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Washington: The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday declined to hear a bid by Sanofi SA to revive its antitrust lawsuit accusing rival pharmaceutical company Viatris Inc of illegally monopolizing the market with its EpiPen auto-injector, a device used to treat severe allergic reactions.
The justices turned away Sanofi’s appeal of a lower court’s ruling rejecting the French company’s claim that Canonsburg, Pennsylvania-based Viatris had effectively cornered the market through exclusive deals with prescription drug intermediaries.
Sanofi in 2009 acquired the rights to Auvi-Q, an epinephrine auto-injector intended to compete with EpiPen. The company sold the device from 2013 to 2015, when it was recalled over concerns that it failed to deliver its dose of epinephrine. Sanofi terminated its rights to Auvi-Q the next year. Injection of epinephrine is used to treat serious and sometimes life-threatening allergic reactions to foods, medications, bee stings and other causes.
Viatris was formed in 2020 through the merger of Mylan N.V. and Pfizer Inc’s Upjohn business. Sanofi sued Mylan in 2017, alleging that it violated antitrust law by giving rebates to pharmacy benefit managers – intermediary companies that maintain the formularies, or lists of covered drugs, used by health plans – in exchange for exclusivity.
Sanofi said in the lawsuit that it lost hundreds of millions of dollars in sales in the $1 billion-plus U.S. epinephrine auto-injector market due to Mylan’s conduct and is seeking monetary damages.
A federal judge in Kansas City, Kansas ruled in 2020 in favor of Mylan, finding that Sanofi failed to show how Mylan’s negotiating tactics were illegal or harmed consumers. The Denver-based 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals last July agreed, noting that the exclusive contracts in question were “a normal competitive tool within the epinephrine auto-injector industry.”
The 10th Circuit added that Sanofi could have competed on those terms, but instead chose initially to market Auvi-Q as a more expensive, premium product. When Sanofi changed course in 2014, one pharmacy benefit manager, CVS Caremark, did switch to Auvi-Q as its only auto-injector on some of its formularies, the panel noted.
The EpiPen has attracted scrutiny for a series of steep price hikes, with the cost of a pair of the devices increasing from $100 in 2008 to $600 in 2016. The price is now nearly $700.
Viatris in February 2022 agreed to pay $264 million to settle a class action lawsuit brought on behalf of consumers and third-party payers like insurers accusing the company of keeping generic competition off the market through an illegal patent settlement.


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With phishing now widely used as a mechanism for distributing ransomware, a new NTT Security reveals that 77% of all detected ransomware globally was in four main sectors – business & professional services (28%), government (19%), health care (15%) and retail (15%).
While technical attacks on the newest vulnerabilities tend to dominate the media, many attacks rely on less technical means. According to the GTIR, phishing attacks were responsible for nearly three-quarters (73%) of all malware delivered to organizations, with government (65%) and business & professional services (25%) as the industry sectors most likely to be attacked at a global level. When it comes to attacks by country, the U.S. (41%), Netherlands (38%) and France (5%) were the top three sources of phishing attacks.
ORIGINAL SOURCE: Help Net Security

domain: news


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You have searched for "athletes"
Showing 31-40 of 313
Add "esports mogul" to the list of David Beckham's business interests. The former soccer star, a fashion icon, product endorser and owner of Major League Soccer's Inter Miami, is now a co-owner of the Guild Esports.
Time on your hands and a love of anime? A producer from Japan’s Studio Ghibli is offering an online tutorial for drawing one of its most beloved characters: Totoro.
Japan is scrambling to house an often overlooked group of homeless people who slept in Internet cafes now shut due to coronavirus lockdowns.
Across social media, sports stars denied the chance to play in front of a crowd are increasingly going "live" in sometimes surprising ways to connect with an audience.
I am on the icy floor of Alaska’s Kenai Fjords National Park in the United States, surrounded by imposing, rugged mountain sides.
Sports fans and players across the world frustrated by cancelled matches because of the coronavirus epidemic are turning to eSports, with professional real-world athletes joining virtual game tournaments of football, auto racing and basketball.
Nascar drivers are facing real-world consequences for their conduct during video-game races, a byproduct of a new sports-media landscape where athletes are competing on open microphones from home.
Roger Federer offered stuck-at-home amateurs the ultimate online fantasy camp of sorts, a chance to get tennis tips from a guy many consider the greatest of all time.
Adidas to offer free premium access to adidas Training and adidas Running apps for next three months
Adidas announced on March 25 that it will be offering three months of free premium access to two of its fitness apps in an effort to help those of us currently self-isolating keep fit at home.
The Drone Racing League (DRL) is taking off in more ways than one as the coronavirus pandemic brings most other sport to a standstill around the world.


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ONLY 20 per cent of hotels in Greece may be able to open ahead of the tourist season, over fears of facing lawsuits if guests catch coronavirus.
Less than a week after the country announced plans to reopen hotels on June 1, experts are now saying they are far from sure that will be the case.
“No insurance company is going to accept to insure us against the coronavirus,” said Manolis Tsakalakis, president of a leading group of hoteliers on Crete.
“In no way, this year, do I see more than 15 percent of hotels and 20 percent of resorts opening,” he told local media.
“Hotels have been created as places of recreation. They are not meant to operate as hospitals or prisons. We can’t police customers.”
Tsakalakis, who represents hotel owners in the popular coastal town of Rethymnon in Crete, said many hoteliers were fearful of being sued should tourists claim they had contracted the highly contagious virus on their premises.
A local hotelier had been dragged through the courts for three years, he said, recounting the story of a British tourist who had sought £20,000 in compensation after falling ill with gastroenteritis.
He added: “So you understand if someone comes and contracts the virus while on holiday – when we would not be able to prove otherwise – and if that person even happens to die, his next of kin could demand dizzying amounts from the courts that in some cases would be more than the value of the hotel itself.”
Greece so far has had fewer than 2,700 confirmed coronavirus infections and less than 150 Covid-19 deaths.
If it continues to flatten the curve it will open up to foreign tourists on July 1, senior government officials announced Thursday.
On Mykonos, the Cycladic island favoured by A-list celebs, luxurious villas that normally would be rented for €5,000 a night can now be found for as little as €50 a day, according to local media.
Greek tourism officials says they are also facing huge pressure from tour operators to slash prices by as much as 50 percent with many saying it would be untenable to re-open.
But Grigoris Tasios who presides over the Panhellenic Federation of Hoteliers says smaller hotels will be better placed to cope with the demands of the disease, from social distancing to specially assigned Covid-19 rooms.
“We have 9,950 hotels and half are small, with 50 rooms or less, which enables them more easily to respond to the new demands created by the virus,” he said.
A lot will hinge on how Greece fares as it gradually lifts lockdown regulations, which began on Monday and will accelerate next week.
He added: “Everything will depend on the next two months as Greece gradually opens up. If it goes as well as it has gone so far, then, yes, I’m hopeful we might just have a few good months."
Immunity certificates, including pre-flight blood Covid-19 tests, could be key to travel being allowed at all.
The Greek tourism minister Harry Theoharis has raised the idea of health passports, but it isn't clear how this would be implemented across different countries.
Health protocols are expected to be unveiled in the coming days.
Hotels in Greece could enforce designated sun loungers and dining tables per guest for 'quarantine holidays' to ensure social distancing guidelines are followed.
Guests will only be allowed to use the restaurant and swimming pool seating given to them by the hotel which will also prevent cross-contamination.
Santorini has already put up controversial glass screens around sun loungers ahead of the predicted return of British tourists.
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EMC's share price dipped today after it revealed that fiscal Q1 profits crashed by close to a third on the back of rising operational costs and falling sales of enterprise kit. The world's largest maker of storage equipment reported sales of $5.48bn for the three months ended 31 March, with products down 3.3 per cent to $3.08bn …
I was wondering if this would happen. EMC seemed to be the only storage provider that was not subject to the declines in storage pricing. Storage is going to be a difficult business for everyone.
It's merely a lull before the new IT paradigm bites the ass of naysayers
- Review This is why we CAN have nice things: Samsung Galaxy Alpha
- MEN: For pity's sake SLEEP with LOTS of WOMEN - and avoid Prostate Cancer
- Ex-Soviet engines fingered after Antares ROCKET launch BLAST
- Hate the BlackBerry Z10 and Passport? How about this dusty old flashback instead?
- Apple spent just ONE DOLLAR beefing up the latest iPad Air 2


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Wednesday, 25 March 2009
A revolution in games technology
Tired of having to buy powerful PCs or expensive games platforms to play the latest games? Wouldn't it be good to play on any device connected to the internet:PC, Mac or TV? Well at the Games Developer Conference today (as reported on the BBC website), a totally new approach which exploits the latest broadband connectivity (there goes much of Ireland! oops!) Onlive have just previewed their streaming games system which they have been 'secretly' developing in partnership with many of the main games companies and which they intend to launch later in the year. It will do all the processing at their servers with streaming high-definition video to your local platform of choice, paid for on the basis of a monthly subscription. For more info, view here.
Posted by Iain at 20:51


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Home Tags Niantic
In the final push to capture everyone's hearts before the release of Pokemon Let's Go X, the new 'Pokemon: Let's Go' Trailer features not only an enigmatic Mewtwo encounter but also numerous shots of many new details that are making Let's Go so much more than just an HD remake.
Niantic Inc., and The Pokémon Company International have announced that this Summer Pokémon Go players will be able to take part in both in-game and real-world activities to celebrate the game's first anniversary.
Let's be honest, I think we all saw this coming - Niantic and The Pokémon Company have announced that their incredibly popular augmented reality title Pokémon GO, that sees players exploring around in real life to find Pokémon, has passed 500 million downloads.
Up until today, evolving your Eevee on Pokémon Go was seen as a random event, you didn't get to choose exactly which evolution your Eevee would become, it was just a matter of chance. Now, there's a way for you to choose exactly what evolution you want.
As Niantic's Pokémon Go launches in Spain, Italy, and Portugal, the company is now allowing users to submit new locations for PokéStops and Pokémon Gyms. So if you're looking to have your house become a PokéStop so you can have the Pokémon come to you, then now's your chance.
It's happened folks, following the game's release in Germany yesterday, Niantic has now released Pokémon Go here in the UK.
The Pokémon Go rollout has begun once again and has made its way to Europe starting with Germany.
Ever since Pokémon Go started rolling out earlier this week, I've been frantically refreshing the App Store hoping that the game would appear and answer all of my Poké-hunting wishes. Unfortunately it looks like I may be waiting a little longer as the rollout has been paused while Niantic work on stabilising the servers.
Although the next big Pokémon game isn't set to launch until the end of the year, we're all currently pretty obsessed with a different type of Pokémon game, a game which is coming to mobile, and this may very well be our first look at it. Yes I'm talking about Pokémon GO.
Video games are fun, that's a given, but we sometimes can't play video games forever. So what if you took video games and threw them into the real world? That's Pokémon GO in a nutshell.


