand Dudenhoeffer, director of the Center for Automotive Research in Germany.
In the event that the factory is not approved, the carmaker will be compelled to dismantle the entire works at its own cost.
Such a turn of events is, however, "unlikely," said Dudenhoeffer, since the project has considerable "political support."
"Every political party is in favor," the car expert explained, while noting that changes to the factory facade could be requested by authorities, delaying the beginning of production further.
First planned for July 2021, the start has already been pushed back to the end of this year as a result of the company's administrative troubles.
Tesla was "irritated" by these setbacks, as it wrote in an open letter in March, in which the company called for a "reform" of Germany's planning procedures.
Despite the country's reputation for efficiency, major infrastructure projects are often slowed down by excess bureaucracy.
Berlin's new international airport opened in October 2020, eight years later than first planned, while the construction of a new train station in Stuttgart is not yet finished, having begun in 2010.


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By Scott Chase, Regional Director
Opes Advisors, A Division of Flagstar Bank
Timing can be every thing regarding purchasing a house. Whenever vendors face transitioning between houses, there could be a gap amongst the timing for the purchase of these home that is current and purchase of the brand new house. And therefore can produce lot of issues.
Opes Advisors, A Division of Flagstar Bank, will help. “Our mortgage advisors are masterful at showing visit our web site just how to bridge that space and relieve those concerns, ” says Nikki James, a top-producing home loan consultant who works well with Opes Advisors in the Silicon Valley.
“Many individuals can purchase before they sell – they just don’t understand how, ” Nikki says. She points out there are three major concerns that need to be addressed an individual is selling a property.
“There are the real concerns, ” she says, “like ‘How the heck have always been we likely to move all that stuff out from the loft; pack everything up’ – the side that is physical of. Then there’s the psychological part. Individuals think, ‘John’s maybe not likely to be sitting regarding the move anymore, or swim into the pool; we won’t see our next-door neighbors next door. ’ Finally there is certainly the economic piece: just how to purchase just before offer. ”
“Realtors are professionals at managing the concerns that are physical” Nikki says, “and have actually the resources to have things loaded, washed, arranged and staged. However handle the economic piece to buy them from 1 spot to another, and just just what the funds will appear like long haul. That enables the vendors to address the psychological piece. And that’s in which the home owner ought to be, permitting their genuine estate group stress about the rest. Lees verder


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Nintendo finally revealed the release window of its upcoming console, codenamed NX, in its latest financial results.
?For our dedicated video game platform business, Nintendo is currently developing a gaming platform codenamed ?NX? with a brand-new concept,? the company wrote in the report. ?NX will be launched in March 2017 globally.?
This was later confirmed by the Nintendo of America Twitter account.
No other details were shared about the console.
Nintendo has previously confirmed that there will be no news about NX or its mobile titles at E3 this year, with the company instead opting to focus on the Wii U and 3DS.


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BBC Breakfast star Jon Kay claimed things could turn "nasty" on the show.
The presenter, 54, returned to the red sofa on Tuesday (February 20) and was joined by usual co-host Sally Nugent following her recent absence. During the latest instalment of the programme, the news anchors revealed that researches in Australia had discovered the fastest-growing black hole ever recorded.
This led Jon to reveal that he was facing a "black coffee hole" due to their canteen being closed. Because of this, the TV duo had been unable to eat or drink anything since arriving at the studio in Salford hours before their 06:00am kick off time.
READ MORE: Click for more brilliant Daily Star TV stories
They seemed unaware of why this was, with Jon telling viewers: "Our canteen is closed for some reason. Our brilliant canteen staff aren't here." Fans will understand the difficulty this must be for Jon as last year, he confessed to having five cups of coffee before 07:30am.
"Apologies if we're not completely firing at 100 cylinders at the moment," Sally said. Jon admitted he was worried about how they were going to make it through the remainder of the show.
To which Sally responded: "I'm worried about you, Jon!" He agreed: "I know. It could get nasty." The broadcasters then turned to Carol Kirkwood who was there to share the latest weather updates with viewers.
But the interaction wasn't what Jon had hoped after Carol revealed she had access to tea and coffee while they didn't. Jon begged: "Have you got coffee there? Please send some."
"I do!" responded the meteorologist as Jon let out a huge cry. Rubbing salt in the wound, Carol laughed: "I had tea earlier and I must say it's really nice Jon."
At the end of her report, Carol swiped once again at her co-stars as she said: "Jon and Sal I think I need another cup of tea so I might just go to the kitchen and make one."
"You lucky lucky thing," responded Sally, adding: "Carol make us one!" Luckily for the presenters, the coffee drought came to an end later in the programme as Jon told Carol: "The canteen is open and we've got our coffees."
Want all the biggest Showbiz and TV news straight to your inbox? Sign up for our free Daily Star Showbiz newsletter.


