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It appears that O2 can kiss its exclusive deal with Apple goodbye as rivals Orange UK and Vodafone UK announce plans to bring the iPhone 3G and 3GS to their networks in the coming months.
It is now evident that O2 won’t be allowed to renew its iPhone distribution agreement, set to expire in November, on an exclusive basis. Apple signed up Telefonica-owned O2 as its exclusive U.K. iPhone carrier in November 2007. However, rival Orange and Vodafone have just announced that they too now have non-exclusive deals in place. The fact that Apple added two new carriers to the U.K. mix signals their intention to end network exclusives in more territories. This, in turn, paves the way for a broader iPhone availability on multiple networks and carriers.
Orange UK, which already offers the iPhone across 28 territories, has cut a deal with Apple to bring the iPhone 3G and 3GS to its U.K. network by the end of 2009, the carrier confirmed yesterday via a short press release. Orange UK has promised to release price points, tariffs, terms of purchase, and availability dates in due course. Meanwhile, would-be buyers can log their interest at a newly setup pre-registration site. Here’s what Orange UK wrote in its press release:
Orange, which has the largest 3G network covering more people in the UK than any other operator, will sell iPhone in all Orange direct channels including Orange shops, the Orange webshop and Orange telesales channels, as well as selected high street partners.
Just a day later, Vodafone issued own press release announcing that it too has reached an agreement to bring the iPhone 3G and 3GS to the U.K. and Ireland in early 2010. The carrier will announce pricing, tariffs, and availability information “locally in the future.”
Vodafone CEO Vittorio Colao recently blamed the fact that 159,000 subscribers left their network in the last quarter alone on their lack of the iPhone. As O2’s exclusive deal comes to an end, Orange and Vodafone subscribers in the U.K. will be finally able to get the iPhone without switching provider. Many potential iPhone buyers refused switching to O2 due to poor service and too pricey tariffs.
Apple watchers hope that multi-carrier strategy will result in more choices, more affordable pricing, and richer tariffs. T3 expects some “fruity tariffs” as a result of the Orange deal, while the Mobile Industry Review sees “a substantial amount of pent-up demand from an array normob segment” that has been “highly, highly frustrated by the exclusivity agreement.”


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Staff at BHS are to receive up to £12m in statutory redundancy pay following the appointment of liquidators this week.
More than 11,000 staff are set to lose their jobs at the high street chain after administrators Duff & Phelps failed to secure a buyer for the business.
The total payout to staff is expected to be between £8m and £12m, to be paid by the government.
BHS employs around 8,000 people and has 163 stores across the UK. There are a further 3,000 people on contracts but not directly employed.
Duff & Phelps said, despite the multiple offers to buy the retailer, “none were able to complete a deal due the working capital required to secure the future of the company”.

domain: news


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The majority of credit cards are made from plastic, but there are some credit cards, usually reserved for those with higher annual incomes, are made from metal. However, with the launch of the Apple Card which is made from titanium and aluminum, Apple has finally brought a metal card to the masses.
This might have created a problem highlighted in the video above, where a YouTuber has managed to sharpen one edge of the Apple Card to the point where it is sharp enough to be used as a knife. This can be dangerous as it means that it can be hidden in a wallet and used as a weapon.
Also, the fact that the Apple Card is relatively easy to get and can be applied for by anyone, like we said, this could have created a problem. That being said, this isn’t the first time we’ve seen a credit card being used as a knife. Previously, there have been some videos where other metal credit cards have been filed down to sport a sharp edge, so this isn’t a new thing.
As The Verge points out, there are plenty of credit card-sized knives already available in the market, so you don’t need to sand down your brand new Apple Card to do so. It is still a pretty cool, albeit dangerous, DIY project. If you have a few minutes to spare you can check it out in the video above.


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Sep 16, 1998SAN DIEGO
Qualcomm products mentioned within this press release are offered by Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries.
MIAMI -- September 16, 1998 -- Qualcomm Incorporated (NASDAQ: QCOM), a pioneer and a world leader of Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) digital wireless technology, today announced the opening of a Miami, Fla. office to manage the Company's Latin American sales operations.
"As Qualcomm expands its global presence, we are committed to providing the Latin American market with the most advanced CDMA wireless technology and products," said David J. McDowell, senior vice president of sales for Qualcomm Consumer Products. "Establishing this office will help Qualcomm serve the growing demands of Latin America's highly competitive telecom market."
Qualcomm's CDMA technology has emerged as the fastest growing digital wireless technology in the world and is widely deployed in the region. Today, Qualcomm's innovative phone products are available to consumers in Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, and Peru. Qualcomm is a leading supplier of CDMA wireless networks for mobile and fixed applications in Latin America, with nationwide deployments underway in Chile and Mexico. Further expansion is expected throughout the region in the coming year.
CDMA technology delivers significant advantages to carriers and consumers, including improved voice quality, enhanced security, fewer dropped calls, and longer talk and standby times. As a result, CDMA's acceptance in the marketplace has grown significantly since the first commercial system was deployed in 1995. Today, more than 60 leading manufacturers worldwide are licensees of Qualcomm's CDMA technology.
"The resources invested in the new Miami office are an indication of the strategic importance of the Latin American region to Qualcomm," said Jim Edson, regional vice president of Latin American operations for Qualcomm's Wireless Infrastructure Division. "We are now even more readily accessible to our customers and look forward to strengthening our relationships with wireless operators throughout the region."
Qualcomm's Miami headquarters is located at 6303 Blue Lagoon Drive, Suite 315, Miami, FL 33126, (305) 269-0688.
Headquartered in San Diego, Qualcomm Incorporated develops, manufactures, markets, licenses and operates advanced communication systems and products based on its proprietary digital wireless technologies. The Company's primary product areas are the OmniTRACS® system (a geostationary satellite based, mobile communications system providing two-way data and position reporting services), CDMA wireless communications systems and products and, in conjunction with others, the development of Globalstar™ low-earth-orbit (LEO) satellite communications system. Other Company products include the Eudora Pro® electronic mail software, ASIC products, and communications equipment and systems for government and commercial users worldwide. For more information, please visithttp://www.qualcomm.com/.
Except for the historical information contained herein, this news release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties, including timely product development, change in economic conditions of the various markets the Company serves, as well as the other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's SEC reports, including the report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 28, 1997 and most recent Form 10-Q.
# # #
Qualcomm, OmniTRACS, Eudora and Eudora Pro are registered trademarks of Qualcomm Incorporated. Globalstar is a trademark of Loral Qualcomm Satellite Services, Incorporated.


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The Company sold 33.8 million iPhones, a record for the September quarter, compared to 26.9 million in the year-ago quarter. Apple also sold 14.1 million iPads during the quarter, compared to 14 million in the year-ago quarter. The Company sold 4.6 million Macs, compared to 4.9 million in the year-ago quarter.
Bottom line? iPhone is way up, iPads are flat, Macs are slightly down. Also in the fine print: iPod (remember those?) sales are predictably way down, just 3.49 million sold, compared to 5.3 million units this time last year.
Reckoner had its humble beginnings way back in June of 2013.
Founded by James Croft, along with Peter Wells and Anthony Agius they created what would go on to become one of Australia’s most highly regarded and award winning independent tech blogs.
With its uniquely Australian voice Reckoner is committed to offering a “no-holds-barred” approach to its writing. Beholden to no one but its audience. Reckoner’s goal is to remain completely transparent and honour the trust it’s built with its faithful readership.


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A trend has emerged with many of the leading smartphones and advanced feature phones introduced this year – a renewed focus on the core function of a mobile phone, the ability to talk.
Renewed Focus on Improving the Mobile Voice Experience
As I think about the past year and what the wireless industry is facing in the coming year, I’m reminded of something comedian Louis C.K. said on Conan O’Brien’s “other” show back in February 2009. Google these words and you’ll find it on YouTube: “Everything’s amazing, and nobody’s happy.”
Up Front — Yes Virginia, It’s Amazing
Mobile television has not exactly taken off in the United States. Qualcomm gave the pink slip to its Flo TV mobile television subsidiary in October after the service failed to gain traction with consumers, and transmissions using the U.S. ATSC mobile broadcast television standard are limited…
Undeterred by Flo Shutdown, Mobile TV Forges Ahead
TerreStar’s hybrid cellular-satellite Genus smartphone is available to consumers nearly 14 months after plans for the device were first announced.
TerreStar Genus Debuts for Consumers
Nokia yesterday admitted that some users were experiencing a problem with their Nokia N8 smartphones not powering on as they should.
Nokia Admits to N8 Power Problems


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Months after the CIA announced that it is shutting down all its secret prisons in countries all around the world, they are having a sale on eBay coming up the second week of May to try to recoup some of their expenses from over the past 8 years.
They have already announced that none of the profits from the sale will go towards the purchasing of any new buildings or equipment to use in torture techniques in the future.
CIA director Leon Panetta announced this eBay sale this week, saying that the agency is closing down all of its secret prisons throughout the world. During the Bush administration, these sites located in other friendly countries or some who just got a kick out of it, were used to detain and interrogate terror suspects in an neutral zone.
One of Obama's first acts as President was to order their closing down.
Facing budget cuts like every other agency, the CIA is hoping to sell equipment from the now defunct sites to recoup whatever revenue possible.
Among items to choose from are 1,000 peacock feathers, blindfolds and grapes (which the blindfolded prisoner is told are the eyeballs that have been removed from other prisoners), 100 sets of "The Complete Yanni" Recordings, Cd's of Dizzy Dean singing "The Walbash Cannonball" while drunk on the microphone on the old baseball game of the week, the Ace Trucking Company Guy who kept telling the victim "You dasn't has to call me MR Johnson for hours, the entire four hours of Abbott & Costello's "Who's On First" routine, Mime Holograms, 12 Hours of "Are We There Yet?", The John Cleese cattle prods that enforced the prisoners to do silly walks for hour upon hour, Posters of a nude Nora Batty, Drunks telling stories, calling you'ole buddy, ole pal" and 10,000 cans of skunk oil.
There is also a huge collection of cans of whupass of all sizes. These have all been stored in cotton and will be sold as a single lot. There will be many other items that you can check before the second week of May.