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FARMERS MARKET The Downtown Fond du Lac Partnership announces the first farmers market of 2020, sponsored by Agnesian healthcare a member of SSM Health. The market will take place on Main Street
There is still stuff to do! Click here!
The goal is to give small businesses some exposure. Thanks to Bristol Morgan Bank that opportunity starts here. Past Guests of our Small Business Saturday July 28: Waupun Art Fair July 21: Johnson


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Now that New Year celebrations are done and dusted, we’re ready to welcome even more exciting festivities such as the Lunar New Year and Valentine’s Day as we inch closer to the month of February. But before then, catch up on the latest fashion, beauty and entertainment headlines by checking out our roundup below — where we reveal Fendi’s first-ever Japanese ambassador, exciting details on one of the most highly anticipated Korean crime-action series this year starring actor Song Joong-ki, and more.
Fendi reveals first-ever Japanese brand ambassador
Italian luxury brand Fendi has officially appointed Japanese actress and model Ryoko Yonekura as their ambassador — a first for the brand since it entered Japan in 1965. Ryoko, according to Numero Japan, debuted as a fashion model in 1993 and went on to become an actress, where she starred in the Japanese remake of the musical Chicago in 2008. Another notable Fendi celebrity ambassador who’s also based in Asia is rapper and dancer Jackson Wang of Korean boy group GOT7.
Netflix’s 'Bridgerton' confirmed for second season
Ready for more Daphne-worthy dewy makeup, scandals and regency-inspired costumes? Netflix has confirmed that fan-favourite show Bridgerton will return for a second season and reports have revealed that production will commence in Spring of 2021. The streaming platform also shared that the next season’s focus will be on Daphne’s older brother Anthony Bridgerton (played by Jonathan Bailey), the eldest Bridgerton sibling and head of the family. The second season is predicted to arrive sometime in 2022.
Dior unveils limited-edition ‘Rouge Dior’ coffret
Red: the colour of passion, romance and, of course, the colour of Dior’s signature range of Rouge Dior lipsticks and more. Dior Makeup has unveiled its limited-edition Rouge Dior coffret, a red case which stylishly houses fives shades of Rouge Dior lipsticks to honour the upcoming Lunar New Year festivities. Priced at SGD280/~USD211, the five lipsticks included within the case are 999 Velvet, 772 Classic, 760 Favorite, 840 Rayonnate and 869 Sophisticated. The coffret is now available at Dior Beauty boutiques in Singapore. Will you be adding this to your list of luxe beauty buys?
tvN releases teaser shot of upcoming series starring Song Joong-Ki
South Korean entertainment network tvN released a teaser image of their upcoming crime-action series, Vincenzo on Instagram earlier today, which featured popular Korean actor Song Joong-ki (Descendents of The Sun, A Werewolf Boy). The series follows the story of a Korean-Italian lawyer named Vincenzo Cassano (played by Song Koong-ki) who is on the run from the mafia after working in the criminal society. The show also stars rapper Ok Taecyeon from South Korean boy group 2PM and actress Jeon Yeo-been.
In the same post, tvN also shared that the series will premiere on 20 February at 9PM KST. Fortunately for international fans, Vincenzo will arrive on Netflix in February as well. However, the platform has yet to announce its exact release date. Intrigued? Start plotting your own predictions for this highly anticipated drama by catching the trailer here.
Lush launches new 'Beauty Sleep mask in the Philippines
Sleep care is predicted to become the new self-care in 2021, which signifies that more of us will be paying more attention towards achieving quality, restful sleep. On this note, global beauty brand Lush has recently launched its latest Beauty Sleep face and body mask in the Philippines, a clay face mask that’s designed to strengthen your calming evening skincare routine.
Priced at PHP875/SGD35/MYR90 for 125G, the product is formulated with ingredients such as organic jojoba oil (moisturising) and soothing lavender oil. The product is already sold out in the Philippines and Singapore and is available at a discounted price for a limited time only in Malaysia. For those of you who are based in Indonesia, you can still enjoy Lush products too, as the brand has recently announced on Instagram that its Singapore site now ships directly to Indonesia as well.
UNIQLO’s latest outlet in Singapore to open on 5 February
The Japanese casual wear brand’s latest outlet in Singapore will be located at Tampines Mall, and it will span two levels with a bigger shop floor — making it twice the size of its original store. There, shoppers will be able to enjoy the brand’s range of LifeWear essentials, as well as shop the full lineup of their upcoming UNIQLO x Ines de la Fressange SS21 collection.
During its opening weekend from 5 to 7 February, the store will be giving away a limited-edition UNIQLO thermal mug to the first 600 shoppers who spend a minimum of SGD88 nett in a single receipt, as well as serve freshly brewed coffee and tea by Butler Koffee to the first 500 customers, with no minimum spend required.
The Ordinary debuts concealer product
Well-loved beauty brand The Ordinary has launched its first-ever concealer product, called The High Coverage Formula Concealer. Priced at USD6.70/~SGD9 each, this affordable beauty find comes in 36 shades which correspond to its existing Serum Foundation and Coverage Foundation range. An additional 15 shades are set to arrive later this year as well.
The brand shared that the product “offers very high coverage with a real skin finish,” and it’s packaged with a thin nozzle applicator for precise and easy application. Plus, it’s also alcohol-free, cruelty-free and vegan-friendly too. The brand has no physical stores here in Southeast Asia yet, however, they do ship worldwide, which means you go ahead and add their new concealers to cart now.
Now, let’s rewind to last week’s headlines.
Comments, questions or feedback? Email us at [email protected].


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Around 2 per cent of BSE-listed companies have declared their third quarter (October-December) results so far. These early numbers, however, are not suggestive of any trend that indicates otherwise.
On an aggregate basis, this basket of 106 companies posted a total income decline of 8.4 per cent in Q3FY16 compared to the corresponding quarter last fiscal. A significant revival seems more distant given the fact that a double-digit revenue growth was last witnessed some 13 quarters ago.
Some respite, however, was visible in bottom line numbers with operating and net profits registering a growth of around 21 per cent and 13.6 per cent year-on-year (y-o-y) respectively.
The situation is similar to the one post the 2008 financial crisis when Indian corporates registered a double-digit profit growth of 17.4 per cent despite a disappointing revenue growth of (-) 1.3 per cent in the March-09 quarter primarily led by a global commodity collapse. "That phase lasted for a shorter period, but this time the revival would take a little longer," says Rakesh Valecha, Senior Director & Head - Credit & Market Research, India Ratings & Research.
The subdued commodity prices trigged by a global slowdown coupled with China's structural slowdown have resulted in lower raw material costs. The overall operating expenses as a per cent of net sales dropped 3.3 percentage points in the past four quarters. However, India Inc. has only partly passed on the lower cost benefits to customers, which resulted in operating margins expansion of around three percentage points.
"Moving forward, margins are expected to take a hit as companies would be focussing more on volumes growth," says Jain.
Now, let's view the data differently. If we remove oil & gas major Reliance Industries (RIL) from our list, the revenue growth was far healthier at 12.3 per cent with operating profits and net profits growth of 14.4 per cent and 5.1 per cent, respectively.
The revenue of RIL decreased around 26.0 per cent in Q3FY16, on a standalone basis, primarily led by the 42.7 per cent y-o-y decline in benchmark oil prices during the period. The declining commodity prices have depressed the topline growth of commodity focussed sectors. "Commodity-led companies are expected to pull down the overall topline growth," says Jain of Karvy.
The other commodity-linked sector that is expected to drag down growth further would be metals. The sector is expected to bear the brunt of muted realisations. No major metal company has declared its result so far; however, the sector reported a weak performance with revenues declining 10.5 per cent and net profits down around 70 per cent in the last quarter (September-2015).
The information technology (IT) space, which contributes over 30 per cent of the total revenue of the aggregate basket of companies declaring their results so far, includes IT majors such as TCS, Infosys and Wipro. Over a dozen companies in this sector posted an aggregate revenue growth of around 11 per cent and net profit growth of around 3 per cent. Sequentially, however, things looked uglier with a meagre top line growth of 0.6 per cent and net profit decline of around 18 per cent, clearly depicting the seasonal weakness of the sector due to the holiday season accentuated by the Chennai floods.
Banks, which included private players such as Kotak Mahindra and IndusInd bank, had a share of around 8 per cent in the aggregate revenues of 106 companies. It registered a revenue growth of 23 per cent and net profit growth of 16 per cent in the December quarter compared to the corresponding quarter last year.
An otherwise stressed sector saw healthy growth mainly on account of Kotak Mahindra Bank, whose net profit grew by 11.5 per cent sequentially, deriving merger benefits in terms of revenue synergies. The space is battling against a large pile of stressed assets. According to
Tarun Sisodia, Head, Anand Rathi Institutional Research, "The banking sector is taking a hit and the trend is expected to continue. Pessimism is getting build around the sector."
Aggregate revenue of three media companies grew by 22.7 per cent and operating and net profits grew around 26 per cent and 20 per cent respectively. Media companies such as Zee Entertainment Enterprises and TV18 Broadcast registered a growth of 27 per cent and 31 per cent in their operating profits in the quarter gone by.
Two leading FMCG companies such as Hindustan Unilever (HUL) and Bajaj Corp have declared their results so far with lot more waiting in the pipeline. HUL registered a net sales growth of 3 per cent and net profit fell by 22 per cent. Bajaj Corp reported 18.7 per cent year-on-year growth in standalone profits and revenue increased 3.5 per cent in Q3FY16. The sector is battling a weak demand scenario triggered by a sluggish rate of recovery in urban consumption.
The growth in nominal gross domestic product (GDP) which touched a decade low of 7.4 per cent in 1HFY16 is somewhat reflected in the topline growth of the corporates. "While we expect the EBITDA growth to be slightly ahead of nominal GDP growth in FY17, a sustained improvement to post global financial crisis period growth levels is likely to take time," says Valecha from India Ratings.
Weaker investments, especially from the private sector, played a key role in falling profits during the previous financial year and the year till date. "Gross fixed capital formation growth has been 5 per cent-7.5 per cent over FY13-FY15 after growing in double digits over FY04-FY12, reflecting the sizeable unutilised capacity and leveraged balance sheets of corporates in India," adds Valecha
The recovery is definitely not round the corner, but how subdued the performance would be, remains to be seen ones all the results are out.