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The Democrats turned out in numbers on Tuesday and picked up two Senate seats in Georgia to flip the...
How to Get a Job in China? Log on to 51Jobs
04/23/2018 5:00 am EST
The touchy state of the relationship between China and the U.S. might seem like a pretty good reason to avoid a Chinese company as a new investment, suggests global expert Paul Goodwin, editor of Cabot Emerging Markets Investor.
But when we find a company that’s thriving and has a stock that’s completely ignoring the troubled state of the market, we have to pay attention. 51Job (JOBS), the biggest online recruiting and employment site in China, is about as steady as you can get.
The 371,000 unique employers who pay for the company’s services are constantly looking for new workers and new services. And with a combination of online and print recruitment services, 51Job offers online and on-campus recruitment, as well as business process outsourcing, training, executive searches and compensation consulting.
51Job was founded in 1998, when China was beginning its string of double-digit annual economic growth and factories were scrambling for workers. As the country’s economy has matured, the needs of employers have changed, and 51Job, under the direction of founder Rick Yan, has grown into the task.
51Jobs’ 2017 results showed a 22% increase in revenue, a welcome double-digit rate after two years of single-digit growth (9% in 2015 and 7% in 2016). Q4 revenue growth came in at 33%. Also welcome was a 48% increase in earnings, and a record-high 37.5% after-tax profit margin.
The company’s online background check service, which is just one year old, has been bought by over 2,000 companies. Analysts project 2018 earnings growth of 24% and 25% growth in 2019.
The other big attraction of 51Job is the chart. We like to see a stock that has a long base, and JOBS traded basically sideways from the beginning of 2011 through the middle of 2016. Almost six years of no progress is remarkable for a company that has been consistently profitable with growing revenue.
Accelerating sales and earnings growth, solid estimates (up 24% this year, 25% next) and the stock’s exceptional strength all bode well. We’re OK buying a half-sized position here or (ideally) on dips toward its 25-day line (near 88 but rising fast). There’s no set date for earnings yet, but it’s likely they’ll be released in early- to mid-May.
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Week in Review: IPO Madness and New Partner Company Spongecell
Posted by | February 10, 2012
The past two weeks were brought to you by the letters IPO. From Facebook’s well-documented filing to this week’s IPO price cuts, a flurry of activity around SEC filings has caught the attention of VCs. Facebook filed a $5 billion IPO last week, which some commentators estimate puts the company’s value at up to $100 billion. This is a big splash in the pool of 63 venture-backed companies in IPO registration awaiting the right time to go public.
Some believe Facebook’s IPO will launch a recovery in the IPO market and nudge other tentative startups forward. Others caution that Facebook is a category unto itself and its valuation will have little positive effect on other companies entering the market. Indeed, buyers are being cautious with valuations. On Wednesday, three of four IPOs debuted below their indicated ranges although they all eventually traded up. Whatever the result, Facebook’s first day of trading stands to be a historic event that sets the bar for startups everywhere.
This week we looked at how social media is changing advertising as we announced our $10 million Series B financing for Spongecell, a New York City-based advertising technology company that builds rich media dynamic ads. These ads outperform more traditional static banner ads, and Spongecell is leading the charge into the future of advertising by integrating video and social media. Word spread across the web, in articles at AdExchanger.com, Adotas, Advertisement Journal, All Things D, FinSMEs, PandoDaily.com, PEHub, Xconomy and Vator News.
Our other partner companies have been busy as well. Here are some highlights:
- Bill Gilbert of AdvantEdge Healthcare Solutions offered tips on training staff in patient collections in a recent article in Becker’s Orthopedic & Spine Review.
- The BD Veritor system, powered by Alverix technology, received regulatory approval in Japan. CEO Richard Tarbox told Med City News that flu detection was only the start for Alverix.
- NovaSom’s Joint Commission Gold Seal of Approval was renewed, a testament to NovaSom’s high standards in quality and safety for its home testing of obstructive sleep apnea.
- NuPathe CEO Jane Hollingsworth will speak at two upcoming investor conferences: the 14th Annual BIO CEO & Investor Conference on Feb. 14 and the Leerink Swann 2012 Global Healthcare Conference on Feb. 15. Both are held in New York.
- ThingWorx CEO Russ Fadel comments on the challenges of building a connected world in Connected World Magazine. He explains how the ThingWorx platform gives M2M innovators a head start in developing industrial social networks.
To read more of our Week in Review series, please use the following feed: www.safeguard.com/WeekInReview. Have a great weekend!