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Acuity Brands, Inc. recently announced that Gozio Health, a healthcare technology company specializing in mobile wayfinding, has joined the Atrius™ Internet of Things (IoT) partner ecosystem. Gozio Health will be expanding its mobile platform to include Atrius™ indoor positioning solutions (IPS), leveraging the Atrius™ Navigator Software Development Kit (SDK).
Legrand, North & Central America recently announced that the Wattstopper Digital Lighting Management (DLM®) System is now qualified as an Interior system in the DesignLights Consortium (DLC) Qualified Product List (QPL), an important distinction as DLC certification is a requirement for many utility rebate programs.
McWong International is partnering with Silvair, a leader in Bluetooth mesh networking technology, to infuse the PacWave Smart Sensor Control Platform with robust wireless connectivity.
OSRAM DEXAL™ (Data Exchange for Advanced Lighting) is a non-proprietary, intra-luminaire interface that enables power and bi-directional communication between the driver and the fixture-integrated component providing exact luminaire-specific data including diagnostics to light management systems.
The Audacy® Advanced Wireless Lighting Control system has been selected by the DesignLights Consortium® (DLC) to be included in their Qualified Products List (QPL) for Networked Lighting Control (NLC) systems.
Leviton recently updated its website with a strong new user-friendly digital experience. Click to learn about what’s new at Leviton.com.
McWong International recently celebrated the 15th anniversary of its Shanghai facility, McWong Lighting Shanghai.
Focal Point, LLC and OSRAM are working together to deliver smarter lighting solutions for commercial spaces. Integrating OSRAM’s Connected Lighting Module (CLM) into a broad range of Focal Point luminaires as part of its Connected Solutions program allows the monitoring and modulating of light, maximizing occupants’ comfort and optimizing energy costs.
ETC recently announced it has acquired its longstanding partner Echoflex Solutions, a manufacturer of wireless control products for commercial lighting, HVAC and other applications.
Universal Lighting Technologies, Inc.’s EVERLINE® T5HO LED tubes was among the 50 products that received the most reader inquiries from RETROFIT Magazine’s September-October 2016 through July-August 2017 editions. As a result, the product will be featured in the magazine’s fifth annual Top 50 Products special, to be published in its January-February 2018 issue.


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In a recent interview with Huffington Post Live, ice cream legends Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield indicated they would be into a new flavor idea that combines two pleasures: ice cream and cannabis.
Jerry went on record saying, "Ben and I have had previous experiences with substances," and have put their brand behind the idea with flavors like Satisfy My Bowl or Dave Matthews Band Magic Brownies Encore Edition. He went on to add, "I think legalizing marijuana is a wonderful thing, rather than putting people in jail for not hurting anyone."
Ben & Jerry's would consider selling a cannabis flavored edible marijuana ice cream on store shelves in the states where legalization has happened. However, although their names and faces are on the packaging, Ben and Jerry sold their brand to Unilever in 2001 giving up any decision making input. "It's not my decision. If it were my decision, I'd be doing it..." Jerry said.
We can only hope.


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Financially, it’s a rout for Micromania-Zing, which plans to close the doors of many stores this year.
It’s no secret that the video game market is particularly tough for the Micromania brand, which is well known to French gamers. Indeed, the brand has not hidden its complicated financial situation for a few years, until the merger with the pop culture merchandise brand Zing in 2017. Since then, the video game store has been called Micromania-Zing and is still struggling to establish itself on the market.
According to gamekult, which had access to internal and confidential documents, the company should resort to a radical solution to get out of the mess. Of its 399 stores, the brand should soon close nearly 47, leading to the outright dismissal of more than 130 group employees. If you thought the physical games industry was in trouble, the situation seems to be worse than expected.
The document also reveals that in France, around 62% of video game sales take place digitally, with dematerialized editions. An observation that does not help the situation of Micromania. In addition, the start of the pandemic further weakened the company’s economy, which had to close its stores for many consecutive weeks, which simply created chain reactions.
Micromania in bad shape for two years
First of all, this led to a catastrophic management of stocks and pre-orders, in the middle of the launch period for the PS5 and the Xbox Series X/S. In addition, and more recently, the brand was singled out by the departmental directorate for the protection of the populations of the Alpes-Maritimes for misleading commercial practices, in connection with the extended warranty offered by the stores.
It has therefore been several weeks since the site displayed a garish yellow banner, on which is written that Micromania must stop:
- present confusing information on the rights of consumers with regard to the legal guarantee of conformity and the commercial guarantee
- falsely presenting a guarantee called “warranty extension” as a commercial guarantee offered and sold by “Micromania”, when it turns out to be an insurance product managed by an insurance broker
- restrict the rights of consumers by imposing, within the framework of the terms and content of the legal guarantee, obligations not provided for in the legal texts, or by making the validity of the contract relating to the “extended guarantee” subject to activation on the site within 15 days of the purchase of it in store
It remains to be seen now whether these allegations, concerning the closure of nearly a quarter of Micromania stores, are true and if so, how the brand will get out of this bad situation.


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Many companies are betting big on SSDs as the future of data storage. Today, the SSD isn't quite there for the average computer user because of the high price of SSD technology. SSDs are faring a bit better it the enterprise world where the higher cost is offset by performance.
It's no surprise that companies are trying to come into the retail market with lower priced SSDs. OCZ introduced its Core series SSDs this year, which turned out to be priced well for a consumer SSD. OCZ has introduced its latest SSD called the Vertex Series. The line is built using MLC NAND and is aimed directly at the consumer market.
Performance from the Vertex SSD line is claimed to be 200MB/sec read, 160MB/sec write, and the drives have up to 64MB of onboard cache. The new SSDs will not replace existing OCZ SSDs and will be sold alongside existing products the company is already offering.
The drives use a 2.5-inch form factor making them suitable for notebook use. The housing of the drive is made from aluminum and OCZ says the drives have a 1.5 million hour mean time between failure ratings. Storage capacities for the drives include 30GB, 60GB, 120GB, and 250GB. Pricing for the Vertex line is $129, $249, $469, and $869 respectively.
Specifications for the drives show decent power numbers with 2W in operation and .5W in standby. The drive can withstand up to 1500G and supports RAID. Vertex drives in 30GB and 60GB capacities have a 32MB cache while the 120GB and 250GB drives have 64MB of cache.
The larger 64MB cache should help prevent any stuttering during write operations and according to OCZ support, the Vertex line doesn't use the questionable JMicron controller.


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Today, Madewell released its fall lookbook on Pinterest, Facebook and through its newsletter, thirteen days before the new arrivals will be sold in stores. The retail chain has adopted a “see-now, buy-now” method of selling and promoting their products—instead of releasing a March lookbook, Madewell released the looks, available for pre-order by emailing email@example.com or calling (866) 544-1937.
Big brands and designers like Burberry and Tom Ford have also adopted the tradition of “see-now, buy-now” fashion shows. The lookbook features 29 looks, half of which are for Madewell’s fall collection. The other half will be released in October for winter.
View the looks here.


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Room For One More: Hyundai Joins Colleagues, Cuts Production at Alabama Plant
Faced with rapidly slowing sales, automakers around the globe are cutting production to keep their inventories low and avoid further losses. And with weaker companies exploring mergers or contemplating bankruptcy while even mighty Toyota faces a major drop in earnings, it was only a matter of time before the faltering economy slowed down surging Hyundai, too. Faced with weakened demand, today the Korean automaker is following its rivals and will shut down production at its Alabama manufacturing plant for 11 days, starting at the end of October.
Located in Montgomery, Hyundai's U.S. factory opened in 2005 and currently produces the Santa Fe SUV and well-regarded Sonata midsize sedan, with a capacity of 300,000 vehicles annually. However the automaker's U.S. sales are down 5.8% overall through September, and in light of recent high gas prices the Santa Fe has been hit particularly hard, falling 19%. Meanwhile some of Hyundai's smaller cars that are produced in South Korea, such as the Accent and Elantra, have actually seen improvements by 52% and 17%, respectively. So in order to align itself better with the market, citing "economic factors beyond our control" the automaker will idle its only American factory for 11 days starting October 24.
The Montgomery plant currently employs 3000 workers, and with this move they are on track to produce 5.8% fewer vehicles than originally planned for the year. In a statement Hyundai indicates this plan is still subject to change, and the automaker hopes the "economic conditions affecting our industry will soon normalize and allow us to return to a full production schedule as soon as possible." No doubt its competitors are all hoping for the same.
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|Meeting of the First Deputy Head of the FCS of Russia and the Director of the General Customs Administration of the Republic of Argentina|
On 6 June, 2014 the FCS of Russia hosted a meeting of the First Deputy Head of the FCS of Russia, Mr. Vladimir Malinin, and the Director of the General Customs Administration of Argentina, Mr. Carlos Alberto Sánchez.
In the course of negotiations the parties emphasized the importance of developing the customs cooperation between Russia and Argentina, given the considerable turnover of goods between our countries, and also discussed topical aspects of their collaborative efforts.
The parties looked into further joint actions on the organization of data exchange for the purposes of implementation of the Protocol on the exchange of preliminary information about goods and vehicles circulating between Russia and Argentina, signed in 2010, in particular, they agreed to hold a video conference on this issue in July 2014.
Besides, the parties noted the positive nature of the interaction in the exchange of statistical data concerning mutual trade and information about the customs value of goods circulating between Russia and Argentina.
1. Central Customs Directorate (CTU)
2. Siberian Customs Directorate (STU)
4. Southern Customs Directorate (JTU)
5. Privolzhsky Customs Directorate (PTU)
6. Urals Customs Directorate (UTU)
7. Far Eastern Customs Directorate (DVTU)
8. North Caucasus Customs Directorate (SKTU)