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Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth3 V Generation Gets a Nude Mod
A talented modder from modding enthusiast forum Lovers Lab has created a new nude mod for Hyperdimension Neptunia Re V Generation, including plenty of options to strip down favorite characters from the game.
LewdGamer's Favorite Summer Wonder Festival 2018 Figurines
One of the biggest Japanese garage kit showcase events, the summer Wonder Festival 2018 has come to an end and LewdGamer has selected their favorite figurines a
Neptune Will Join the Cast of Senran Kagura: Peach Beach Splash in the West
Following the announcement of Neptune joining Senran Kagura: Peach Beach Splash in Japan, the promotion is extended onto the western releases.
Cyberdimension Neptunia: 4 Goddesses Online Released on Steam
Cyberdimension Neptunia: 4 Goddesses Online, Compile Heart's latest offering in the realm of online RPGs, has now officially hit Steam.
Senran Kagura: Peach Beach Splash Adds Neptune From Hyperdimension Neptunia
Starting March 8th, Neptune, protagonist of Idea Factory's Hyperdimension Neptunia series, will be coming to Senran Kagura: Peach Beach Splash as a paid DLC character.
Megadimension Neptunia VIIR Confirmed for Western Release
Publisher Idea Factory International has announced that Megadimension Neptunia VIIIR will be released in North America and Europe in spring 2018.
LewdGamer's Favorite Summer Wonder Festival 2017 Figurines
LewdGamer picks their favorite Wonder Festival 2017 Summer figures highlighting some of the sexier entries during the presentation.
Interview with 3D Hentai Movie Creator Mantis-X
LewdGamer interview with 3D hentai movie creator Mantis-X. The animator details his workflow and his passion for lolicon.
Superdimension Neptune VS Sega Hard Girls Coming to Our Shores
Idea Factory has just announced that their collaboration with Sega, Superdimension Neptune VS Sega Hard Girls is now coming to the West.


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Computex 2012 wasn't all about Windows 8. At the event, ViewSonic unveiled a 22-inch Android ICS-based Smart Display called 'ViewSonic VCD22'.
While Asus and Acer got the maximum media attention for launching Windows 8-based devices at Computex event in Taipei, ViewSonic unveiled a 22-inch Android-based Smart Display called 'ViewSonic VCD22'.
The ViewSonic VCD22 has a 22-inch touch display with 1,920x1,080 pixels resolution and features a 1GHz dual-core TI OMAP processor and 1GB RAM. The device runs on Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich operating system. However, ViewSonic has customised ICS and added more educational apps in the device – suggesting that it may be aimed at students.
Other specifications include Ethernet, 3.5mm audio jack, HDMI, SD card slots, Wi-Fi 802.11n, Bluetooth 2.1, and a 1.2-MP front-facing camera. The device has been priced at $479, which is roughly Rs. 26,600.
Also at Computex, Acer unveiled its own Windows 8-based touchscreen desktop computers, and tablets. Asus also announced two tablets, the first Asus hybrid devices to sport Windows 8 operating system. Check out our previous coverage on Computex 2012 here.


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MANCHESTER based Grizzly Bear Design has re-branded with a new website and logo to focus on its new growth and direction.
The boutique digital and design agency provides design and branding for a range of businesses.
Headed up by Adam Costello and Alex Jones, it has also extended its services to include SEO, PPC, photography, copywriting and SEO copywriting.
Costello said: “Our new branding reflects our creativity and uniqueness as an agency. It’s fun but can appeal to corporate businesses as well as creative ones.
With a studio in Hope Mill in Ancoats, the business is now focusing on growth over the next 12 months. The agency launched three years ago and recent clients include Verve Personnel, Nick Tucker Photography, Niche Operable Systems and Chrysalis Recruitment.
PR Agency One has been appointed by fundraising technology firm, Bidtech, to spearhead a new PR and digital awareness campaign.
The Manchester agency will focus on delivering a comprehensive campaign to raise awareness of the Bidtech brand and its new products and services, as the company expands both in the UK and overseas market.
Bidtech uses a venue’s own wifi or a public 3G/4G network to make the auction available through an guest’s own device, allowing people to bid and donate through their own smartphones and devices, opening up the auction to everyone.
A pre-event site can also be created to allow bidding to commence before an event. Based in Altrincham, Bidtech has grown
significantly in the past year, with new offices opening in New York, Dusseldorf, Copenhagen, Paris and Amsterdam.
Over the coming months, PR Agency One will be raising Bidtech’s profile further to help support its expansion.
CODE Computerlove has been working with a UK charity to produced video featuring adult-sized chipmunks to raise awareness of health and safety issues.
The Electrical Safety Council, a UK charity committed to keeping people safe from electrical dangers in the home, has created a tongue-in-cheek video that features a family of lovable chipmunks who fall victim to dodgy, knock-off electrical equipment.
Hosted on YouTube, the video will be promoted through social media channels, supported by a modest Facebook advertising campaign, and audiences will be encouraged to share it virally.
The Electrical Safety Council worked with digital agency Code Computerlove to produce the film and it has also appointed Code to design and build a new website for launch early 2014.
THE Manchester office of leading UK and global PR agency, Weber Shandwick, is bolstering its consumer and corporate expertise in response to significant growth and client wins.
Three new faces have been recruited in the last two months. Account executive, Gemma Clulow, 23 joins from The Scott Partnership and brings two years of experience in the technology, life science and pharmaceutical sectors.
Anna Golding, 26 has moved from Mischief PR in London to join the team as an account manager. She has worked with national consumer brands and household names for the past four years, and has vast events experience under her belt.
Lizzie Agar, 19, is studying for a degree in communications and public relations and has joined as a PR assistant in her placement year.


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EMV Chip Card Preview
You may have heard the buzz about a new credit and debt card technology known as EMV (Europay, Mastercard and Visa) or “chip cards.” But what exactly is chip technology, and how does it work?
FNBC’s Vice President of Operations Wallene Frazier and Deposit Operations Leader Clint McBryde will provide the basics of the EMV card system on today’s blog.
What is EMV?
EMV or chip technology is becoming the new norm of fraud protection for debt and credit card users. Europe has been using the technology for several years, and the U.S. is now converting to the change. EMV is a safer way of paying via debt or credit because it uses a microchip to validate a user’s card. This chip is unique to each user and contains his or her account information. The small chip even holds its own self-powered battery and a clock.
What’s the difference between a chip card and my current card?
The EMV card looks almost identical to the traditional magnetic strip cards. There is a small chip overlay on the front of the card to protect the chip inside the card. The actual chip is not under the overlay; it is embedded in the card itself.
Financial information on the chip card is more secure than the traditional magnetic-strip card because the data is nearly impossible to copy, whereas the information in the magnetic strip on the back of the traditional card can be easily scanned and reproduced with a machine, allowing criminals to access account and personal information.
How do EMV cards work?
To use an EMV card, the process differs slightly from swiping a traditional card. Businesses are currently in the process of converting to EMV card terminals. Rather than swiping your card, you must insert the card in a card slot on the terminal and leave it until the transaction is complete. Usually, the terminal will ask customers for a signature or pin.
Can I pay without an EMV card if I don’t have one yet?
EMV cards will still have a magnetic strip and terminals will also have the traditional swiping method available to use during the national conversion process.
FNBC is excited to make this new technology available to customers very soon. Be looking for an update on our progress in the near future!


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The Arizona Restaurant Association (ARA) has announced the return of its bi-annual feast for the senses, Arizona Restaurant Week (ARW). This event will run from Friday, Sept. 8 through Sunday, Sept. 17, serving up 10 days of tantalizing tastes from across the state.
During the 2023 Fall ARW, diners are invited to embark on a culinary journey, exploring the diverse food and beverage options Arizona has to offer, all at an enticing fraction of the usual cost. The event spotlights a vast array of eateries, ranging from independently owned, chef-driven establishments to five-star dining experiences, offering a cornucopia of cuisine to please every palate.
“ARW has been delighting our dining community for over 15 years. Each iteration brings more excitement, with new and returning restaurants offering an extensive range of options,” says ARA President and CEO Steve Chucri.
Participating restaurants will present special menus featuring seasonally fresh and occasionally limited-availability ingredients. Often, these menus include dishes not usually offered, giving diners a unique opportunity to sample chefs’ culinary creativity. Guests can anticipate three-course prix-fixe menu priced at $33, $44, or $55 per person (sometimes per couple), with wine or cocktail pairings available at an additional cost for an enhanced ARW experience.
While fall ARW typically sees participation from over 150 state-wide restaurants, more than 80 have already signed up for the 2023 event. The list includes acclaimed eateries such as Alter Ego Kitchen and Cocktails, Indian Delhi Palace, MATCH Market & Bar, and Timo Wine Bar, among others.
Detailed information about participating restaurants and their exclusive menus will be available August 21 at arizonarestaurantweek.com.