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The Coronavirus has helped expose China’s monopoly on drugs, and medical supplies that are essential for healthcare systems such as worker’s compensation claims.
In testimony this month before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, Scott Gottlieb, a physician and the former Food and Drug Administration commissioner in the Trump administration, explained in detail the extent of the U.S. pharmaceutical industry’s dependence on China:
About 40 percent of generic drugs sold in the U.S. have only a single manufacturer. A significant supply chain disruption could cause shortages for some of many of these products.
Last year, manufacturing of intermediate or finished goods in China, as well as pharmaceutical source material, accounted for 95 percent of U.S. imports of ibuprofen, 91 percent of U.S. imports of hydrocortisone, 70 percent of U.S. imports of acetaminophen, 40 to 45 percent of U.S. imports of penicillin, and 40 percent of U.S. imports of heparin, according to the Commerce Department. In total, 80 percent of the U.S. supply of antibiotics are made in China.
While much of the fill finishing work (the actual formulation of finished drug capsules and tablets) is done outside China (and often in India) the starting and intermediate chemicals are often sourced in China. Moreover, the U.S. generic drug industry can no longer produce certain critical medicines such as penicillin and doxycycline without these chemical components.
According to a report from the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission, China’s chemical industry, which accounts for 40 percent of global chemical industry revenue, provides a large number of ingredients for drug products. It’s these source materials – where in many cases China is the exclusive source of the chemical ingredients used for the manufacture of a drug product – that create choke points in the global supply chain for critical medicines.
Moreover, when it comes to starting material for the manufacture of pharmaceutical ingredients, a lot of this production is centered in China’s Hubei Provence, the epicenter of coronavirus. Most drug makers have a one to three-months of inventory of drug ingredients on hand. But these supplies are already being drawn down. Among big [active pharmaceutical ingredient] makers in Wuhan are Wuhan Shiji Pharmaceutical, Chemwerth, Hubei Biocause, Wuhan Calmland Pharmaceuticals.
Gottlieb notes that “80 percent of the U.S. supply of antibiotics are made in China.” The sourcing of this estimate is explained in greater detail in section three of the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission’s 2019 report to Congress, titled – Growing U.S. Reliance on China’s Biotech and Pharmaceutical Products.”
The report notes that China is “the world’s largest producer of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). The United States is heavily dependent on drugs that are either sourced from China or include APIs sourced from China.” The report further explains that although India is the world’s leading supplier of generic drugs, India gets 80 percent of its active pharmaceutical ingredients directly from China. The United States also imports 80 percent of its APIs from overseas (primarily from India and China) and “a substantial portion” of its generic drugs “either directly from China or from third countries like India that use APIs sourced from China.”
In other words, almost all pharmaceutical roads lead to China.
Furthermore, the report notes that China’s dominance of the chemical industry and global manufacturing of active pharmaceutical ingredients means that “the world is becoming increasingly dependent on China as the single source for life-saving drugs.”
“The U.S. generic drug industry can no longer produce certain critical medicines such as penicillin and doxycycline, and the APIs needed to make these antibiotics are sourced from China,” the report states.


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Drive-in fast-food chain Sonic (NASDAQ:SONC) is expected to report earnings for the first quarter of fiscal 2014 on Monday, Jan. 6. The company faces close competition ifrom Wendy's (NASDAQ:WEN), which has a similar growth story and cost problem. But Sonic also competes with general fast-food establishments such as Burger King Worldwide (UNKNOWN:BKW.DL) and Yum! Brands (NYSE:YUM).
What should investors watch for in Sonic's first-quarter earnings release?
Quarterly numbers to beat
Analysts estimate first-quarter revenue of $128 million with earnings per share of $0.13. Sonic has met or beat EPS estimates for the past five quarters but missed revenue on two of those quarters.
Investors and analysts will compare results from the first quarter of fiscal 2014 to the first quarter of the previous year, when revenue was $126 million and EPS was $0.11. Same-store sales were up 3% overall in last year's quarter, with a 4% increase at corporate-owned drive-ins, which accounted for almost three-quarters of total revenue in that quarter.
Fourth-quarter results included $159 million in revenue and EPS of $0.30. Same-store sales were up nearly 6% overall, with matching growth in franchise drive-ins and more than 5% growth at company-owned drive-ins.
Watch the food costs
Sonic's diverse and rotating menu leads to higher food costs than at some competitors. But the company did a good job of keeping costs level in 2013. Food and paper costs as a percentage of revenue hovered right around 21% all year.
Wendy's similar menu slant kept that company's costs up at 33%. Yum! Brands' multiple restaurants -- which include KFC and Pizza Hut -- keep costs up near 30%. Burger King is the only chain reducing costs, having dropped from 12% in the first quarter to 3% in the third.
So it's not a huge issue if Sonic's first-quarter costs stay steady with the prior year, but a reduction would help margins. And a spike up means investors should watch this metric closely in the following quarter to see if it was a one-time or long-term issue.
Burger King's third-quarter report in October featured revenue of $275 million and EPS of $0.23. Global comparable-store sales were up about 1%, but North American comps were down 30 basis points.The company has met or beat EPS estimates for the past five quarters but missed on revenue for one of those quarters. Analysts' estimates for the fourth quarter include revenue of $281 million and EPS of $0.23.
Yum! Brands' third quarter met revenue estimates with $3.5 billion but missed on EPS with a net loss of $0.85. Comps were flat domestically but had a low-double-digit drop in China thanks to a poultry supplier controversy for KFC. Fourth-quarter analyst estimates include $4.3 billion in revenue and EPS of $0.80.
Wendy's third quarter met revenue estimates of $641 million after missing on the prior four quarters. Comps increased more than 3% as Wendy's rode the popularity of the Pretzel Bacon Cheeseburger, which the restaurant has since discontinued in favor of rotating limited-edition items. (I've gone on record questioning this "limited" tactic.) Analysts estimate fourth-quarter revenue of $615 million and EPS of $0.06.
Foolish final thoughts
Sonic has a decent history of meeting or beating revenue and EPS estimates. And the few misses were narrow. Keep an eye on the food costs and the comps for a quick take on Sonic's overall health.