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Remember Obama’s Tesla bailout? Of course you do. The one where taxpayers forked over $140,000 for every $92,000 Tesla EV sold.
What makes news of the $250k cost to build one (as in single) Chevy Volt particularly interesting, is reporters failed to mention that the Obama administration used taxpayer funds to ‘purchase’ 1 in every 4 GM and Ford hybrids sold since 2008.
Anyone care for an all-day sucker?
Chevy Volt Costing Taxpayers Up To $250K Per Vehicle
(Steve Gill Show) Each Chevy Volt sold thus far may have as much as $250,000 in state and federal dollars in incentives behind it – a total of $3 billion altogether, according to an analysis by James Hohman, assistant director of fiscal policy at the Mackinac Center for Public Policy.
Hohman looked at total state and federal assistance offered for the development and production of the Chevy Volt, General Motors’ plug-in hybrid electric vehicle. Hohman included in his analysis 18 government deals that included loans, rebates, grants and tax credits. The amount of government assistance does not include the fact that General Motors is currently 26 percent owned by the federal government.
The Volt is subsidized by multiple companies on its way to production. The analysis includes adding up the amount of government subsidies via tax credits and direct funding for not only General Motors, but other companies supplying parts for the vehicle. For example, the Department of Energy awarded a $105.9 million grant to the GM Brownstown plant that assembles the batteries. The company was also awarded approximately $106 million for its Hamtramck assembly plant in state credits to retain jobs. The company that supplies the Volt’s batteries, Compact Power, was awarded up to $100 million in refundable battery credits. These are among many of the subsidies and tax credits for the vehicle.
It’s very unlikely all the companies involved in the production of the Volt would ever receive all the $3 billion in incentives, Hohman said. But the analysis looks at the total value that has been offered to the Volt in different aspects of production – from the assembly line to the dealerships to the battery manufacturers. The tax credits and subsidies are offered for periods up to 20 years, though the majority is offered over a much shorter time frame.
GM has estimated they’ve sold 6,000 Volts so far. That would mean each of the 6,000 Volts sold would be subsidized between $50,000 and $250,000, depending on how many government subsidies were realized.
“It just goes to show there are certain folks that will spend anything to get their vision of what people should do,” said State Representative Tom McMillin, R-Rochester Hills. “It’s a glaring example of the failure of central planning trying to force citizens to purchase something they may not want. … They should let the free market make those decisions.”
Wow! 281 Chevy Volts sold just last month – thank you Mr. Obama!: HERE
Obama administration bought 1-in-4 GM hybrids sold: HERE
Buy a Prius, kill a Mexican: HERE
Bailout Payback? Realtors double-counting homes sales for last 5 years: HERE
Polar Bear saving internet creator, Al Gore, set to become world’s first carbon billionaire: HERE
Solyndra ‘Green’ executive: $100,000+ in Obama donations and 20+ White House trips: HERE
Obama seeks $53 billion to fund ‘secretly’ bailed out GE for high-speed rail: HERE
Obama Hails, ‘Trans-Inter-Compu-Global-Hyper-Mega-Continental Railroad’: HERE
Boldface lies about GM service and warranties: HERE
Taxpayer funded Communist supporting GM pushes for higher gas tax: HERE
GM spend $4 million in 3 months on lobbyists: HERE
GM covers ladyboy transgender surgeries: HERE
Bankrupt GM and Chrysler give managers big bonuses – up to 50% – after taxpayer funded bailouts: HERE
Cash For Clunkers II – ‘Charging America Forward’: HERE


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Network vendor Brocade Communications is in the final stages to sell its business, and a deal could be announced as early as this week, reported Bloomberg.
Citing unnamed sources, the publication said the equipment maker is in advanced talks of the sale process, with chipmaker Broadcom reported as one of the potential interested buyers.
However, no deal has been reached, and talks may still fall apart, added Bloomberg.
San Jose-based Brocade competes mainly with network giant Cisco and Hewlett Packard Enterprise. It makes switches and routers for data centres, as well as storage area networking, providing fast links between data storage and services.
Earlier this year, it announced a $1.2 billion deal to acquire Wi-Fi gear maker Ruckus Wireless, in a push to expand its wireless product offering, and open up its opportunities around 5G, IoT and LTE/Wi-Fi integration.
The company has however struggled to compete with its larger rival Cisco, which specialises both in hardware and software solutions.
For a component maker like Broadcom, a deal to add Brocade’s networking gear might be an attractive proposition, and help it play a greater role in the data centre space with the increasing shift towards cloud, noted Bloomberg.
Brocade has a market valuation of approximately $3.5 billion, with $1.2 billion in cash and $1.5 billion in debt.


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Deana Driver worries about the future of the province’s vibrant book publishing industry after Creative Saskatchewan (CS) announced changes to publishing grants on Monday.
She and other Saskatchewan publishers were shocked when CS, the provincial funding agency for creative industries, announced that books produced with author-paid contributions are now ineligible for grant funds.
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With the Creative Industries Production Grant, Driver’s company, DriverWorks Ink, received funding assistance with production costs for books she traditionally published using only company money and for books she published in a hybrid model using some author funds.
Now she can’t apply at all for grants for author-funded books and can only apply for books that she traditionally publishes if she traditionally published two such books in the previous year.
“It’s not that there was a guarantee of funding anyway to help with the production costs, but it means that we can’t even apply now because we accept some investment from our authors,” Driver said. “It’s very frustrating.”
The new Book Publishing Grant will invest in eligible Saskatchewan publishing companies and covers half of the eligible costs of producing a book. A separate grant can be used to cover marketing expenses.
“If we don’t have any new products to market, what’s the point?” Driver said.
The hybrid book publisher has obtained CS funding to publish a number of books about Prairie people written by Saskatchewan and other Prairie authors.
Now she fears many wonderful books will go unpublished in Saskatchewan. She added that writers, printers, artists and designers will also be affected by the decision.
SaskBooks — the provincial creative industry association for book publishers — has more than 40 members that range from self-publishers, hybrid presses and standard literary publishers to university presses.
The new eligibility criteria for the CS Book Publishing Grant means only five or six of the book publishers in Saskatchewan will have eligible book projects.
“It pretty much eliminates any of the new emerging publishers,” said Brenda Niskala, executive director of SaskBooks. “It certainly eliminates all of the self-publishers, many of them are award-winning people like Parkland Publishing who have won the Tourism Award for many years.”
Nor will long-standing hybrid presses be eligible for support from Creative Saskatchewan for print, eBook and audiobook production.
Niskala called the substantial changes “harsh.”
“Creative Saskatchewan has done so much good,” she said. “They are our main funder as an association … We were just starting to see the industry start to flourish.”
More than 100 commercially viable books are published by Saskatchewan businesses every year, contributing approximately $8 million to the provincial economy.
SaskBooks maintains that the restriction of eligibility means fewer books will be published by Saskatchewan businesses, which will result in a drop in revenues in the province and fewer opportunities for Saskatchewan stories to be told.
“It will continue to support the very important presses who already receive support from the federal government and from Canada Council — those folks will continue to thrive,” Niskala said. “It really hits the small and emerging presses.”
SaskBooks would like the eligibility requirements for the Book Publishing Grant to include all commercial publishing business models operating in the province, including but not limited to self-publishers, hybrid publishers, literary presses, art book publishers, university presses, scholarly and academic publishers and trade publishers.
Heather Nickel, owner and operator of Your Nickel’s Worth Publishing in Regina, said the new eligibility requirements will mean she’ll be producing fewer books that are critical to Saskatchewan storytelling.
Among the titles she’s published in the past few years are full-colour picture books such as Honouring the Buffalo: A Plains Cree Legend by Ray Lavallee and Judith Silverthorne.
“It’s a book that was shortlisted in the Saskatchewan Book Awards,” Nickel said. “The funding was critical for that book to be produced. Without funding, books like that just won’t exist.”
Saskatchewan is very much a grassroots entrepreneurial province, and that should be encouraged wherever and however possible, she said.
“That’s always been my experience with SaskBooks, and my understanding is that is the intended purpose of Creative Saskatchewan — to grow the creative industries — but this effectively shuts it down for all but a handful,” Nickel said.
There’s been no decrease in funding to CS, but the new grant has changed to align with best practices across the country, said Greg Magirescu, CEO of Creative Saskatchewan.
If an author is contributing to the production of a book, then the publisher isn’t eligible because they’re already being paid by the author — regardless of what the publisher is putting into the project, Magirescu said.
“The grant we’re talking about actually helps publishers cover the costs of actually printing a book,” he said. “If a publisher requires authors to pay for those printing costs, they can no longer receive funds to cover those same costs.”
As a Crown agency created by government, Creative Saskatchewan’s mandate is to support growth in commercial sectors of the creative industry, Magirescu said.
“We’re looking at which sectors create employment, contribute to GDP and are looking at expanding their markets,” he said. “That’s our role. When you look at arts councils or the Canada Council or the Saskatchewan Arts Board, we’re very different from them. We’re not here to support artists just for creating art or writers who are writing literary works. That is not our mandate.”
Since CS started in 2013, it has invested in fewer than 10 hybrid publishers and self-publishers combined, he said.
“Most of those projects were self-published or one-offs,” Magirescu said. “They were not repeats and they’re low-volume, so they’re able to publish a book that has very low sales-volume capability. Whereas where you look at a traditional publisher, which is what we’d say is the gold standard in the publishing business, is publishers pay authors. Authors don’t pay publishers.”
Saskatchewan is the only Canadian jurisdiction that has been funding hybrid publishers and self-published books.
“The hardest thing is when you’ve offered something and then you take it away,” Magirescu said. “In this case, that’s what happened.”
Annually CS receives $7.3 million in provincial funding to cover operations, and about 17 unique grants that support six sectors — screen-based media (film, television and interactive digital media); music; book publishing; fine craft; commercial galleries and live performing arts.
“About $4.75 million is invested in all of that activity,” Magirescu said. “Within each of those grants, we have numerous applications … We have to have criteria and limits. We can’t fund everything.”
A primer on types of Sask. publishers
Hybrid publishing: Clients whose primary business is not publishing but wish to have books professionally published contract a publisher for their services. Hybrid presses exercise independent editorial control in that they choose which books they want to publish. They take on some financial risk, but they share that risk with the client, usually the author, to move the project ahead. The result is most often a trade title.
Self-publishing: When the author (or illustrator or photographer) acts as publisher — contracting editors, designers, printers, distributors, etc. The author takes on all the financial risk. The result may be a trade title.
Literary publishing: Focuses on the ideas, themes, and opinions of its writer(s). Literary writing is a work of art which can be in the form of fiction, poetry, drama, graphic novel, children and young adults’ literature, or literary non-fiction.
University presses: Focus on the publishing of scholarly or academic books. They may also publish some trade titles.
Trade publishing: Publishing for a general audience. Everything from cookbooks to children’s books to thrillers.