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Xiaomi to Launch Xiaomi Mi 6 on April 16: Expected Price, Specs And More
Recent reports reveal that Xiaomi Mi 6 is set to enter the market next month on April 16.
Xiaomi Mi 5. Representative Image. (Image: Siddharth Safaya/News18.com)
Xiaomi is soon to launch its much-anticipated flagship smartphone for 2017, Xiaomi Mi 6. The MWC event did not see any information about its release from Xiaomi. Now recent reports reveal that the phone is set to enter the market next month on April 16.
As per the same report, the phone is set to come with a 5.2-inch LCD display along with a 2.5D curved glass.
Just like Sony Xperia XZ Premium, Xiaomi Mi 6 will also sport a 19-megapixel rear camera with the capability to record slow motion videos at 720p.
As an addition to the regular release, Xiaomi is expected to launch a ceramic body for the variant too, like it did for Mi 2.
The smartphone is expected to be powered by an underclocked Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor along with a 4,000 mAh battery.
Also, it may run on Android Nougat with Xiaomi’s in-house user Interface - MiUI.
Xiaomi Mi 6 will be available in 3 different variants – a 4GB RAM and 32GB internal memory variant, a mid-range variant with 4GB RAM and 64GB internal memory. The top-end variant will come with a 6GB RAM and 128GN internal storage, housed in a ceramic body.
The smartphone is expected to be launched in between a price range of Rs 20,000 to 25,000.
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After more than a year of intense discussion and planning, a new 24/7 channel devoted to original 3-D content, 3net, launched Feb. 13 on DIRECTV and is now available to millions of its subscribers nationwide. Content shown on 3net is shot natively with 3-D cameras and special rigs. The hope is that the availability of the new channel, jointly owned and operated by Discovery Communications, IMAX and Sony Electronics, will stimulate the consumer market for 3-D TV sets.
Derek Chang, executive vice president of content strategy and development at DIRECTV, said the availability of 3-D programming is vital to the success and increased adoption of the technology among consumers. DIRECTV also offers two other 3-D channels: n3D, for converted movies (sponsored by Panasonic (opens in new tab)), and ESPN 3D, which started running sports videos 24/7 Feb. 14. Cable TV providers Cablevision, Comcast and Time Warner, as well as Verizon’s FiOS service, also offer 3-D content, but it’s basically movies converted from 2-D material.
The lack of compelling, fresh content has been cited as one reason consumers have been hesitant to buy 3-D-compatible HD sets. Roughly 1 million such sets have been sold to date in the United States, significantly missing early industry predictions of 3 million to 5 million sold in 2010.
The 3net channel went live at 8 p.m. EST on DIRECTV Channel 107 with the one-hour, native 3-D programs “China Revealed,” “Forgotten Planet” and “Into The Deep 3D.” Going forward, the network said it would offer original 3-D series and new programs every night at 9 p.m. EST. The partnership said the goal for the new channel is to have the largest library of native 3-D entertainment content in the world by the end of 2011.
Industry veteran Tom Cosgrove has been named 3net’s president and CEO.
“It is clear that 3-D is here to stay and is only going to get better,” he said. “We’ve had a ton of interest.”
Rob Wiesenthal, executive vice president and CFO of Sony Corporation of America, said the new 3net channel is “an important element in our strategy to maintain a leadership position in all things 3-D.”
To view DIRECTV’s several channels of 3-D movies and documentaries converted from 2-D, subscribers received a free software upgrade that gives them access. Viewers still need a 3-D TV and active-shutter 3-D glasses to view the programming.
Sony has previously announced plans to develop a compact, single-lens 3-D camcorder for Discovery’s production teams, with talk of a prototype being shown at the 2011 NAB Show.
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CSB informed about digital solutions for optimized food production.
Vitafoods launches Digital Week for online innovation experience
Trade shows FFFHI and FFP postponed
Finnish start-up bakes bread packed with protein “made out of thin air”
Hochdorf Group with challenging year of transformation
Bühler’s new Consumer Foods segment “outperformed expectations”


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(Toronto Stock Exchange: RIM-CA) reported quarterly results that beat analysts' expectations, but the struggling company still reported a net loss on Thursday.
After the earnings announcement, the company's shares ticked higher in extended-hours trading. (Toronto Stock Exchange: RIM-CA)
The company posted a third-quarter loss excluding items of 22 cents per share, sharply lower than the $1.27 a share in earnings it reported a year ago.
Revenue plunged 48 percent to $2.7 billion from $5.22 billion in the year-earlier period.
However, the results beat expectations: Analysts had expected the company to report a quarterly loss excluding items of 35 cents a share on $2.66 billion in revenue, according to a consensus estimate from Thomson Reuters.
RIM has struggled to maintain its market share amid increased competition from smartphones that run on Google's Android software and Apple's iPhone. The decline in RIM's existing business and cash in recent years makes the release of the new BlackBerry 10 platform that is planned for early next year critical to the company's survival.
- AP contributed to this report
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Officials from Opel parent General Motors in Detroit and German government officials are said to back Fiat’s plans for a quick and streamlined takeover of Opel. However, high-ranking Opel officials are rumoured to favour a partnership with Magna.
Franz has vowed to block any move by Fiat to go ahead with a takeover of Opel, saying that it would lead to “dramatic job losses and factory shutdowns in Germany” owing to overlaps in the two brands' respective product line-ups. Fiat is parent company to a range of different makers, including Alfa Romeo, Lancia, Maserati and Ferrari.
Franz also suggests Fiat is deep in debt and would only be a further financial drain for Opel, which recently appealed to German chancellor, Angela Merkel, for a government-backed financial rescue package.
“We know the bride,” said Franz in an interview with the Deutsche Press Agency, in relation to Fiat’s earlier failed partnership with Opel, which broke down in 2005 and led to General Motors making a 1.55 billion Euro (£1.4 billion) payout following a decision not to purchase the Italian car making giant.
Fiat and Opel established a joint venture in 2000 that led to a co-operation on small car platforms and engines – including those used in the Punto and Corsa models. At the time General Motors secured a 10 per cent stake in Fiat. However, this was dissolved following a breakdown in relationship between the two firms.
The chairman of Opel’s works council has gone on record saying that Fiat has failed to layout any strategic partnership plans and is using the proposed takeover as a means of securing financial guarantees from the banking sector. “Fiat has a 14.2 billion Euro (£12.7 billion) debt and liquidity problems,” said Franz.
The suggestion around the German automobile industry is that Fiat may be using the non-transparent bid for Opel to convince banks to lend it money, which would then be channelled into a purchase of Chrysler. Fiat, however, denies this. The American governement has given Chrysler until 1 May to secure a deal with Fiat or face the possibility of bankrupcy.
The purchase of Opel has been made increasingly attractive this week following a decision by General Motors to hand back patents and intellectual properties agreements that it had secured from its European subsidiary in return for an injection of capital back in 2005.


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France Revisits Its War On Cash
Cash is no longer king. At least that seems to be France’s position. While cash isn’t being exiled from the French economy altogether, the country is looking to reduce the maximum amount of an allowable cash transaction from 3,000 to 1,000 euros.
This isn’t the first time the French have had this particular bad idea. They tried to pass similar legislation in 2013 but failed.
Back in 2013, the premise for the proposal was fraud reduction. Today they’re returning to the idea in the name of the Charlie Hebdo attacks in Paris earlier this year, saying that the tighter controls on cash flow are necessary to support the ongoing war against terrorists. If the law is passed this time, the reductions will take effect Sept. 1, 2015.
Of course, terrorists and tax evaders aren’t the only ones who use cash. On the other hand, the French aren’t big on cash in general. They prefer checks. I bought an antique sword at a flea market in Champagne a couple of years ago. The owner of the stall didn’t take credit cards but was happy to take a French check from me. In fact, he seemed happier for me to write him a check than to go to an ATM to withdraw cash for him.
The cash restriction is on traders—that is, businesses accepting cash payments. By law, traders must accept cash up to the maximum allowable amount. As I mentioned, currently, the maximum allowable amount for a cash transaction is 3,000 euros… for French residents. The amount is different for nonresidents. In the case of a nonresident, the French government is trying to reduce the limit from the current 15,000 to 10,000 euros.
Note that cash transactions between two consumers are unrestricted. I guess terrorists only buy things from stores.
And wouldn’t a resident terrorist be smart enough to bring in a nonresident terrorist buddy to buy things for him with cash?
Another interesting aspect of the cash restrictions in France is that you can’t pay more than 300 euros in cash to any government entity for taxes, fees, or even hospital services. Now we got you, monsieur le terroriste. If you get shot, you’ll have to use a check or a credit card to pay your hospital bill.
In fact, what’s going on is that the French bureaucrats see an opportunity to leverage surging national anti-terrorist sentiment to pass a law actually aimed at French tax cheats.
While France has made news with its proposed restrictions on cash in the marketplace over the past couple of weeks, the truth is that cash transactions are already limited and/or tracked in many countries. Spain imposes limits of 2,500 euros for residents and 15,000 euros for nonresidents. Get caught as a resident paying 2,501 euros in cash for something in Spain, and the fine is 25% of the transaction amount.
Portugal and Italy already impose 1,000-euro limits on cash transactions, and, in Italy, you’re not supposed to pay your rent in cash… not even in the case of a holiday rental.
Then you have cross-border control of cash. Taking cash or equivalents in or out of the EU comes with a 10,000-euro threshold for reporting; in the United States the threshold is US$10,000. It’s not illegal to carry any amount of cash across a border. You simply have to report it… and then answer the customs agent’s questions as to its origins.
Many in the offshore world have been ranting against the current proposed restrictions on the use of cash in France. I don’t disagree that any restrictions on our personal habits are unwelcome. At the same time, I must say that a 1,000-euro cash limit when shopping in France isn’t a burden for me and not something to get worked up about… unless you are trying to avoid taxes on your income or are actually a terrorist. Sure, if you’re shopping at one of Paris’ sex shops, you’ll want to use cash. However, if you’re spending more than 1,000 euros, you’re likely getting ripped off and paying too much for whatever you’re buying anyway.
Jokes aside, I do see the bigger-picture concern. Will governments eventually eliminate cash as a means of trade, making it possible for Big Brother to track our every purchase? That’s a big, bad idea. The older I get, though, the less inclined I am to rant against bad ideas I can’t control and focus my time and energies on putting personal infrastructure in place to allow me to make the most of what I can control.
“Lief, isn’t Ecuador a lot easier place to get residency status than the Dominican Republic, as it only requires US$25,000 investment or CD?”
If you restated your question to reference “cheaper” rather than “easier,” then you would be correct. However, no, I would not say Ecuador is an “easier” choice than the Dominican Republic. Ecuador imposes restrictions to do with how much time you can be out of the country during your first year of residency. Additionally, it takes longer to qualify for citizenship in Ecuador than in the DR.