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Facing an explosion of content for PCs and handhelds via Internet, cable and wireless technologies, vendors at CES are spotlighting products designed to make it easier to transmit and manage multimedia data across many types of devices.
Some 2,700 exhibitors are vying for the attention of an estimated 140,000 attendees this week in Las Vegas, at the biggest technology show this year in North America, according to show organizers. The vendors include some of the biggest names in IT, television and entertainment production studios. Many of them acknowledge that transmitting and storing multimedia information among the wide variety of phones, PDAs, TV set top boxes and PCs is still daunting.
"Whenever you have multiple devices, including multiple PCs that you want to share information with, it's always been a bit complicated," said Microsoft Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Bill Gates in an interview with the IDG News Service, hours before he kicked off CES with his traditional keynote speech Sunday.
But Gates and other executives say that they are making strides with the products announced in the show at Las Vegas. During his keynote, Gates announced that service providers would be offering the Xbox as a set-top box alternative, allowing users to watch TV and movies, surf the Net, and play games. He also announced Windows Home Server, which lets users connect their Windows Vista computers and secure, store and back up data.
Motorola and Microsoft announced Tuesday that they have been working together on new music mobile devices, and will develop handsets made especially for downloading music over 3G (third generation) networks.
Among devices Motorola announced is the MOTORIZR Z6, due out in the first half of the year and designed to incorporate Microsoft Windows Media technologies including Windows Media Digital Rights Management.
Dell Chairman Michael Dell said in his keynote Tuesday that not only is it still difficult for users to make devices work together, but that "broadband isn't where it needs to be for reliable performance." He said network operators should bring fiber-optic broadband Internet links to homes, and lauded Verizon Communications for starting to do so.
Dell also announced a Home Media Suite desktop PC, the XPS 410, which sports an Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 2G bytes of memory, 1T byte RAID storage array, Vista OS and a digital cable TV tuner. It will be available later this month.
For its part, Hewlett-Packard -- which overtook Dell last year as the biggest-selling PC vendor in the world -- Monday announced the Pavilion tx1000, an entertainment-focused notebook for students sporting a 12.1-inch screen. The first version of the device is due out Feb. 28 priced at US$1,299.
Chip rivals Intel and Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) also are battling it out at the show. Intel launched three Quad-Core processors on Monday, reaching out to gamers and multimedia application users. The two new models in the Xeon 3200 line are aimed at low-end, single-socket servers: Intel is pricing the 2.13 GHz Quad-Core Xeon X3210 at $690 and the 2.4 GHz Quad-Core Xeon X3220 at $851, both per unit in lots of 1,000. The 2.4GHz Core 2 Quad Q6600 is also priced at $851.
Meanwhile, AMD announced a notebook version of its AMD Live package, launched for the desktop in 2006. AMD Live PCs are designed to let users take content off the Web, and display it on various devices such as video iPods. The company specifies hardware and reference designs and uses partnerships to have the devices built. Notebook versions of AMD Live are expected later in the quarter.
Yahoo made a splash at the show by unveiling a beta version of Yahoo Go for Mobile 2.0, which can be downloaded for free to more than 70 mobile devices from various vendors, from http://go.yahoo.com. Handset makers announcing support for the new service include Research In Motion, Motorola, Samsung Electronics and Nokia. A key feature of Yahoo Go for Mobile 2.0 is oneSearch, a new search engine designed to return results tailored to the geographic location of the user.