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Walmart Joins Precision Conservation Management Program
In March of this year, PepsiCo made a significant $216 million multi-year investment in strategic partnerships with farmer-facing organizations, including Practical Farmers of Iowa (PFI), Soil and Water Outcomes Fund (SWOF), and Precision Conservation Management Program (PCM - the conservation program of IL Corn Growers Association & Illinois Soybean Association). The primary objective of this investment was to promote the adoption of regenerative agriculture practices throughout the United States. Regenerative agriculture focuses on sustainable farming methods that enhance soil health, biodiversity, and carbon sequestration.
Last week Walmart announced that it will now be partnering with PepsiCo and the Precision Conservation Management program. This collaboration is seen as a significant milestone for the PCM program, as Walmart has never directly worked with farmers before. By teaming up and investing in PCM, PepsiCo and Walmart aim to leverage their size and scale to provide farmers with a voluntary and flexible approach to conservation practices.
The involvement of Walmart in the PCM program holds considerable importance as it adds support to an already growing initiative. Having such a major company like Walmart join the program will help spread awareness about conservation and allocate additional funds for other conservation programs initiated by PepsiCo.
Greg Goodwin, PCM Director, expressed enthusiasm about Walmart's participation, stating, "We are thrilled for Walmart to be a part of the many supporters of the PCM program. These joint partnerships remain undeniably important to the success of the program and for farmers in Illinois, Kentucky, and Nebraska."


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The American education system is working to make colleges and universities more equitable by becoming minority-serving institutions, which aim to serve specific minority groups with various resources and opportunities.
The transition to college from high school can be a difficult experience for all young adults. Along with challenges such as leaving home for the first time and managing one’s own finances, first-generation students also contend with adjusting to a new way of life without the same experience, guidance and peer network as other Bruins.
Although it was popular before COVID-19, the rise of online shopping has only accelerated as more people stayed home during the pandemic.
According to a study by McKinsey & Company, e-commerce sales rise by about 35% every year.
This post was updated Jan. 29 at 9:55 p.m.
With the shift to hybrid learning caused by the pandemic, Bruins around the world had to learn to adjust to new ways of teaching.
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WSJ: Standalone VR headset from Google in the works
Less than a week after there were reports that Google is planning to launch a Samsung Gear VR competitor later this year, the Wall Street Journal is reporting that the Mountain View, California-based company is also working on a standalone VR headset.
Google's existing Cardboard VR headset (Star Wars edition)
As the term suggests, a standalone VR headset is one which doesn't rely on a smartphone, PC, or a gaming console to function. Currently, there isn't any such VR product in the market.
"The headset will include a screen, high-powered processors and outward-facing cameras," the report said. It "appears to aim for a middle ground: a quality experience not tethered to an expensive PC or game console." Startup Movidius will supply the technology for the headset.
As for the availability, things aren't set in stone it seems. While one of the WSJ's sources said the device could be unveiled this year, others refrained from offering any specific timeline, cautioning that it's in early stages of development and could even be scrapped.
The Samsung Gear VR competitor, meanwhile, could be unveiled at Google's this year's annual developer conference along with a new VR-compatible Android version, the report said.
- 14 Feb 2016
There are many build issues, not necessarily in every handset. Nexus 6P design flaw sees handsets suffer from sudden shatter syndrome: http://m.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/2433899/nexus-6p-design-flaw-sees-handsets-suffer-from-sudden-shat...
- 14 Feb 2016
Hmm you might be right but I'm still not sure why Huawei couldn't get this part right despite having released an overall awesome phone! It's superb in hand. The front speakers are very loud and performance is top notch. Can't properly digest they fai...
- 13 Feb 2016
This is Nexus 6p problem. If you put a great engine in a bad car with bad unbalanced parts then you will not get great performance from the great engine!. Samsung Note 5 / S6 /Note 4 : The Best Smartphone Displays http://www.displaymate.com ...


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UK Industrial Production Rebounds in August
Upbeat UK manufacturing and industrial output data for August has buoyed the Pound against its key peers. While the data has lent support to Sterling, the recent batch of weak UK economic updates.
suggests that the British economy is facing headwinds for industrial activity. The data comes as the BoE convenes for its latest interest rate decision meeting.
Meanwhile, in Europe, data earlier today indicated that Germany’s August industrial production slumped at its fastest pace in a year, giving rise to fears that the economy was impacted by slowing growth in China. Across the Atlantic, Fed’s report on consumer credit and mortgage applications data might attract some market attention.
Pound Sterling – UK Markets
This morning the Pound – US Dollar currency pair made further gains after the just released UK industrial and manufacturing production data showed that activity rebounded in August. Although the manufacturing output data was better than market expectations for August as auto plants came back online after summer shutdowns, the sector has continued to show signs of weakness in recent PMI releases. Also, the outlook for the nation’s manufacturing sector looks challenging, with recent surveys such as the CBI industrial trends and PMI displaying signs of softness in activity in the previous month.
In the session ahead, market focus will shift towards NIESR’s September estimate for UK GDP for the trailing three month period which could trigger further movement in the Pound against its key peers. Investors will look to confirm evidence of slowing economic growth after this week’s update of the services PMI showed a slowdown in sector growth. Meanwhile, the IMF yesterday expressed optimism in the nation’s growth prospects.
US Dollar – US Markets
Sentiment for the greenback against the Pound continues to remain subdued this morning. In the US, a weekly update on applications for home mortgages and Fed’s report on consumer credit is scheduled for release later in the day. The consumer credit report could shed some light on whether consumers were willing to use their credit cards again in August amid renewed concerns regarding global economic growth. Going forward, spotlight will be on the Fed minutes of the September monetary policy meeting due for release tomorrow, which would provide further clarity on why the US central bank decided to delay raising its benchmark interest rate last month. The FOMC meeting minutes will also be keenly watched for better understanding on when the central bank might start the ascent of its borrowing costs.
The US Dollar slipped lower against the major currencies yesterday after a report showed that trade deficit in the US widened more than expectations in August, as exports fell to its lowest level in three years, raising doubt on the Fed's plan to increase rates this year.
Euro – European Markets
The shared currency surrendered part of its previous session gains against the US Dollar and the Pound after data released earlier in the day showed that German industrial production unexpectedly fell in August at the fastest pace in a year, indicating that Europe’s largest economy might have lost some momentum in the third quarter. Today’s weak German industrial production data follows a sharp drop seen in the nation’s factory orders for August that was published yesterday. Recent data prints in the Euro zone’s biggest economy have painted a picture of caution for the German economy, in the wake of waning demand from China and other emerging markets. Meanwhile, France posted a narrower trade deficit for August which was helped by a fall in the nation’s imports. Markets had anticipated the trade deficit to widen in August. However, data from Europe’s second biggest economy failed to halt the Euro’s descent against the majors.
Tomorrow, markets will eye German trade and current account data for further cues to confirm that the economy lost steam in the third quarter.
Other Currencies – Highlights
The Japanese Yen has recovered moderately against the US Dollar following Bank of Japan’s decision earlier today to keep its monetary policy steady, despite the economic growth outlook being threatened by slumping exports and inflation outlook challenged by falling oil prices. As widely expected, the Japanese central bank maintained its pledge to raise base money at an annual pace of JPY80.00 trillion ($666.00 billion) through aggressive asset purchases. The BoJ Governor, Haruhiko Kuroda at the press conference reiterated the bank's stance that the massive stimulus measures will eventually lift the world's third-biggest economy decisively out of nearly two decades of deflation. The bank left its assessment of the economy unchanged from the previous meeting, with the Governor maintaining his optimistic view that Japan’s economy continues to recover moderately.
Meanwhile, the IMF in its semi-annual World Economic Outlook has estimated that Japan’s economy will expand at a slower rate this year than previously forecasted. Later today, investors will eye a pair of US economic reports due for further direction.