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Plans to build one of the tallest residential towers in the capital will press ahead despite Brexit.
Abigail Tan, head of the St Giles Hotels Group, says the £800 million to £1 billion mixed use development in Blackfriars remains viable, despite rising costs linked to the collapse in the value of the pound.
"Our plans haven't been altered by Brexit, yet," she said. "Blackfriars is still viable and we're pushing ahead with it, although we're cautious of costs rising.
"We're still investing heavily in the UK and still have faith in the UK economy as a hub for business and finance."
St Giles, whose parent company is listed Malaysian firm IGB Corporation - headed by Ms Tan's father Robert Tan - is waiting for Southwark Council to approve planning applications.
The Blackfriars development would include a hotel and what would become one of the tallest residential towers in London, as well as commercial and retail space.
If Southwark approves the plans, the development could be up and running as soon as 2020.


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(Pocket-lint) - A new Now TV box has been announced that will sit alongside the existing model.
It will be coming later this year and although Sky has been light on details, the fact the box looks similar to the 4K Roku 4 recently launched in the States, rumours point to UHD compatibility for the new Now TV box too.
All Sky is saying at the moment is that it is more advanced than the existing model and that it is, indeed, made by Roku, like the previous devices. Sky owns a stake in the media streaming hardware manufacturer.
Existing Now TV box owners will also soon get a refreshed user interface.
From February, a new UI will roll out that will add a "number of great new features". These include editorial recommendations of content to watch across TV apps and pay TV services from Now TV.
There will also be a new Best of Catch Up section, also curated.
"The launch of our new homepage on the Now TV Box will make it easier than ever for our customers to quickly find and watch their favourite shows," said Gidon Katz, director of Now TV.
"And when the new Now TV Smart Box arrives later this year, it will be the perfect one-stop box to get a contract-free, flexible way of watching the best of pay TV and free-to-air content all in one place."
Pricing and exact release details for the new box are yet to be revealed.


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NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Hackers have broken into the credit and debit card payment networks at two of the nation's most popular supermarket store chains: Albertson's and SuperValu.
The chains announced the data breach Friday morning. The massive hack impacts their umbrella of stores, as well.
That includes Albertson's Acme, Jewel-Osco, Shaw's and Star Market supermarkets, as well as SuperValu's Cub Foods, Hornbacher's, Farm Fresh, Shop 'N Save and Shoppers Food & Pharmacy.
The extent of the damage isn't yet clear, and the grocery chains haven't yet said how many customers might be affected. SuperValu said it knows hackers broke into the computer network that processes card payments, but it's unsure whether they managed to take the data.
If they did, hackers made off with the typical information stored on a credit card's magnetic stripe: your name, card number, expiration date and the three-digit security code.
SuperValu said the virtual break-in affected credit cards swiped at 228 stores between June 22 and July 17. Albertson's did not say how many of its 1,060 locations were affected by the hack. But it believes more than 700 were affected.
That includes every Acme, Jewel-Osco, Shaw's and Star Market -- plus all Albertson's stores in Southern California, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming and Southern Utah.
SuperValu and Albertson's share the same technology system that was attacked. It's unclear which store or stores was hit first.
SuperValu said the security hole has been plugged and customers can now safely use card swiping terminals at its stores.
This event will only add to this sobering statistic: Half of American adults have been hacked this past year.
™ & © 2014 Cable News Network, Inc., a Time Warner Company. All rights reserved.
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UPDATE: Facebook service looks to be coming back. The website and app are loading normally as of 1:24 p.m. est.
Having issues posting to Facebook? Well according to downrightnow.com, Facebook is facing a "Likely Service Disruption."
Downrightnow.com calculates websites statuses by checking reports from users on Twitter, actual official site announcements and reports made to downrightnow.com.
Right now, when you visit Facebook.com, you are taken to a "Something went wrong" error page. Also, when you use the Facebook app, you are greeted with an "Unable to load page" error. No word on how long this disruption will last, so keep checking back.
In the past, when Facebook has faced outages, usually they are short-lived. We will continue to update this story throughout the day and hope that Facebook will be back up and running soon.
Don't forget we're also on:


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Honda Motor Company this morning in Tokyo confirmed plans to begin sales of a CR-Z hybrid model in February 2010, with a hybrid version of the Fit following before the end of the year.
“We want to focus on how quickly we can widen our hybrid lineup,” said Honda President and Chief Executive Officer Takanobu Ito at a his first press conference since his appointment last month.
The CR-Z hybrid, first shown at the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show, will also be exported to the U.S. and Europe after the Japanese introduction. For fans of the late, lamented two-seat CR-X sporty car, the latest hybrid announcement means that it is likely a gasoline-powered version of the CR-Z is also imminent. Fit’s future outside of Japan is murkier.
The latest production plans are in keeping with an industry trend that has makers moving toward the electrification of the automobile, prompted by increasingly stringent emission or CO2 regulations, and government incentives. It is not clear at this time that buyers will follow in sufficient numbers, though, if the incentives are dropped.
However, Honda’s latest production hybrid, the Insight, is now selling well enough that the company is changing the capacity at its Suzuka Japan, factory where it is made.
Two assembly lines are now making the car instead of one.


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Dr. Gideon Boako, spokesperson for Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has disclosed government would soon embark on a nationwide clampdown on illegal importers as part of measures to maximize revenue generation.
He said some importers smuggled through unapproved entry points from neighbouring West African countries a move he said is denying the state huge sums of money needed for development.
Speaking on “Mpu ne Mpu” with Nana Yaa Konama on UTV, he cautioned the importers involved in the criminal acts including truck drivers and their agents to desist from the criminal activity to avoid prosecution.
Vice President Dr. Bawumia and Chairman of the Economic Management Team (EMT) in a town hall meeting on Wednesday, said, benchmark value of import duties have been slashed by 50 per cent while importers of vehicles will enjoy a 30 per cent.
According to Dr Boako, the recent reduction in import levies should encourage illegal importers to channel their products through the right avenues to ensure effective revenue mobilization for national progress.
The government’s decision to reduced taxes while putting in place measures to mobilize more revenue domestically shows how government is keen on responding to financial challenges and therefore any attempt to thwart government’s efforts will face tough resistance “he added “.
Dr. Boako, explained that the reduction in the benchmark import values at Ghana’s ports by 50%, and 30% is significant, and will yield long term returns therefore importers should ensure that it also reflects in the lives of the ordinary Ghanaian.
He explained that the Vice President and the Economic Management Team, upon thorough investigation into the concerns raised by importers and Ghanaians regarding high import duties, have come up with an opportunity to help Ghanaian importers by reducing import levies drastically and this alludes to fact that, the Akufo-Addo administration is a listening government that always have the interest of Ghanaians at heart.
Source: Daily Mail GH


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A federal jury on Thursday gave Apple $290 million out of the $370 million in damages the company had requested in its battle with Samsung Electronics over violations related to iPhone patents. That prize is in addition to the $640 million that Judge Lucy Koh awarded after reducing the jury's original $1.05 billion verdict. Samsung, which plans to appeal, had asked that Apple be given $52 million. An appeals court ordered a new trial focusing on the damages after ruling Judge Koh had erred in calculating the lower award.
Published in Brief:


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- 31 Aug: PTR Reaches Major Milestone
Hilton Head Island, SC — Professional Tennis Registry is thrilled to announce it’s celebrating a major milestone today, welcoming its 10,000th member in the United States! This brings PTR’s global reach to more than 16,000 members worldwide.
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New from S.R.Smith, the Velocity and Legacy Starting Block series are now available with a dual post as well as single post frame. “Our goal in expanding our line of elite starting blocks is to ensure we have an option for every aquatic facility,” said Dan Jorgensen, S.R.Smith V.P. of Sales. The new dual post models are made from...
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Source: Virgin Sport San Francisco
Virgin Sport San Francisco will kick off first US-based Festival of Fitness, featuring the SF Bay Half Marathon, Twin Peaks Mile, and Go Fit Yourself Fitness Hub, October 14-15 in San Francisco.
SAN FRANCISCO (August 24, 2017) – Today, Virgin Group Founder Sir Richard Branson and Virgin Sport Global CEO Mary Wit...