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Just a few weeks ago there was some talk on Wall Street about a possible…
Could Apple Inc. be thinking of buying The Walt Disney Company? From the sharp drop-off in the stock market, that long-rumored story is now looking even more possible, with analysts saying we may see the two companies merging very soon.
Why would Apple buying Dinsey be a perfect fit though?
For some time Wall Street has been speculating on the future of Apple. For one, they have one of the biggest reserves of cash of any company in the world with estimates that it’s sitting on approximately $98+ Billion of it. That’s a lot of spending money.
We are living in a new world right now where companies are in a race for content, with everyone scrambling to come out with their own digital streaming service. Disney is the world’s strongest content provider. They saw the successful launch of their own streaming service in 2019, Disney+. In 2020 Disney broke every record at the box office imaginable with over $11 Billion in earnings.
Apple, on the other hand, has a content problem. Apple is trying to be a major player in the streaming war with Netflix and Disney, but their version, Apple TV+ doesn’t look like it will be the longer-term solution they are looking for. It doesn’t help that they have had to shut down production of work on original content they are working on during this worldwide situation happening now.
The fact that Disney’s stock price has dropped dramatically in the last few months is the main reason though why this could start to become a reality. Disney’s stock has slid 36% since January and is now currently trading at $95 a share.
Things are not going to get better in the short term for Disney. Right now, every one of its 12 theme parks in the world is closed. Disney World is closed. Disneyland closed. The Asian parks, Paris, everything. Movie productions have come to a halt. Releases of potential blockbusters at the cinema are also on hold. They are going to lose hundreds of millions of dollars, perhaps billions during this time.
In the long-term, Disney is still one of the most solid companies out there. When the theme parks reopen and people return to their former habits, they will still be one of the most profitable companies on Wall St. Apple could take advantage of this and use its huge stockpile of cash to pounce on the opportunity to buy Disney.
Right now Disney market capitalization sits at around $168 billion, which would be within reach for Apple which has around $98 billion in net cash.
The merger of Disney and Apple would also come at the right time since Disney is in the middle of a CEO transition. Recently, former CEO Bob Iger stepped down and was replaced by fellow Disney exec Bob Chapek. Seeing as Disney is in the middle of this transition, a corporate buyout might be even more likely.
The idea of Disney and Apple joining forces would be beneficial for both sides. Apple would use Disney’s content to push out to billions of people using their technology, and at the same time, Disney would have the perfect way in the Apple iOS platform to get its content out there.
There would be even more benefits in the Disney theme parks where Disney could use the Apple technology to further enhance the guest experience in various attractions throughout the parks. The Disney parks would instantly get a boost in technology and improved user interaction which would be a positive.
Even former Disney CEO Bob Iger thinks that Disney and Apple would be a good fit. He said as much when he wrote in his autobiography that the two sides might have merged if Jobs hadn’t died in 2011. “I believe that if Steve were still alive, we would have combined our companies, or at least discussed the possibility very seriously,” Iger wrote in the book.
At this time this is still all speculation and nothing has been confirmed. It’s not known if Disney and Apple have had active conversations about the matter, but you have to admit that it would be tempting.
Seeing how fast the whole Disney/Fox deal went down though, anything can happen, and happen quickly.
We will keep an eye on this for you and let you know if any new information comes out.
I want to know what you think about Apple buying Disney…
- Would this be a good merger?
- What are the biggest pros and cons to a potential deal?
Let us know in the comments section below!
If you enjoyed this article, as always I appreciate it if you’d share it with others via social media. I work hard at making this website into a useful resource for you and your family to plan your visit to the Disney Parks and I hope it can help you! Thanks 🙂


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Netflix, one of a renowned name in giving 4K Ultra HD streaming services has recently revised its subscription charges. As a result, a new “Family” plan for the 4K UHD streaming will cost $11.99 per month. This new plan allows simultaneous streaming of up to four programs i.e. it allows up to four devices to play simultaneously.
According to the Netflix spokesman “We have a modest and growing catalog of titles in 4K, including ‘House of Cards,’ ‘Breaking Bad,’ ‘The Blacklist’ and a slate of upcoming Netflix original series.”
As far as the new rate is concerned, it is slightly higher than its previous “standard” HD subscribers and it is a $4 increase for HD users that signed on prior to May 9th, 2014. Whereas, current subscriber already paying for 4K content (prior to August 12th) will be grandfathered into the older $7.99 a month plan until August 12th, 2016 according to a Netflix customer service representative.
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A Nelson woman has used fake Facebook profiles to scam buyers out of $6000 worth of goods.
Jade Ransom-Hall, 26, pleaded guilty to eight charges of obtaining by deception at the Nelson District Court on Monday.
Over a two-month period, Ransom-Hall tricked eight people into buying products she never delivered on.
Ransom-Hall created a series of fake Facebook accounts using aliases such as ‘Dan Newman’ and ‘Ryan Goodell’, along with fake email addresses.
Ransom-Hall advertised a variety of products on Facebook buy and sell pages, pulling images from Ebay and re-using them to advertise her own products.
Buyers were contacted through Facebook Messenger and by cellphone, with money being deposited directly into Ransom-Hall’s account.
The offending began on July 1, with Ransom-Hall selling a $400 rangefinder on the ‘Anything Hunting NZ’ Facebook page, under the alias ‘Dan Newman’.
After purchasing the item, the Ransom-Hall cut contact with the victim after they questioned when the rangefinder would be sent to them.
Over the course of the next two months, Ransom-Hall sold more than a dozen GPS-tracked dog collars, a Samsung Galaxy cellphone, and a Playstation 4, using a series of different aliases.
The final item was a thermal vision telescope, sold on August 27 for $1300.
Ransom-Hall said the reason for her offending was because she was “short of funds to meet day to day expenses”.
Defence lawyer Kelly Hennessy said Ransom-Hall had been in a “bad space” at the time, both financially and emotionally.
Hennessy said Ransom-Hall was capable of paying $20 per week towards any reparations.
Judge Tony Zohrab gave Ransom-Hall credit for her early guilty plea and lack of previous criminal history.
Zohrab ordered Ransom-Hall to pay $5945 in reparations and sentenced her to 100 hours community work, with a provision to call up for sentence again if she re-offended within the next 12 months.