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Visa, MasterCard To Settle Government Antitrust Suit; AmEx Vows To Fight It
Visa and MasterCard, seven state attorneys general, and the Department of Justice agreed to settle an antitrust lawsuit today. American Express says it will challenge it.
According to Visa, "as part of the settlement, Visa will allow U.S. merchants to offer discounts or other incentives to steer customers to a particular form of payment including to a specific network brand or to any card product, such as a "non-reward" Visa credit card.
MasterCard says "the terms of the settlement are consistent with the Company's long standing business practices and will require MasterCard only to modify its rules to more specifically conform to its business practices."
In a statement, American Express said "the antitrust lawsuit filed today against the company is a significant retreat from previous Department of Justice efforts to promote competition in the payment industry."
The new approach would ultimately limit consumer choice, reduce competition and curtail innovation.
At a news conference today, Attorney General Eric Holder explained that "every time a consumer uses one of their credit cards to buy something from a merchant, that merchant pays a fee -- a fee that is passed on to consumers through higher prices."
In 2009 alone, the three credit card companies and their affiliate banks collected more than $35 billion in these fees.
He went on to say that "Visa, MasterCard and American Express don’t just impose fees, however -- they also prevent merchants from offering consumers any cost saving options such as discounts or rewards for using less expensive forms of payment."
The companies put merchants and consumers in a no-win situation: accept our card, pay our fees, and don’t even think about trying to get a discount.
Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.


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NEW YORK, Feb. 3, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Rebag, the luxury resale authority, launches Clair AI, a revolutionary image recognition technology that can identify and price luxury handbags within seconds. An extension of Clair, the company's groundbreaking pricing tool that launched in October 2019, Clair AI recognizes and instantly delivers the resale value of handbags across more than 50 brands and 15,000 Clair Codes. The software is powered by machine-learning and backed by six years of data and millions of image references collected by Rebag.
Clair AI is the latest addition to the Clair by Rebag technology suite and is designed to bring transparency, convenience, and simplicity to the resale process. Clair, a powerful, proprietary software, is short for Comprehensive Luxury Appraisal Index for Resale and is equipped with a universal taxonomy and condition grades that act as a standard pricing reference for resellers worldwide. Clair serves luxury resale in a similar manner to how Kelley Blue Book serves the auto industry.
Users can download the Rebag app on their iOS or Android device for an optimal experience, or visit Rebag.com. After scanning a handbag on a neutral background via a phone camera, Clair AI will instantly identify the bag's brand, model and style, and generate the price Rebag is willing to pay for that item today. Clair AI eliminates the guesswork and hesitation that often comes with re-selling an item or making a luxury purchase.
"Clair AI will transform the luxury resale industry forever," says Charles Gorra, Founder and CEO of Rebag. "From now on, anyone can scan and access the resale value of a handbag instantly, without any prior industry knowledge. With Clair AI, we are building on our promise of always providing total transparency and simplicity for resellers. Ultimately, we believe that accessible resale data points will redefine behaviors and move the luxury industry from a consumption mindset towards an investment one."
Clair AI allows users to scan bags that are available in person, in their own closet, from a friend at a party, or even while eyeing a handbag in a store. However, the software can also recognize virtual representations of a handbag, in particular any screen that features the items. For instance, users can scan another device that is browsing a luxury shopping or resale destination, a social media account that features handbags, a television screen with their favorite show, or even a page or advertisement of a printed magazine. This means consumers do not need to own the bag to discover its resale value and can use the tool for items they are simply interested in.
After receiving their price quote, consumers can then accept Rebag's offer, generate a free shipping label, and send their item out in the mail. As per the Rebag process, sellers will be paid within 2-3 business days upon receipt of the items. There is also the option to receive instant payment in-person by dropping off the products at any of Rebag's seven store locations across NYC, Miami, and LA. Currently, the tool can recognize over 15,000 existing references and identify these with 91% accuracy.
Clair AI makes up to five predictions for the handbag ranked by highest likelihood, and the user can then select the one that matches their bag. The software is powered by machine-learning and is continuously improving over time. While Rebag purchases many categories including watches, jewelry, and accessories, Clair AI is currently available only for handbags. Users can always use Search and Image Submission options via the Clair suite for all categories. For professional resellers and platforms around the world, Clair AI is also available on-demand for third-party applications and can integrate with external systems at scale.
Receiving an appraisal from Clair AI is free and does not lock consumers in to buy or sell through Rebag. Once customers have seen the future of their handbag, they can decide to hold onto the investment for posterity, sell/trade it in through Rebag, or even buy more of them - the options are endless.
Clair AI debuts on the Rebag iOS and Android Apps, as well as Rebag.com on mobile and desktop, beginning February 3. For more information on Clair by Rebag, visit rebag.com/clair.
Rebag, the authority on buying and selling luxury goods, is currently one of the fastest growing retailers in the US and has established itself as a leader in the luxury re-commerce space. Founded by Charles Gorra, what makes Rebag unique is the ability to sell your designer goods and receive upfront payment. Since 2014, the digitally native company has opened seven retail locations in New York, Los Angeles and Miami. In 2020, Rebag expanded into luxury watches, jewelry and accessories. Rebag was named one of Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies. The company has been featured in the New York Times, Business of Fashion, VOGUE, TechCrunch and more. Rebag is independent from any brand affiliation.


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New honorees, presenters, performers and special guests have been announced for the fourth annual Revolver Golden Gods, presented by Epiphone, America‘s only hard-rock and heavy-metal award show. The event will take place Wednesday, April 11, at Club Nokia in Downtown Los Angeles and is almost sold out. Fans without tickets can still watch the show though, as it will be broadcast live in its entirety on XBOX LIVE, as well as on the XBOX and Revolver Facebook pages. The award show live broadcast is the first ever of its kind and kicks off globally at 6 p.m. PDT/9 p.m. EDT.
The Ronnie James Dio Lifetime Achievement Award, presented by XBOX LIVE, will go to prog-rock pioneers RUSH, who will release their highly anticipated 19th studio album, “Clockwork Angels“, this year on Roadrunner Records. (Previous honorees include hard-rock and metal legends MÖTLEY CRÜE, Lemmy Kilmister of MOTÖRHEAD and Ozzy Osbourne.) The award will be presented by Jack Black and Kyle Gass of TENACIOUS D, whose new record, “Rize Of The Fenix“, hits stores on May 15. RUSH‘s Neil Peart commented, “We are honored and delighted to receive this honor — especially because it will be presented by Jack and Kyle. Our ‘lifetimes’ are not over yet, and we dearly hope our ‘achievements’ are not either, so I suppose you could say that to us this is the ‘So Far, So Good’ award.” Of presenting the award, Black commented, “RUSH was the most impressive band, musically, when I was just learning about rock. Weirdly, they got your body moving in interpretive-dancing ways, but it was still aggressive. Their stuff was just so complex and so tasty!”


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March 12, 2023
Premier EuroCase is pleased to announce that the company has acquired an equity partner, Saturn Five. Saturn Five is a Denver-based investment group that invests in long-lasting profitable companies with clear competitive advantages in their industry. Saturn Five is committed to a “buy and hold” investment strategy, partnering with owner-operators to secure its legacy, support existing management and advance company strategies.
Premier EuroCase was founded by Andy Wilzoch in 1993 and has been a leader in cabinet space, retail fixtures and laminate panels for 30 years. Following the transaction, Wilzoch will continue to own the business, along with Saturn Five.
“Having built Premier EuroCase throughout my career and recently launched Primary Kitchen, I knew it was time to bring in a strategic capital partner who can help grow the company into its next chapter. However, it’s ‘business as usual’ around here, and we don’t have any plans to change the way we serve our customers or work with vendors,” Wilzoch said.
Saturn Five Founder and Managing Partner Max Anderson said: “We are delighted to invest in Premier EuroCase and partner with Andy. The company has a great reputation for the exceptional quality of its products. The manufacturing operation that Andy has built is truly one of a kind.”
Terms of the deal were not disclosed.


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Iceland Foods has slashed delivery fleet downtime due to flat batteries and low-speed accidents with the help of technology.
Working with Deeside-based Mercedes-Benz dealer Roanza Truck & Van, Iceland’s commercial fleet manager Alex McKinlay has developed a system helping to ensure that the retailer’s fleet of Sprinter home delivery vehicles can remain on the road for longer without the need for aftermarket battery protection systems.
Roanza’s after sales manager Nigel Lewin explained: “Sprinter vans can be fitted at the factory with optional Parametric Special Modules (PSMs) – electronic control units which allow us to access and alter or set various performance parameters. We looked at the issues Iceland was suffering and could see that we could use this technology to help address them.
“I tasked our technician, Lan Dempsey, to investigate adjustments to the PSM, which would drastically reduce the incidence of flattened batteries while also addressing some other issues raised by Iceland, such as minor body damage caused by low-speed accidents.”
Dempsey has now devised a programme that not only monitors battery voltage and turns off interior lights automatically if they are accidentally left on, but also limits the vehicle’s top speed and maximum reversing speed and flashes the hazard lights when reverse gear is selected.
Introduced this year on new vehicle orders, the technology has seen strong results. In 2013 more than 30% of Iceland’s Sprinters suffered a non-start incident due to a flat battery within their first six months of operation. Since the PSM programme was introduced this year, that figure has dropped to 5%.
“This is a fantastic turnaround,” said McKinlay. “It’s produced exactly the result we wanted, and made a tangible difference to our ability to deliver a top-quality service to our own customers. We’re now specifying the PSM programme on all new Sprinters and looking forward to even more vehicle uptime as a result.”