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Start the conversation
The Apple stock price is soaring today (Wednesday), up 8% to $104.35 in morning trading after an earnings beat. That puts the AAPL stock price on track for its best day in more than two years.
Apple Stock Price Today Soars on Earnings Beat
The iPhone maker reported earnings per share (EPS) of $1.42 on revenue of $42.4 billion. That beat EPS expectations of $1.38 and revenue of $42.09 billion.
While those were both beats, they were down sharply from last year's figures of $1.85 per share on $49.61 billion in revenue.
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Still, Apple turned in an impressive quarter in what is traditionally a week one. Apple was expected to report its second consecutive quarter of year-over-year (YOY) revenue declines. Last quarter, Apple saw its first YOY quarterly sales drop since 2003.
Soft iPhone sales caused the drop last quarter. It also broke an eight-year run of growing iPhone sales. But that was not the case this quarter.
Apple shipped 40.4 million iPhones in its fiscal Q3, above the 40.02 million analysts expected.
Boosting sales was the launch of the iPhone SE launch in March. The phone has a price tag of $399 for the 16GB model, which is much lower than a traditional iPhone debut. Analysts were worried that the iPhone SE was more basic than other new iPhones and that it might chip away at higher-end model sales.
CEO Tim Cook said the phone was well received in emerging and developed markets. He noted the iPhone SE is attractive to customers who love a four-inch phone.
People are also changing carriers frequently. According to Cook, the percentage of phone sales to people switching carriers was its highest in company history.
Apple reportedly sold its one-billionth iPhone this week.
Analysts surveyed by FactSet think Apple sold 40 million iPhones this quarter. That drives total sales to roughly 988 million by the end of June. They estimated Apple sold 43 million iPhones during the current quarter, or roughly 500,000 per day. By their estimates, Apple crossed the 1 billion iPhone milestone on Monday. Apple introduced the iconic smartphone on June 29, 2007.
And iPhone sales are not the only reason the Apple stock price today is soaring…
The iPad posted its first revenue growth in 10 quarters. More than half of iPad Pro sales were made by businesses. IPad shipments totaled 10 million in the quarter versus the 9.14 million expected.
Mac shipments totaled 4.3 million, close to the 4.39 million estimated.
Another bright spot was Apple's services division. Revenue in the space generated $23 billion over the last 12 months. Cook told The Wall Street Journal he expects the services business next year will generate enough revenue that it would be a Fortune 100 company if it was an independent company.
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Looking ahead, Apple is projecting it will earn $45.5 billion to $44.75 billion in revenue next quarter. StreetAccount consensus estimates had projected $45.94 billion.
Now, a number of analysts have revised their Apple stock price predictions. Here's what to expect from the Apple stock price in 2016…
What's Next for the Apple Stock Price in 2016
- Raymond James upgraded Apple to "Outperform" from "Market Perform." The firm said the Apple stock price weakness earlier this year was caused by slowing iPhone sales, but this report put some of those concerns to rest.
- Maxim group raised its Apple stock price target to $173 from $168. The firm said Apple's September guidance was slightly ahead of consensus and they think Apple is at the beginning of a multiyear investment cycle.
- Cowen & Co. says anything below $100 a share is a buy trigger level. But the firm wants to own a full position by mid to late fall. They are very bullish on 2017 and the impact from a new Apple iPhone7.
- Needham & Co. said Apple's fundamentals momentum should improve further in the fourth quarter.
- Stifel said focus now shifts to iPhone7 potential. The firm has a $120 Apple stock price target.
At $104.14, the Apple stock price is up 13% over the last month. Year-to-date, the Apple stock price remains down 1%.
- MarketWatch: Apple's Earnings: Analysts Upbeat as Toughest Two Quarters Are Now Behind It
- CNBC: Apple's Earnings Beat Has Some Analysts Worried It Was Too Impressive
- Business Insider: Apple Crushed Expectations Across the Board, and the Stock Is Way Up


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Supermarkets in the US have been criticised for their refrigerant leakage policies, following an undercover investigation by campaign group the Environmental Investigation Agency.
For its Leaking Havoc report, the EIA took leak detection sniffers into a range of stores in shopping trollies and found that many of these stores had measurable leaks. Leaks were detected at 60 per cent of Walmart stores and 55 per cent of the shops of nine other retailers visited.
The leaks detected during the testing ranged from 2 ppm to 182 ppm and as the US is still using R22, alongside a high proportion of HFCs, the EIA has warned that such leakage has huge implications for greenhouse gas emissions.
Of the leaks detected, under 5 per cent were above 100 ppm, the level at which many alarms are set, and 67 per cent were under 10 ppm.
This, the EIA said, highlights a pressing need for policies that tackle low-level persistent leaks.
The EIA has now called for government action to mandate leak detection and remedial action to repair leaks along the lines of the F-Gas requirements enshrined in UK and EU law.
The news that a country the size of the US does not have any national legislative controls over leakage may be surprising to those used to the F-Gas regime. However, the controls on leakage - primarily in larger systems - that were enacted under the US Clean Air Act were rolled back last year by the Trump Administration, so that they only apply to Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) namely R22, not HFCs.
The group called for immediate restoration of the CAA provisions and further expansion of the controls regime.
The EIA said: “More robust controls on leaks should require regular preventative detection in all stores, capable of alarming and triggering inspection and repair of all detectable amounts of HFCs or ODS, even at low ppm concentrations. All repairs should be conducted within a strict timeframe, with robust recordkeeping and associated enforcement and penalties for violations.”
The Agency makes three specific calls for action to policymakers:
The report also argued the that the consequences of leaks for retailers were financial as well as environmental.
It said: “Refrigerant leaks are a known industry-wide problem that weaken system performance and wreak havoc on our climate. It costs supermarkets money to replace leaked refrigerant and to operate faulty systems that have higher energy demands. Leaking systems are inefficient systems.”


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It has been easy to speculate as to just what Apple plans to do with Apple TV. Today, it’s a simple set top box that delivers iTunes contact, AirPlay mirrored content, and a handful of third-party providers, such as Netflix and, very recently, Hulu Plus. But, with sales at roughly 1.3 million units in the last quarter, it remains a product that Apple regards as a hobby. That’s true, even though other companies aren’t really doing even that well with such gear.
Renewed speculation about the future of Apple TV arose as a result of a statement that Steve Jobs reportedly made to the author of his authorized biography, as quoted in the book, that he had cracked the secret of delivering the best TV interface ever. Did Apple have a TV set in the hopper, ready to introduce at the “right” time?
Certainly the TV space isn’t as open as other markets Apple has penetrated. Digital music players had gone nowhere when the iPod arrived. Smartphones were very much business tools, often the playthings of executives until Apple’s iPhone made them user-friendly for almost anybody. The industry took notice, and certain patent lawsuits may determine if other companies took too much notice.
With the iPad, Apple had the advantage of entering a market that had been underutilized. For a decade, PC makers had tried to build a tablet, but such gear only succeeded in some vertical markets. The public didn’t pay attention. The iPad changed the game, which is why Apple retains iPod level market shares.
So how would an Apple smart TV set become a significant player? Would a nifty interface be sufficient? No, because Apple can deliver that in the Apple TV set top box. What about a tricked out sound system? Well, that can get costly. Consider one example, the Bose VideoWave II, which starts at just under $5,000, and costs $1,000 more if you want Bose to deliver the unit to your home and set it up for you. Clearly Apple wouldn’t get very far with a set that expensive, when you can get a perfectly good 50-inch plasma for under $1,000 with a terrific picture and the usual range of online features.
Even if Apple can improve picture quality, smooth the setup process, and offer an Apple TV experience without a separate appliance, would that be sufficient to gain significant market share? Profits are slim for TV makers, so unless Apple can make a miracle in reducing component costs for their first TV, it doesn’t seem to make sense.
Another Apple TV theory has it that Apple is busy negotiating with the entertainment industry to license content for a subscription service, so they can compete head on with your cable and satellite provider. But that’s not a simple process by any means. Even if they get the contracts, there is still the problem of streaming. Most ISPs have bandwidth caps. They aren’t going to be enamored of lifting those caps for a company who is taking away their TV business. Yes, there is an H.265 protocol that, when it arrives next year, is expected to deliver video streaming of the same quality with half the file size, meaning it will reduce bandwidth consumption.
But even at half current streaming rates, it wouldn’t be sufficient to watch HD content for hours every single day and not quickly exceeding the limits imposed by most ISPs.
In talking about the potential of Apple TV here and on my weekly radio show, The Tech Night Owl LIVE, I have suggested that Apple might just want to strike a deal with the cable and satellite providers. The end result would be that the Apple TV, or a revised version, would become the front end for their services. You’d be able to watch all your favorite channels from your favorite service, including DVR time-shifting, using Apple’s super smooth interface. Perhaps this would be similar to what TiVO offers. But for Apple to be able to let you record loads of shows, they’d have to provide an Apple TV with a regular hard drive. Flash memory is still too expensive. That is, unless the cable and satellite providers fully implement plans to store even time-shifted content on their servers.
Whether Apple would market the souped up Apple TV for bundling by cable and satellite providers, or separately, is something that would have to be worked out. But the very idea suddenly became credible this week when the Wall Street Journal published a story that such a deal may be in the works. The report begins, “Apple Inc. is in talks with some of the biggest U.S. cable operators about letting consumers use an Apple device as a set-top box for live television and other content, according to people familiar with the matter.”
In an updated story, the WSJ suggests Apple would attempt to blur the difference between live TV and on-demand content with a cloud-based DVR feature. Once again, the issue of streaming comes to the fore, but if they are streaming the content direct to customers of a cable or satellite service, the bandwidth caps aren’t likely to come into play.
I didn’t get many comments from the media when I suggested Apple might have to move in that direction, because a subscription service just didn’t make sense. Now that the mainstream media has evidently found sources to confirm such a story, it may be in vogue.
Maybe making deals with existing TV providers isn’t the best approach, but it may be the only practical solution right now. You heard it here first.