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A brazen robbery of a customer inside a new Starbucks coffee shop led to an arrest after other customers and store employees called police while it was in progress.
Police reported Friday that the victim was sitting inside the shop, in the 300 block of Effingham St., about 8 p.m. Thursday when a man approached and demanded money or the victim's laptop.
The victim said he had no money and began stashing his laptop out of sight. The robber continued his demands, putting his hand inside his clothes and threatening to take out a gun. The victim handed over cash and a check but refused the robber's demands to go to a 7-Eleven to cash the check. The robber left.
Meanwhile, employees and customers witnessing the exchange were dialing police. Their descriptions of the robber went to responding officers who, on their way to the coffee shop, found a man fitting the description near the Pizza Hut on London Boulevard.
Arrested and charged with robbery and a firearm charge was Antoine Jerome Atkins, 18, of the 1400 block of Richmond Ave.
Matthew Bowers, (757) 222-3893, email@example.com


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Digital agency marks 10 year milestone
Motionlab Marketing Ltd, one of Lancashire’s leading agencies, is celebrating a decade of creative digital marketing.Starting life in 2004 with a £500 creative fund from Preston City Council, Motionlab has grown to become a £1.6m business, employing a team of 40 design and digital marketing experts at its 3,750 sq ft Preston Citygate headquarters.
To mark the 10-year milestone, the agency has kicked off a month of fundraising activities that have seen it raise over £3,000 to date for nominated charity, Derian House.Fundraising started with ten of Motionlab’s 40-strong team lining up to take part in the Run Preston 10K on Sunday, 28th September. A charity Bake Off and an impending five-a-side football match will all help to raise money for the children’s hospice.
Creative director, Dave Ellams designed and commissioned a commemorative piece of artwork which was unveiled at a special event for Motionlab’s key clients and contacts at Preston North End Football Club (on Friday 3rd October.)CEO, Simon Iredale founded Montionlab in September 2004, relocating to Preston after a successful career as interactive director at Tableau and online creative director for Sony Music Europe, London.
Speaking about the landmark birthday, Simon said: “When I started Motionlab it was with the intention of bringing a truly creative digital marketing offering to the North West. I never envisaged it would grow to the size and success that it has today, but this reflects the wealth of opportunities that there are within the region.“Clients choose Motionlab because they receive the same high level of creativity and attention to detail that you’d expect from a top national agency. We offer a full digital marketing service under one roof.
“We’ve got an extremely talented team and we are armed with the right tools, skills and enthusiasm to push boundaries over the next decade.”Motionlab’s service line has grown considerably over the last decade. Originally specialising in website development, Motionlab now delivers branding, design, website, applications, online marketing, PR and content services for over 60 retained clients.
The agency launched its very first app, ‘Darts Match’ in March this year with huge success. The game has received over 360,000 downloads on Android, iOS and Windows Phone to date and scooped a prestigious award from Microsoft in September.Its newly formed arm, Motionlab Interactive is making waves in the network marketing arena with a series of multi-site and cloud-based marketing solutions set to launch in 2016.
Motionlab’s first client was CSL Furniture and its portfolio has grown extensively to include some of Lancashire’s, and the UK’s, best loved brands such as Gola, Cosatto, Watch Supermarket, EasiGrass, Conservatory Outlet, Granite Transformations, Furness College and the multi-award winning FIT Show.Managing director, Steven Ormand added: “We’re really proud to reach our ten year milestone. The team has rapidly expanded in recent years and we wanted to say a big thank you to everyone that has played a part in making Motionlab what it is today. We’re looking forward to the next ten!” Motionlab’s board of directors includes founding team member, Stuart Cross, who serves as technical director, managing director Steven Ormand and financial director Nicola Iredale.