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ID.me doubles user count in one year; surpasses 10M users
Digital identity platform ID.me announced this week that it has surpassed 10 million users, doubling its user count in just over a year. The company achieved this milestone after federal government agencies, two top ten retailers, and a major American city integrated with ID.me’s shared login service driving new user growth and expanding the number of places where ID.me users may access services.
ID.me provides secure identity proofing, authentication, and group affiliation verification for government and businesses.
After reaching the 5 million user milestone in December 2017, ID.me added tens thousands of new partners in the public sector, healthcare, automotive, travel, and retail sectors. According to the announcement, ID.me is poised to grow even faster in 2019, particularly in the healthcare and public sector verticals with major new clients onboarding to the platform.
“The problem ID.me solves is simple,” explains Blake Hall, founder and CEO of ID.me. “Your most portable logins, Facebook and Google, aren’t trusted. Consumers can’t, or won’t, use those logins with government agencies and healthcare. Your most trusted logins are typically with your bank, but those bank logins aren’t portable to other high-value applications like healthcare records or government websites. ID.me addresses that problem by providing a trusted and portable single sign on that more than ten million individuals use to access services ranging from online discounts at retailers, healthcare applications, and benefits at federal agencies. We’ve only just begun. We’re focused on building additional partnerships in retail, government, and healthcare so we grow even faster in 2019 and put more people in control of their data.”
McKinsey recently analyzed the digital identity market and estimated it was worth roughly $10 billion in 2017. Over the next four years through 2022, it estimates the market will grow be between 9 and 15 percent a year, reaching between $16 and $20 billion.


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WE FOUND PARADISE IN TULUMEXPLORE NOW
NEW SPRING SUMMER 2018 ADV CAMPAIGNEXPLORE NOW
All set to make a huge splash in Hong Kong!
Kaleidoscopic color meets chaotic urban bustle. Once again the summer season of a major world financial & fashion capital will come alive with the spirit of fresh fanciful style. Yesterday was the day, in fact, when some of the trams crisscrossing downtown Hong Kong have begun attracting attention thanks to the latest statement from M Missoni on the subject of patterns & prints.
After decorating a luxury New York line with its iconic multicolor zigzag, now a year later the brand is literally turning heads on Hong Kong streets with the Digital Batik design that marks the Summer 2014 collection.
Most of all, it's a way to celebrate the opening of the new M Missoni boutique at the classy upscale Lee Gardens One Mall in Causeway Bay. The inviting 100+ sqm store – which joins the one at Harbour City, Ocean Center, HK – both offers consumers a great shopping experience and confirms the brand's strong presence on the Asian market.
Meanwhile fashionistas living in or simply visiting Hong Kong can benefit from another fine opportunity. Thanks to an exclusive partnership between Jessica Magazine and M Missoni, by purchasing a copy of the mag they will automatically receive a complimentary Digital Batik Tote Bag. For a perfect match with the city buses!
Also, since early March M Missoni has added China's most popular web channel to its social network. So now through the official M Missoni Weibo account, followers on this side of the globe of the brand's fabulous fashion universe have prompt access to a continual flow of style tips and other cool info!
M Missoni Lee Gardens One is going to sell the Summer 2014 collection and it will improve the Far East distribution network, already present with two boutiques (Bejing, Macau)


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[Photo by Lee Chung-woo]
The South Korean government has raised the speed in migration to digital identification and electronic certificates.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport on March 20 began allowing Koreans to board a domestic flight with a digital identity downloaded from the government app after revising related laws. A ministry official said the revision was made after they found out that around 10,000 domestic air passengers are denied boarding every year for not having physical identification, and added that travelers will be able to get on an airplane only with mobile driver’s license that will be issued soon.
The government plans to make more than 100 digital certificates available by the end of the year and upgrade system to allow financial firms such as banks, insurers and credit card companies to use digital certificates to verify their customers.
The government’s move to expand the country’s smart ID application is a result of its electronic identification pilot projects that it has carried out since last year. The pilot projects are due to be completed by June.
Private companies pin high hopes on the government’s latest move to expand the application of digital identification and electronic certificate services.
In line with the government’s decision, the country’s three mobile carriers – KT, SK Telecom and LG Uplus – are expanding digital verification services through PASS apps that enable users to log in various websites just with a phone number. They will launch mobile driver’s license service around May or June to allow drivers to show their mobile license to the traffic police.
Using mobile authentication based on block chain technology is expected to reduce the risk of personal information leaks because people don’t have to show or submit their physical ID cards that reveal their private information including address and resident registration number.
Samsung Electronics will also launch mobile driver’s license platform service based on Samsung PASS app in the second half of this year as it received government approval for the business on March 12.
By Lee Seung-yoon and Choi Mira
[ⓒ Pulse by Maeil Business Newspaper & mk.co.kr, All rights reserved]


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Optomec, an Albuquerque-based additive manufacturing company, announced on Tuesday that it has sold a 3-D printer capable of producing artificial muscles to the Factory Automation and Production Systems (FAPS) Institute at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg university in Erlangen, Germany. The machine, known as the Aerosol Jet Quad Print Engine, is designed to create artificial muscles that can be used in games, robots and in medical applications, according to a news release from Optomec.
The firm said the aerosol jet technology featured in the printer can print a variety of materials at sizes from under 10 microns to more than one centimeter. Ten microns equals one thousandth of a centimeter, or about 0.0004 inches.
Dr. Sebastian Reitelshöfer, director of the research sector biomechatronics at FAPS, said the machine will help the institute scale up its production of artificial muscles, also known as Dielectric Elastomer Actuators or DEAs.
“We believe this will be an important element in the successful production ramp up of DEA-based applications,” he said.
Ken Vartanian, VP of marketing at Optomec, said the use of aerosol Jet printing technology in manufacturing artificial muscles represents an important step forward for the technology.
“We’re pleased to see the unique capabilities of Aerosol Jet technology being applied to the exciting area of DEAs and helping develop production grade manufacturing environments for their implementation,” he said. “The research being done at FAPS holds great potential for many life-changing innovations and we’re proud to be contributing to accelerate the commercial viability of this work.”
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The company gave a third-quarter bottom line target ranging from break even to 10 cents per share, excluding unusual items.
This looked a lot weaker than Wall Street had been expecting, said Charter Equity Research analyst Ed Snyder, who cited expectations for 24 cents per share.
It's all lining up to be a weak quarter that's going to ripple though to the end of the year, he said.
It forecast 2011 earnings in a range of 48 cents to 60 cents per share, which Snyder said was also below expectations.
The company reported a loss of $56 million, or 19 cents per share, compared with a profit of $80 million, or 27 cents per share, a year earlier. Revenue rose to $3.3 billion, beating the average analyst estimate of $3.12 billion, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.
Motorola said on Thursday it shipped 4.4 million smartphones in the quarter, in line with the expectations from six analysts contacted by Reuters.
It's also sold 440,000 tablet computers, ahead of analyst expectations for about 366,000.
Motorola shares fell nearly 6.6 percent to $21.39 in after hours trading after closing down nearly 4 percent at $22.91 on the New York Stock Exchange.
(Reporting by Sinead Carew; editing by Robert MacMillan and Andre Grenon)


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Was an ad asking for a Google+ invite enough basis for Facebook to disable a member's account, including his online campaigns?
It was for web app developer Michael Lee Johnson, who said Facebook disabled his ad account but did not specify the reasons for it.
Johnson, who eventually got his Google+ account, posted his ordeal online - and made known his sentiment about Facebook on his Google+ account.
"(P.S.) Facebook - You Suck," he said.
As of Sunday noon (in Manila), 1,460 Google+ users have Johnson in their circles.
Before his account was disabled, Johnson had posted an ad on Facebook, asking Google+ users to add him to their circles.
"If you're lucky enough to have a Google+ account, add Michael Lee Johnson, Internet Geek, App Developer, Technological Virtuoso," his ad said.
But he found his Facebook campaigns were suddenly disabled, with a message from Facebook informing him that even his account was disabled.
He quoted the Facebook message as telling him his adverts "have been stopped and should not be run again on the site under any circumstances."
An article on CNET said Johnson could have run afoul of the following terms:
Clause 11 in the "Special Provisions Applicable to Advertisers" section: "You will not issue any press release or make public statements about your relationship with Facebook without written permission."
Clause 4d of Facebook's Advertising Guidelines: "Ads cannot insult, harass, or threaten a user."
Clause 6a of the same Advertising Guidelines: "We may refuse ads at any time for any reason, including our determination that they promote competing products or services or negatively affect our business or relationship with our users."
"Still, ejecting all of Johnson's campaigns seems a touch cruel. Perhaps Johnson will consider an action against Facebook for emotional distress and, well, damage to his reputation," the CNET article said.
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Facebook member claims account disabled over Google+ ad


text: It looks like the dormant theme of raging against the App Store machine is working its way back into blogs across the Web, as The New York Times reports Apple has rejected Sony’s eBook reader app for iOS. Sony reportedly submitted its Sony Reader app for iOS to Apple recently, only to have it rejected for providing in-app purchases that weren’t piped through the App Store. But Apple has uncharacteristically commented on the rejection, basically saying it has begun enforcing a rule that requires Apple-facilitated in-app purchase options be included in apps that also allow content to be purchased from non-Apple sources, like Sony’s eBook store. “We have not changed our developer terms or guidelines,” Apple spokesperson Trudy Miller told AllThingsD. “We are now requiring that if an app offers customers the ability to purchase books outside of the app, that the same option is also available to customers from within the app with in-app purchase.” How this might affect currently available apps like Amazon’s Kindle app and Barnes and Noble’s Nook app is unclear.