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Pioneer began their press conference Wednesday at CE Week by directly addressing the elephant in the room.
Pioneer understands that people are already carrying around all the content they need on their smartphones and they are making it easier than ever to access it.
"The smartphone has become the source for consumer entertainment. They want to share content from their device(s) and we're making that happen, whether it's at home, in the car, or on the go," said Russ Johnston, executive vice president of corporate communications for Pioneer Electronics.
HTC Connect is demonstrated on Pioneer's speakers at CEA Line Shows
Pioneer Electronics detailed its newest offerings for the connected car, along with its latest wireless home solutions, during a Wednesday CEA Line Shows briefing.
On the car electronics front, it highlighted improvements realized in its AppRadio 2, the sequel product to the original iPhone-only-compatible AppRadio that debuted at last year’s Line Shows.
The Home Entertainment Source (HES) division of BrandSource outlined Sunday for the members who attended its Orlando-held Summit a group of fresh initiatives that will include the debut of Connected Source – a program that HES executive vice president Jim Ristow called “a turnkey concept for HES members so they can display and demo the latest technologies in a showroom in a store-within-a-store model, at low cost.”
Professing that “HES is the only national alternative to the box stores for high-end consumer electronics,” Home Entertainment Source executive vice president Jim Ristow kicked off Day One of the Brand Source buying group’s Dallas-held “Mission Possible: Success” 2008 Summit – a convocation that included motivational and manufacturer presentations, deal-brokering and networking opportunities –which this year attracted a 75 percent larger attendance from the HES membership, he said. Bob Lawrence, Brand Source CEO, noted that the HES outbranch, which had recently passed the 500 mark in membership numbers, “has significant meaning to the Brand Source group as a whole; it’s


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Yesterday the Obama administration announced “an unprecedented set of actions” to grow the U.S. plug-in electrified vehicle market.
The initiative represents a broad collaboration between federal agencies, state governments, major automakers, utilities, and others to aid the ongoing push to make electric cars viable alternatives to the internal combustion variety.
Perhaps chief in a laundry list of public and private sector agreements is up to $4.5 billion in loan guarantees for commercial scale charging — including fast charging — to create a nationwide network.
Read More >
As the saying goes, if you can’t sign a supply agreement with ’em, buy a part of ’em.
That’s clearly not a saying, but that’s what Samsung Electronics Company just did with Chinese electric automaker BYD, handing over $440 million deal for a 1.9 percent stake in the company. According to Bloomberg, a Samsung subsidiary was turned down by China as an approved supplier of batteries to the automaker, so the electronics giant tried another door. Read More >
Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s vision for his company’s future covers all the automotive bases, from personal vehicles to commercial trucks and transit fleets.
In a blog post on Tesla’s website, Musk spelled out the steps of his “Master Plan, Part Deux” — a long-term update of his previous decade-long business plan. With the Model 3 on the way in late 2017, the old plan has come to an end, so the company’s founder is looking for other things to power with electricity. Read More >
Audi is apparently about to embrace electric vehicles with all the intensity of a daughter greeting her father on the tarmac after the war.
According to Reuters, company sources say the automaker plans to make EVs account for 25 percent of sales by 2025 — a move that would erase the environmental stigma of its parent company and challenge Tesla in the fledgling luxury EV field. Read More >
The federal agencies reviewing the country’s corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) targets are pleasantly surprised by the amount of fuel-saving technology in modern vehicles, and hint that the target they decided on back in 2011 is still doable.
Those agencies just released a technical assessment report (TAR) to guide the review process. In it, they figured that vehicles will average between 50 and 52.6 miles per gallon by the target year of 2025 — if gas stays stable and consumers continue buying SUVs and trucks.
That’s not too far off the original target, and judging by the optimistic tone of the report, it’s likely the 54.5 mpg mandate will stay intact. Read More >
Getting a good price for a used Tesla is now solely up to its owner, after the automaker discontinued a program that allows three-year-old vehicles to be bought back for 50 percent of the purchase price.
Tesla dumped the program on July 1, Reuters reports, allowing the company earmarked for the program for other purposes. The program was created to assure would-be owners of a basic resale value after the Model S entered the marketplace. Read More >
Just as it did recently with the Model S, Tesla just took its Model X SUV in for a battery and price haircut, resulting in a new base model.
The automaker’s website now shows the availability of a 60D version of the all-wheel-drive utility, meaning a 60 kilowatt battery and an EPA estimated 200 miles of range. The battery shrinkage makes the new model the shortest-ranged Tesla in the stable, but it also undercuts the price of the formerly base 75D by $9,000. Read More >
Some eight years after the now-defunct Motive Magazine put a Smart ForTwo to work on an urban golf course, Mercedes is finally catching up to support its customers’ favorite pastime.
Revealed yesterday, the Mercedes-Benz Style Edition Garia Golf Car isn’t just a glitzed up golf cart made to look like a miniature GLE Coupe. Instead, it’s the product of a competition started in 2013 to build the best golf cart or nothing.
Read More >
Columbus, Ohio was chosen as the winner of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s “Smart City Challenge,” beating out six other mid-size cities for the $40 million federal grant.
With that grant and $100 million pledged from philanthropic and business sources on tap, the city’s plan will see improvements in social infrastructure and green, connected transportation — including greater electric vehicle use and new recharging infrastructure — despite the fact that Ohio’s power grid isn’t very green. Read More >
Halfway through its mandate to have 15.4 percent of the state’s vehicles generate zero emissions by 2025, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) is now considering changing its requirements.
The problem is too many credits handed out to green car manufacturers, who then sell them to dirtier automakers to bolster their standing with CARB, Bloomberg reports. Read More >


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The Massachusetts Port Authority’s board on April 13 approved plans for a hotel complex on state-owned land at D and Summer streets in the Seaport District just across from the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center.
The development is due to have more than 1,000 rooms as well as a 25,000-square-foot ballroom—Boston’s second-largest, behind only one in the convention center itself—and possibly a skating rink above street level, per the Globe’s Jon Chesto.
The $550 million project, which Omni Hotels & Resorts will spearhead in partnership with local developer the Davis Cos. and hotelier Robin Brown, will also include 120,000 square feet of meeting space, 40,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space, and an 8,500-square-foot spa and fitness center—all in two 20-story towers.
Such a complex is expected to enliven that stretch of D Street considerably—which is one of the aims of the Elkus Manfredi-designed project—and it also solves a nagging problem for the convention center: a dearth of nearby hotel rooms. The hub has been losing trade shows because it can’t promise lodging within walking distance.
The shortage of rooms has also been helping hold up a long-planned expansion of the center.
The hotel, which will be connected to the convention center by an existing tunnel, is scheduled to open by early 2021, with construction commencing in 2018.


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DSTV is looking into letting consumers subscribe to only the channels they want.— Yolisa Phahle, M-Net CEO
Our biggest competitors are the Netflixes and Amazons, not other channels.— Yolisa Phahle, M-Net CEO
There is huge room for us to improve our content discovery. In that way we’ll reduce the frustration of repeats.— Yolisa Phahle, M-Net CEO
Phahle spoke about how her company is reacting to disruption in the industry by players such as ShowMax and Netflix.
In a world where Netflix can launch in 130 new countries in a single day, it’s easy to assume that content is becoming more globally homogeneous. But the reality is that content is being redefined by forces of globalisation and localisation simultaneously - and that while much of the industry is growing more global, content tastes and cultures remain steadfastly local.— Vicki Myburgh (author of PwC’s Entertainment and Media Outlook 2016)
Is it true that DSTV subscribers are only in it for the sport?
Does M-Net’s “local is lekker” strategy work?
Listen to the speculative interview in the audio below (and/or scroll down for more quotes from it).
M-Net was the second pay-TV channel in the whole world!— Yolisa Phahle, M-Net CEO
We have more local than international channels.— Yolisa Phahle, M-Net CEO
It’s about creating content that is not available anywhere else.— Yolisa Phahle, M-Net CEO
We have so many more subscribers than five years ago.— Yolisa Phahle, M-Net CEO
Enter your email address in the form below to receive a newsletter containing the most-read articles of the week from Bruce Whitfield’s The Money Show every Friday morning in your inbox.
The Money Show’s Bruce Whitfield interviews Arthur Goldstuck, MD of World Wide Worx.
What does South Africa’s main competitor – Naspers owned ShowMax – make of Netflix’s entry into the market?
YouTube is aiming to get rights for streaming TV series and movies to compete with the likes of Netflix Inc. and Amazon.com.
TechCentral Editor Duncan McLeod discusses the new players in this space as well as the ones closing down.
The Money Show’s Bruce Whitfield interviewed John Kotsaftis, CEO of DStv Digital Media – Showmax.
Naspers will launch its own streaming service more than a year ahead of Netflix.
Several shows of the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Cape Town 2017 had to be postponed due to the gusting winds.
Dr Chris Smith gives insights on what peaks your interest.
The rand is going from strength to strength. The Money Show’s Bruce Whitfield interviews Treasury One’s Andre Cilliers.
EWN's Dr Jack & Curtis take a look at the Spur confrontation that has taken the country by a storm.
The CEO of Spur says food inflation has played a big role in making this difficult decision.
These are the emergency numbers you should have on your cellphone and this is what you must understand about how they work.


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Rihanna has become the world’s youngest self-made billionaire, according to Forbes. The singer and businesswoman has amassed a fortune of $1.4 billion, largely due to the success of her cosmetics line, Fenty Beauty.
Fenty Beauty was launched in 2017 and has since become one of the most successful beauty brands in the world. The brand is renowned for its inclusive range of products, which cater to all skin tones and types. The brand has also been praised for its innovative products, such as its Pro Filt’r foundation and its Killawatt Freestyle Highlighter.
Rihanna’s success with Fenty Beauty has been bolstered by her 30% stake in the Savage x Fenty lingerie line. The lingerie line raised money at a $1 billion valuation in February 2021, further contributing to Rihanna’s wealth.
Rihanna’s success as a businesswoman has been remarkable. In just five years, she has gone from a successful singer to a billionaire entrepreneur. She has also been praised for her commitment to diversity and inclusivity, both in her business ventures and in her philanthropic work.
Rihanna’s success is an inspiration to many. She has shown that with hard work and dedication, it is possible to achieve success, no matter your background. Her story is a testament to the power of entrepreneurship and the importance of investing in yourself.