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We are challenging the sale of mercury-laden dolphin meat.
We’ve taken a massive step forward in our ongoing campaign to end dolphin hunting in Taiji, Japan.
After months of meticulous preparation and evidence-gathering, we submitted a criminal complaint challenging the sale of mercury-contaminated dolphin meat from Taiji.
A Tokyo-based law firm filed the complaint on our behalf, arguing the seller engaged in long-running, habitual criminal activity by selling whale and dolphin meat with potentially toxic levels of mercury via Yahoo! Japan’s website.
Recent tests by a Japanese laboratory revealed that the mercury levels in dolphin meat sold throughout Japan are up to 97.5 times higher than the government-set regulatory limit.
This alarming discovery highlights the importance of raising awareness about the health risks associated with consuming dolphin meat.
Our goal is to reduce demand for products sourced from these brutal hunts, ultimately protecting vulnerable dolphin populations from slaughter.
As reported in The Guardian today: “Hannah Tait, AFD’s chief executive, said she hoped the test results and police complaint would result in dolphin meat being removed from sale in supermarkets, restaurants and the online retailer Yahoo! Japan.”
Our legal action has already garnered attention, bringing this crucial issue into the spotlight.
If our complaint is accepted, the police will launch an investigation and, based on their findings, recommend whether to indict the store owner selling these hazardous body parts.
A successful case could lead to the removal of mercury-laden dolphin meat from Yahoo! Japan’s website, directly impacting a significant point of sale for the Taiji dolphin hunters.
This legal battle is just one of the many ways we’re fighting to end dolphin hunting and protect these intelligent creatures.
We will keep you informed of any developments regarding our complaint, stay tuned for updates.
Thanks to dolphin defenders worldwide, let’s keep working together to end dolphin cruelty.


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Chinese brand Oppo attacks Samsung and Apple, little chance of success
Chinese smartphone brand Oppo, which has seen its market share plummet partly due to anti-China sentiment in markets such as Australia, the United States and Europe, is back with new high-end smartphone models as it tries to take on market leaders Samsung and Apple.
Oppo management says it plans to double shipments of high-end devices this year despite chip shortages, but it hasn’t said how it intends to overcome anti-China sentiment in markets such as China. United States, one of the markets they are looking for. to for growth.
Billy Zhang, vice president of overseas sales and service at Oppo, says the overall smartphone market is expected to grow by 5%.
He claims that Oppo has grown by 140% in the high-end smartphone market despite the latest data from IDC revealing that Oppo’s overall market share fell by 11.1% last year.
“We certainly expect to outpace the growth of the overall market,” Zhang told Nikkei Asia.
“Our goal is to double our premium smartphone shipments in 2022 after seeing 140% growth in the premium segment last year, compared to 2020.”
Chinese management says it shipped 145.1 million smartphones last year, up 22% from 2020, not according to global research firm IDC.
At Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Oppo unveiled its new flagship Find X5 series with an in-house developed processor.
Dubbed MariSilicon X, Oppo describes it as a neural processing unit that uses custom AI algorithms to handle images and video.
The company says the chip’s goal is to deliver better photographic performance, including high-quality 4K video, even when shooting at night.
This is the same strategy that Samsung has developed for its new line of Samsung Galaxy S22 smartphones.
“Image and video quality is always something we want to improve. … We realized that only by building an additional image processor ourselves could we program our own advanced algorithms and customize the features we want in the device and make our camera capability stands out from the competition,” Zhang said.
Behind Oppo’s first specialized chip for image and video processing was an engineering workgroup of more than 1,000 people and more than three years of development, Zhang said.
The internal processor adds to the standardized chipsets provided by Qualcomm and MediaTek and works closely with the overall camera module. “All these chips and all these components have to be coordinated with each other. We have worked closely with these vendors from day one to better integrate all technologies and optimize performance,” he said.
Zhang added that his company would continue to explore key areas to improve user experience and would not rule out the possibility of developing more chips in-house for its various devices.
Oppo’s domestic rivals Xiaomi and Vivo are also boosting their in-house semiconductor design capability, while Samsung and Apple have long designed multiple chips, including high-end mobile processors, for their own products. Nikkei Asia reported earlier that Oppo is also developing cutting-edge mobile chipsets in-house for its future smartphones.
Oppo’s production sites are based in China, India, Indonesia, Algeria and Bangladesh. As part of its global expansion efforts, the company is looking to outsource sourcing.
Markets where Oppo has had great success include Indonesia, Vietnam, Myanmar, Singapore, and the Philippines.
“Oppo’s strategy to prioritize and grow its premium smartphone sales makes sense when chip and component supplies aren’t sufficient,” Joey Yen, technology analyst at IDC, told Nikkei Asia. “We see that the average selling price of Oppo’s smartphones has continued to grow from 2020 to 2021, based on our internal surveys.”
“Looking forward, Oppo may need to continue providing unique selling points such as photography and charging features, which were previously its core strengths, to compete and outperform a maturing market,” Yen said. .
About the author of the article