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Omaha zoo starts 'Late Nights at the Zoo' summer series
Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium is set to begin its "Late Nights at the Zoo" summer series for guests ages 21 and older.
The summer series starts Thursday and will occur a total of six times throughout the summer. Guests will have access to select exhibits and up-close encounters with special animal ambassadors.
Local food trucks will be present, providing guests at the special event an opportunity to support local cuisine.
Tickets will be sold online on the zoo's website and cost $10 for Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium members and $20 for non-members. General admission tickets cost $15 per person for members and $25 for non-members when purchased at the door.
Each ticket to "Late Nights at the Zoo" includes one complimentary drink ticket.
Proceeds from ticket sales at the zoo's special events will go to helping animal health, wellness and enrichment programs, as well as benefiting worldwide conservation efforts.
For more information or to buy tickets, visit OmahaZoo.com/Special-Events.


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Have you tried Photomath yet? It’s brilliant. It’s a camera app that solves math equations. Just point and solve. The company launched the app earlier this week at Disrupt London, and yesterday, unseated Facebook Message to become the top free on the App Store.
The app works in real time and displays the answer to an equation in an augmented reality layer. Click a button to have the app guide you through the steps needed to solve the problem. The app’s creators said at Disrupt that the app works with equations typical of middle school math. It won’t help you with trigonometry yet.
Sadly, Photomath doesn’t support handwriting yet. It only works with printed equations.
Photomath is free and MicroBlink doesn’t see the app as the future of the company. The company also makes optical character recognition software for banks. To them Photomath is just a proof of what the company can do and they hope the app’s success will lure more companies to the other products MicroBlink offer. As for Photomath, the company understands its core competency is not educational software and is willing to license the technology to others.
MicoBlink launched Photomath at Disrupt London and won a spot in the final round. The company ultimately lost to Crate but a spot atop the App Store is the next best thing.


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Most people opening a business expect the financial burdens and hard work involved, but undermine responsibilities such as gathering equipment, collecting materials or hiring quality employees.
Co-founder of the Left Coast T-shirt Company James Whitaker said quality employees were one of the hardest assets to find.
“Most people who are talented and smart generally leave the area and work someplace else,” Whitaker said.
Whitaker, a Cal Poly business graduate, co-founded The Left Coast T-shirt Company two and half years ago, but first launched Quikcondoms.com in 1999 with his brother David Whitaker.
James Whitaker was 19 years old and his brother David Whitaker was 20 years old when the two entrepreneurs established the online company.
Quikcondoms.com is an online service company that sells condoms, packaged and mailed, to customers as far as China, Japan and England.
James Whitaker said condoms are the “perfect items to sell online.”
“That company is awesome and it brings in more revenue than the Left Coast T”shirt Company,” the 26-year-old entrepreneur Whitaker said.
He added that he was lucky to have a computer-savvy brother to establish the site because “it would have cost us $10,000 to make.”
Whitaker graduated from the Cal Poly College of Business with a concentration he personally developed to advance his skills in entrepreneurship.
It took Whitaker seven years to graduate due to responsibilities and dedication for the online business.
“I was the worst student a college has ever seen. I’d read the newspaper in the back of class,” he said. “It took me seven years to finish, seven years of tuition, four to eight units at a time. I sacrificed a fast college life for the business.”
The Left Coast T-shirt Company opened thereafter. The brothers started out buying T-shirts from local competitors.
The company now has a 6,000 square-foot warehouse of manufacturing space and expects to have a production capability of 10,000 shirts by the end of this year.
The company makes T-shirts for other businesses in the area such as Backstreet Bar and Grill, Mother’s Tavern and Meathead Movers.
“In the next six months, we will be launching our T-shirt company online,” James Whitaker said.


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- Hello Alice, a small business resource brand from Houston-based parent company Circular Board and backed by tennis pro Serena Williams, has teamed up with Mastercard and First National Bank of Omaha to launch a small business credit card, according to an Aug. 16 press release.
- The credit card features typical benefits such as no annual fee, cash back incentives and rewards points for various business expenses. The Houston-based company said that the card also enables business owners with limited or poor credit histories to rebuild their credit and receive one-on-one business coaching with professional advisors.
- The card offering is part of a Hello Alice program to provide “high-potential but credit-challenged” small business owners educational resources, tools and financial services they need to expand their businesses, per the press release.
With the launch of the credit card and its existing grant programs, Hello Alice aims to serve entrepreneurs from underrepresented backgrounds and give more business owners access to the funding they need.
Previously, the company has listed Serena Ventures by Serena Williams, restaurateur and TV host Guy Fieri and Silicon Valley Bank as investors.
A May study by Hello Alice found 78% of small business owners cited access to capital as an obstacle to managing their daily operations, a challenge especially true for 84% of Black owners and 82% of multiracial business owners. The company estimates that $70 million in grants from its program to spur equitable access to capital could assist about 30,000 business owners with their credit by 2025, potentially providing up to $1 billion in credit access.
The new Mastercard offering is designed to “meet the needs of small business owners where they are, breaking longstanding barriers to mentorship, access to credit, and overall financial health for those who have traditionally been denied access,” said Hello Alice cofounders Elizabeth Gore and Carolyn Rodz, per the news release. “In times of economic boom and bust, access to capital remains the leading challenge for all small business owners.”
Hello Alice said cardholders can transition from secured to unsecured credit cards in as little as a year if approved. A secured card often requires the cardholder to provide a security deposit.
Though Hello Alice has differentiated itself by targeting diverse entrepreneurs, other fintechs have also broadly focused on small businesses. Last year, Square, now known as Block, launched an industrial bank and later unveiled a suite of business checking and savings accounts catering to small businesses.
Meanwhile, Mastercard teamed up with two fintech startups earlier this year, Flowcast and Highnote, to introduce a credit card for small and midsize businesses with limited access to credit.
And in June, PayPal tapped Mastercard, Concerto Card Company and WebBank to issue a small businesses-focused credit card.


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21 March 2023
Leather industry stakeholder promotional campaign Leather Naturally hosted its annual breakfast meeting during the APLF Dubai fair on March 14, where members of its Management Committee outlined some of the recent developments, writes ILM.
Claudia Spahr speaking at APLF Dubai 2023
Debbie Burton, Chair of the Management Committee, said that Leather Naturally has now been in existence for 10 years and that recent work around new messaging was beginning to see the needle shift back towards a more positive image about leather and how it is made.
She highlighted negative media articles from past and then more recent press coverage which has been framing leather in a better light. Through its Leather Truthfully campaign, information was provided on its website for mainstream journalists who report on consumer affairs to use.
She said that the industry had received more balanced reporting with a number of media organisations such as Forbes, Bloomberg and Vogue Business, saying: “We are beginning to get the message across and have an input into controlling the narrative around leather.
Burton also mentioned the leather industry’s dialogue with the Higg Index to improve environmental material index score as well as its ongoing collaboration with the Textile Exchange.
Claudia Spahr, who oversees communications for Leather Naturally, said that a new website was close to going live (early April) with facts and information about the industry provided in six languages. She said that the content is more structured, and the new site is easier for visitors to navigate. It will be supported by an ongoing social media campaign as well as the Leather Naturally’s successful “Buy better – buy leather” campaign, which can be found online. The new site will also feature QR code links for brands, retailers and consumers to use smart devices to “get the facts” around leather.
Dr Luiz Zugno, in charge of educational materials for Leather Naturally, said that the “Modern Leather Guide” for cowhide leather had been successfully added to the website in the past year but also warned that the industry still needs further work as a whole to improve the image of leather. He said: “We need to show in the industry in a clean and safe way. One that takes care of its waste and packaging.”
Around 60 people attended the breakfast meeting and Leather Naturally has around 200 active stakeholders. Leather industry related businesses can join the campaign from as little as US$250 depending on turnover.
For more information visit www.leathernaturally.org.