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Re-imagining Google: America’s Favorite Homepage Gets A Redesign By Letter Society Blog
Early last month, the design blog Letter Society posted a challenge asking its select group of designers to submit redesigns of Google.com. The site, which positions itself as a “collaborative and challenge based” blog, asked the designers to do a “reskinning” of the current site: With there being already a minimal approach to the page, […]
Early last month, the design blog Letter Society posted a challenge asking its select group of designers to submit redesigns of Google.com.
The site, which positions itself as a “collaborative and challenge based” blog, asked the designers to do a “reskinning” of the current site:
With there being already a minimal approach to the page, re-imagining should require us to think hard, critically and outside of the box to create a quality solution.
Seven redesigns were submitted, each with an explanation from the designer on the choices they made. Submissions included a range of ideas, from an even more simplistic homepage than the existing one (with the Google logo in gray scale) to a wildly colorful rendition from designer Erik Wagner.
“I wanted to bring Google’s color palette forward and create a vibrant, larger-than-life presence for the search function,” said Wagner.
His redesign included a map at the bottom of the browser with the option for the map to take over the browser window. “When the map search page takes over the browser, the scrubber reappears at the bottom, this time allowing the opportunity to expand the main search bar back onto the browser window,” explained Wagner.
Designer Mark Manalaysay chose to “trim the fat” by removing things like call-to-actions on the top right portion of the page as well as the “Google Search and “I’m felling lucky” options. He also included a deep integration of Google’s voice search to “future-proof” the home-page.
“If I want to future-proof the Google homepage, I feel like voice search is something that has been ramping up and radically improving within the last couple of years. This allows more instantaneous search and deeper integration with Google Now,” said Manalaysay about his design.
Here’s a look at Manalaysay’s redesign of Google’s mobile homepage:
One designer went the opposite, and instead of stripping down the homepage, added personalized search options. Alli Grunthaner said she based her design on simple tiles that could be personalized to a user’s common searches.
“I was inspired by today’s technology of touching/swiping/browsing…so I thought it’d be a nice interface to use for the different search fields,” said Grunthaner.
Grunthaner wasn’t the only designer to add to Google’s homepage. Frances Palmer’s submission inserted the use of Google Trends to give the homepage a “bolder” look with popular searches displayed in real time, and Google Now information added to the bottom of the page.
My personal favorite was Jake Nolan’s design which integrated an extra-large search box and easy to access Google services buttons at the bottom of the page.
I’d like to claim this has nothing to do with constantly reaching for my readers, but I imagine I’m not the only one with withering eye-sight who would benefit from this redesign:
The full portfolio of the Letter Society’s redesigns can be found at http://www.lettersociety.com/tagged/Project-9.
Opinions expressed in this article are those of the guest author and not necessarily Search Engine Land. Staff authors are listed here.
New on Search Engine Land


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- MAP Asia Pacific Ltd
Will China’s sports brand Li-Ning replicate Anta’s cash cow FILA with Clarks?
A “good bargain”
A two-year acquisition has drawn to a close with the man behind the Chinese sportswear label Li-Ning finally taking control of British shoemaker Clarks. The change in hands follows a joint venture between Viva China and LionRock Capital, of which the Chinese gymnast-turned-entrepreneur Li Ning sits as a non-executive chairman.
The purchase of Clarks is seen as an attempt by Li Ning to further expedite into the fashion territory at home with the intention of replicating FILA’s momentum.
The venture saw Viva China, a Hong Kong traded Chinese sports talent agency, founded by the former athlete that also owns Li’s namesake sports brand Li-Ning, pick up a 51% stake in Clarks, a century-old brand generating an estimated tens of billions of pounds of revenue at a cost of 840 million RMB ($125.53 million) – a deal that has been deemed a “good bargain”.
While some have viewed the move as a step taken by Li-Ning to pave the way for the brand’s global expansion, others have drawn parallel from the buy-up of the Italian sports brand FILA’s business in China by domestic rival Anta. The purchase of Clarks is seen as an attempt by Li Ning to further expedite into the fashion territory at home with the intention of replicating FILA’s momentum, therefore, reclaiming its leading position in China.
Losing ground to a local challenger
Up until 2010, Li-Ning remained a domestic sportswear unicorn. However, the tables soon turned after Anta’s move to take over FILA China in 2009, opening the doors for Anta to China’s premium athleisure market. This contributed to approximately half of Anta’s overall gross profit margin with an annual growth rate of 56% between 2010 and 2020. And thanks to the cash cow FILA, Anta has now overtaken Li-Ning in revenue hitting 49.3 billion RMB ($7.34 billion) in 2021, more than twice as much as that recorded at Li-Ning and is hot on the tail of the world’s biggest sportswear giant Nike in the Chinese market.
Read More at https://daoinsights.com/works/will-chinas-sports-brand-li-ning-replicate-antas-cash-cow-fila-with-clarks/


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Jim Cramer: Buy Lennar, Sprint, and Bery Plastics, But Sell These 2 Stocks
Lennar (NYSE:LEN): Cramer ranked Lennar a Buy. Trading at just over $36, the company has rebounded this month from a decline that was most prevalent during the early months of this summer. Cramer sat down with Stuart Miller, the CEO of Lennar, who said that the main driver in demand within the housing industry in the short term was the need to make up for lost production during the economic downturn of recent years. With low interest rates set to fuel additional growth in the industry, Miller said that Lennar’s long-term prospects were strong as well.
Sprint (NYSE:S): Cramer ranked Sprint a Buy. With shares currently standing at just over $6, the stock is staring at around a month and a half of downward trends. Cramer talked with Dan Hesse, the CEO of Sprint, who pointed to capital expenditures of the firm as being four times that of previous years as a sign that the company was committed to improving its wireless network. Hesse did note that the loss of Nextel customers would mean that numbers for this year may appear slow, but pointed to long-term trends and his company’s recent investments to sell the stock as an eventual winner. Cramer jumped on board, saying that the telecom sector certainly had his eye after record iPhone sales this past weekend.
Berry Plastics Group (NYSE:BERY): Cramer ranked Berry Plastics a Buy. At a little above $20, the share price for Berry has yet to recover from the hit that the stock took earlier this month when weaker third quarter sales numbers were released. Cramer discussed the matter with Jon Rich, the CEO of Berry Plastics, who pointed to muted demand and cautious consumers as the cause for the sagging sales data. Cramer remained optimistic, citing the stock’s strong performance since its debut about a year ago aside from the recent hiccup. The two also talked about Berry’s latest innovation, a recyclable cup that can be used for both hot and cold products.
Motorola Solutions (NYSE:MSI): Cramer ranked Motorola Solutions a Sell. With a current share price of around $60, Motorola has shown modest gains so far this month. Cramer, however, was not a fan of the stock, saying that Cisco Systems (NASDAQ:CSCO) was a better company if one wanted to invest in the sector. The company recently won an award for its work in Australia, particularly for its PartnerEmpower program to foster innovation in the area.
Pacific Coast Oil Trust (NYSE:ROYT): Cramer ranked Pacific Coast Oil Trust a Sell. The company is currently trading between $16 and $17, still reeling from the big hit that the stock tanked earlier this month. Cramer was bearish about the company, saying that EOG Resources (NYSE:EOG) was a better buy for those looking for an opportunity in the industry.


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The 2015 Ford Mustang’s mysteries are being revealed one by one; first, we found out the weight (well, first we saw photos…--ED), then the output and now, thanks to window stickers posted at Mustang6g.com, we have some idea of what the fuel economy ratings are going to be. They’re not exactly earth-shaking.
The 2.3-liter EcoBoost inline-four will return an estimated 22 mpg city, 31 mph highway and 26 mpg combined when equipped with a six-speed manual transmission. That’s the good news. Unfortunately, the V6 manual gets just 17 mpg city and 28 mpg highway for a combined 21 mpg. The auto fares better at 19 mpg city, 28 mpg highway and 22 mpg combined.
Compare that to the 19/29/22 and 19/31/23 ratings for the outgoing V6 cars equipped with manual and automatic transmissions, respectively, and you’ll notice a slight drop in stated economy.


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Our March 2018 Monthly Rewards Recap is now available to read and download. Electronics are still taking the lead in redemptions, with tablets and wireless headphones dominating the highest-ranking categories right now.
Get a glimpse of the new additions to our awards collection. This month’s new items showcase a variety of smart devices to update homes for the spring season including the Nest® Hello Smart Wifi Video Doorbell and the Coffee Bar® with Stainless Steel Carafe.
In our news section, gain some insights on how to help your organization focus on health and wellness. With World Health Day on April 7th, it will be a great time to communicate tips and practices for a healthier lifestyle.
Click on the image below to open the March issue as a PDF in a new window.


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New rules for gluten-free labeling are being proposed for producers of fermented, distilled or hydrolyzed foods and beverages, the Food and Drug Administration announced this week.
In its release, the FDA noted that these regulations would cover products such as “yogurt, sauerkraut, pickles, cheese, green olives, vinegar, and FDA regulated beers.”
The FDA also says that it will be accepting public comments on the proposed labeling rules for these categories of food and drink. A key point in the proposed rules are the methods by which the FDA will verify compliance for such foods, which can be a challenge due to the processes of manufacture that differ significantly from traditional food products.
For a list of questions and answers about the proposed FDA rules for fermented, distilled and hydrolyzed foods, click here.
For details on how to comment directly to the FDA on the proposed rules, click here.


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News from November 2021
The Game Awards nominations have been announced, and Final Fantasy XIV Online has been nominated for two awards.
The first nomination is in the Best Ongoing category. The other nominees for Best Ongoing game are: Apex Legends; Call of Duty: War Zone; Fortnite; and Genshin Impact.
It's also been nominated in the Best Community Support category, with fellow nominees: Apex Legends: Escape; Destiny 2: Beyond Light; Fortnite; and No Man's Sky.
Other Square Enix games picking up nominations are Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy, nominated for Best Narrative, Innovation in Accessibility, and Best Action/Adventure; and Life is Strange: True Colors, nominated for Best Narrative and Games for Impact.
The Game Awards will be hosted live from Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on December 9th. Gamers can vote on nominations at The Game Awards website.
Source: The Game Awards
Final Fantasy XIV's newest expansion, Endwalker, was due to release Tuesday, November 23rd, but has now had its release date pushed back by two weeks. The new release date is Tuesday, December 7th, with early access for those who pre-ordered happening Friday, December 3rd.
This reporter was watching the Live Letter where the news was announced, and Naoki Yoshida (affectionately known as Yoshi-P), producer and director of Final Fantasy XIV, seemed rather distraught at having made this decision as he kept repeating "I'm sorry" in Japanese. According to the official announcement, Yoshi-P made this decision to ensure the quality of the expansion would live up to his vision. He thought hard about cutting material, or breaking the expansion into several releases so they could still meet the scheduled release date, but ultimate decided against those ideas.
Along with the updated release date for Endwalker, we also received the schedule for the first two patches. Patch 6.01 is scheduled for Tuesday, December 21, 2021 and will bring the Pandæmonium raid, while Patch 6.05, scheduled for Tuesday, January 4, 2022 will include the raid's Savage version along with new tomestones and gear.
Finally, a new trailer for the expansion was shown. Here it is for your enjoyment:
Source: Final Fantasy XIV Lodestone
Posted in: Square-Enix News