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Cryptocurrency has taken the financial world by storm, promising a decentralized and potentially lucrative future. However, with this innovation comes a new set of risks. While enthusiasts tout the possibilities, it’s crucial to understand the situations where cryptocurrency can land you in hot water. While it’s easy to enter the crypto landscape blind, it is important to consult an expert white-collar crimes attorney.
The Finacial Wild West
Let’s face it, the crypto landscape is littered with cautionary tales. The recent collapse of FTX, a seemingly stable crypto exchange, sent shockwaves through the industry. Millions of users lost their funds, highlighting the volatility and potential instability within the crypto space. This isn’t an isolated incident. Companies like Mt. Gox, once a leading exchange, faced similar downfalls, showcasing the vulnerability of the crypto ecosystem.
Beyond exchange failures, crypto scams and hacks are prevalent, preying on unsuspecting investors. Fake Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs) have become a well-worn tactic, promising revolutionary products with no real substance. Phishing attacks and fraudulent investment schemes can also cause significant financial losses. Money laundering and illegal activities can also flourish in the semi-anonymous world of cryptocurrency. The very features that attract some – decentralization and a degree of anonymity – can be exploited for nefarious purposes.
Temptation mixed with Anonymity
So, when exactly can cryptocurrency get you into trouble? Here are a few scenarios:
- Engaging in illegal activities: Buying or selling illegal goods with cryptocurrency can lead to criminal charges. The anonymity associated with crypto transactions can be tempting for criminals, but law enforcement agencies are becoming increasingly adept at tracing these transactions. Even seemingly anonymous transactions can leave a public record on the blockchain, a distributed ledger that records all transactions. Sophisticated blockchain analysis tools can help investigators connect the dots and identify the people behind the transactions.
- Tax evasion: Cryptocurrency earnings are taxable, and failing to report them can result in hefty fines and even jail time. Tax authorities worldwide are working to develop frameworks for taxing crypto transactions. The decentralized nature of cryptocurrency can make it difficult for governments to track down all transactions, but they’re constantly improving their methods. It’s important to stay informed about tax regulations in your jurisdiction and consult with a tax professional to ensure you’re compliant.
- Falling victim to scams: The crypto world is a breeding ground for scams. As mentioned earlier, fake ICOs and phishing attacks are just a few tactics scammers use to exploit unsuspecting investors. Before investing in any cryptocurrency project, thoroughly research the team, the technology, and the whitepaper outlining the project’s goals. If something seems too good to be true, it probably is.
- Unintentional legal violations: The regulatory landscape surrounding cryptocurrency is constantly evolving. Different countries have different regulations, and these regulations can change quickly. Unknowingly violating these regulations can lead to legal repercussions. Staying up-to-date on the latest regulations can be challenging, but it’s essential to avoid running afoul of the law.
If you’re unsure about the legality of your cryptocurrency activities, seeking legal advice from a white-collar crimes attorney is crucial. These professionals have a deep understanding of financial regulations and can help you navigate cryptocurrency’s complex legal environment. They can advise you on tax implications, and potential scams to avoid, and ensure you’re operating within the bounds of the law. Remember, the future of cryptocurrency is exciting, but it’s vital to approach it with caution and awareness. By understanding the potential pitfalls, you can minimize your risk and make informed decisions in this ever-changing digital landscape.


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Check out 34 craft breweries at YYC Beer Week next month
Beer Week is back, baby!
Building on the success of last year’s inaugural event, the organizers of YYC Beer Week will be bringing an even bigger week of food, beers, and friends to Calgary this June.
According to a release from Beer Guys YYC, the 2018 Beer Week will feature 34 local craft breweries, over 40 restaurants, and more than 30 retail locations participating throughout the week — which will make the event twice as big as it was in 2017.
Calgarians will be able to cash in on promotional beer-related menu offerings and events, with $1 from every item sold between June 4 and 10 going towards a charity of the business’s choice.
A new beer will be made available specifically to celebrate the week-long festivities, created through the collaboration of twenty local breweries. It will be made available at participating breweries, restaurants, and growler bars throughout the city — while supplies last, of course.
A full list of participating locations and events can be found at the YYC Beer Week website.
YYC Beer Week 2018
When: Monday, June 4 and Sunday, June 10
Time: Participating restaurants regular operating hours
Where: A full list of locations can be found here


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HTC’s Vive is one of the most compelling virtual reality headsets on the market. Previously if you wanted to grab some content for it, your first port of call would be the Steam store. This was thanks to HTC’s partnership with Valve.
But now there’s another place where you can get your fill of cool VR games. HTC has quietly been working on its own content marketplace, called Viveport. It’s been available in China since April, but now it’s making its way to the rest of the world, starting with 30 new countries.
HTC is marking the launch with a massive sale. During the first 48 hours of the launch, you can get theBlu, Mars Odyssey, The Music Room and Firebird – La Peri for just $1, among others. Even if you don’t own a headset, it’s worth stocking up in case you do at a later date.
Viveport Premieres will also show off some never seen before VR content that launches exclusively on the Viveport store. These include Everest VR, Google Spotlight Stories’ Pearl, Lifeliqe, Stonehenge VR, and more.
It will also introduce twelve new titles that have previously only been available in China. It’ll be pretty exciting to see how VR is used to tell stories in an entirely different culture.
The Viveport Store is open for business and you can visit it here.