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A lot happened in 2020, and the COVID-19 pandemic has altered the ways we consume media. eCommerce sales were at an all-time high due to social distancing parameters, and time spent on social media and streaming services increased as they became primary ways to stay entertained at home. How will those trends roll into 2021? Keep an eye out for these new media trends this year:
1. Short-Form Videos
TikTok undoubtedly took off during the pandemic. With the average attention span of a Millennial at a short 12 seconds, and the average attention span for Gen Z at a mere eight seconds, marketing teams in 2021 will need to begin experimenting on how to best convey their brand, messaging and call to action in a short, catchy video.
2. Purpose-Driven Brands
You can have a great product, but what is your cause? Consumers are increasingly looking to benefit the common good with their dollar. People are more likely to spend with a brand that expresses values similar to their own. Last year, we saw brands like Hilton five free rooms to frontline workers and Medieval Times making masks to donate to the community to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
3. User Privacy Protections
The California Consumer Privacy Act is leading the charge on how companies are allowed to handle the personal information of California shoppers. In 2021, paid media targeting will be impacted by California’s act and similar legislation coming down the pipeline in other states. Apple’s iOS 14 release privacy feature will stop the automatic background collection of data for personalized ad tracking. This is just the beginning. Media professionals will need to pay close attention to industry news in 2021 and begin focusing efforts on collecting first party data.
4. Social Media = Shopping Channels
Facebook Shops and Instagram Shoppable posts are the newest way for consumers to buy products without ever leaving their social media app of choice. Once a difficult task to “disrupt” the user scrolling experience, these shopping channels provide convenience for consumers to shop the products they’re interested in and opens more opportunities for businesses to sell their product.
5. 5G Technology
5G technology will significantly change how we access online content. Adage wrote “The arrival of 5G may also finally bring millions of rural consumers into the high-speed data lanes where marketers increasingly sell their products. It might even disrupt the digital duopoly of Google and Facebook by arming telecom companies with unprecedented data for ad services.” This will open many new opportunities for digital marketers.
6. Visual Search
Get ready to turn your phone’s camera into a search bar! The launch of Pinterest Lens, Bing Visual Search and Google Lens means visual search will soon be just as popular as text search. With the point of a camera, consumers can find where to buy similar products, learn about a product and read reviews, and save contact info, phone numbers and add events to a calendar. The creative opportunities for marketers are endless!
Alongside the pandemic, the Black Lives Matter movement led to a cultural shift toward inclusivity, which quickly impacted consumer behavior. A study by Accenture showed that 41% of shoppers shifted away from retailers that didn’t reflect their views on identity or diversity. Brands that adapt and show improvement will benefit by creating a better connection with their buyers.
8. Interactive Content
Interactive content is a way for marketers to get consumers more engaged and create a memorable mark that will grow the connection between a brand and its audience. In 2021, marketers should begin shifting away from text-based content and into new, interactive elements like quizzes or polls, augmented reality and 360 degree videos. These immersive experiences allow the consumer to feel more involved in the buying process.
9. Consumers Want More Reviews
Fake news? How about fake reviews? According to smartinsights.com, 75% of consumers don’t accept advertisements as truth, but 90% of people believe brand recommendations from friends and 70% trust consumer opinions. With more people shopping eCommerce than ever before, marketers should invest in building relationships with customers that translate into more reviews. Products that receive 50+ reviews create greater returns.
10. User Generated Content
2021’s consumers crave content they can connect to. Videos and photos no longer need to be the highest quality production. Instead, they should be relatable, provide social proof and build the relationship between brand and consumer. Ads based on user-generated content receive click-through rates that are 4 times higher and a 50% drop in cost-per-click compared to average ads. This year, start building campaigns that encourage users to share their own content.
11. Better Analytics
Now that you’ve improved your marketing campaigns, what good is it if you can’t track performance properly? An average consumer engages with a brand on up to six touch-points before making a purchase. Because of this, marketers are taking an omni-channel approach to where they place their ads. Many companies are looking beyond Google Analytics for reporting and are moving to things like Google Data Studio, Metabase or Tableau in order to see the whole customer journey and make more informed decisions.
2020 was a year that shaped our culture, and therefore the way we consume media. Marketers will be forced to adapt in 2021. If you need assistance with where to start on your marketing decisions, The James Agency can help you pinpoint your marketing strategy, including creative, media, web development, public relations and more. Connect with the TJA team and learn more at www.thejamesagency.com.
Jessica Farhanjeh is the paid social manager at The James Agency. She focuses on paid social media planning, execution, optimization and performance measurement. She is responsible for developing marketing strategies and plans to achieve the client’s business objectives primarily on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest. Prior to joining the TJA team, she worked for other top Phoenix advertising agencies. She graduated from Arizona State University with a degree is Supply Chain Management.


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Sunderland businesses have said they're "excited" to welcome back their customers after the Government announced pubs, restaurants and cafes could open next month.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirmed on Tuesday that pubs and cafes will reopen on July 4 - along with hairdressers, playgrounds and places of worship.
Businesses in the hospitality industry have been closed since lockdown was put in place back in March with people only initially allowed to go out for essential shopping.
Now, restrictions have been eased so people can once again book to eat at their favourite restaurant and enjoy a pint at their local watering hole.
However, venues will have to stick to strict rules and guidelines to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
Some food and drink businesses did reopen for delivery and collection although the owner of bistro and Italian restaurant The Scullery in Silksworth, Hayley Tuckwell, said this wasn't viable.
She said: "We are delighted to be opening however it’s very scary too, but in order to survive we need to as the takeaway isn’t working for us and isn’t bringing in enough to pay bills.
"We will be sticking to very strict guidelines and trying to use the two-metre rule. For each area we serve in, there will be one way in and two ways out to stop any traffic flow.
"We have two lots of toilets for both areas we serve in and we will be putting in sanitising stations. Where possible, we will use disposable condiments like salt, pepper, sauces and our menus are all laminated so will be cleaned and sprayed after each use.
"Staff are trained to a high standard as we currently hold 5-stars for food hygiene so this will continue and we will deep clean regularly to stop any spread."
Meanwhile, the owner of Turkish restaurant ENFES said they have put several measures in place including staff wearing PPE and reduced hours.
They said: "We are looking to open our restaurant inside from July 4. We have taken out a lot of tables to ensure at least 1.5meters between each table.
"Staff will be wearing PPE when serving food to ensure the safety of both customers and staff.
"We will be open inside on reduced hours of Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday from 4pm-10pm, Friday and Saturday we will be open 12pm-10pm. Monday we will be closed.
"Deliveries and collection will be the same as our opening times as we understand people will still be apprehensive about dining out.
"These are our plans for opening but we will be monitoring circumstances closely, listening to guidelines and making any changes that may be necessary after opening.
"I think people are excited to be able to go back out as are we but I think we don't really know what to expect."
The Blue Bell pub in Washington said they used lockdown to redecorate their pub which they said customers "will love."
Landlady Lisa Dorman said: "Here at the Blue Bell, we are excited to be re-opening on July 4.
"We will be taking all Government guidance very seriously and adding a few measures of our own to ensure that we are providing a safe environment for our team and customers.
"We have spent the lockdown redecorating and we think our customers will love it as much as we do.
"We are taking bookings only for both food and drinks inside but the outside tables will be on a first-come, first-serve basis. Children and dogs are still very welcome."
The team from the bar Aperitif added: "I think the main thing is that we are just excited to open back up and serve our customers again! We really have missed them.
"We will be taking extra precautionary measures to keep our customers and staff as safe as possible.
"Due to the social distance measures, we will still be offering takeaway and collection too which we previously didn't."


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Google Social is Exploding Online!
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HerCampus helps Females navigate EveryCampus
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Oscars 2012, Will Anyone be Watching?
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3 Key Trends: 2011 Holiday Shopping Recap
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The Weekly Compete Pulse
It’s the week before the Super Bowl and everyone is gearing up for game day. Mashable notes that many things have changed since the Giants and the Patriots last faced off in 2008 in Super Bowl XLII. Particularly, how social media has totally transformed the marketing strategies behind both teams. Facebook made huge news this week by filing for IPO. This decision revealed a lot of interesting information; for instance,
Komen Aborts Decision to Defund Planned Parenthood
Image from: Africa Studio / Shutterstock You’ve undoubtedly heard the controversy this week about the nation’s largest breast cancer awareness charity, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, deciding to cut ties with health services organization Planned Parenthood. Supposedly based on a recent government investigation of Planned Parenthood, the Komen organization decided to halt their sizable donations to the family planning non-profit. As of this morning, however, Komen decided to flip
Twitter Campaign Amounts to McDefeat
Image from: ABC News If you follow the world of social media at all, you’ve probably heard by now that McDonald’s launched a Twitter campaign last week that didn’t go quite the way they intended. The plan was to promote McDonald’s “Meet the Farmers” campaign by sponsoring a hashtag, #McDstories, and encouraging people to use it to share stories of the good times they’ve had at their local Mickey D’s.
For Smartphone manufacturers “less” is increasingly becoming “more”
Image from: ronstik / Shutterstock With well over a hundred new phones coming out every year it’s no wonder that the smartphone market feels like it’s getting pretty crowded. However, in this world of over-abundance some phone manufacturers appear to be taking another route to success: focusing on ‘hero’ devices that are likely to capture the hearts and minds of a wide range of consumers. Offering a comparatively small range
Bing Is #2 and “Bing Is For #Doing”
Bing ended 2011 as the second largest search engine in the US. While Google is still the top used search engine for core web searches, Bing gained the most traction year over year and grew its share of the market by 4.4ppt’s to 16.3% while Google experienced a decline of 3.7ppt’s and now stands at 67.9% of the market. What is driving Bing’s growth? Bing is changing the way consumers
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Apple and Sony are being sued by a Japanese couple for shipping defective batteries.
Sony says this is the first lawsuit regarding its defective batteries. Many vendors were affected by this matter when ten million Sony-made batteries had to be recalled because of defects.
The litigants in the court case are demanding two million yen [Â£8,108] in settlement. The case claims the male party "suffered burns to his finger after his laptop battery burst into flames at his home in April last year," Associated Press reports.
His wife claims she then had to get medical treatment for shock as a result of the accident.
The battery problems were caused by a manufacturing glitch which saw microscopic metal particles left inside faulty batteries that could cause them to short circuit.
Apple was forced to recall 1.8 million iBook and PowerBook batteries, as used within 12-inch iBook G4, 12-inch PowerBook G4 and 15-inch PowerBook G4s. Affected batteries were sold worldwide from October 2003 through August 2006.
News source: MacWorld


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October 21, 2002
Fashion Scoops: The Big Picture ... Fast Friends ... Bagging It ...
THE BIG PICTURE: Alexander McQueen’s appetite for art is bigger than his apartment. That’s why the designer recently bought a second London residence, primarily to accommodate a collection that includes large-scale works by Joel-Peter...
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