text:
Duncan Aviation is continuing its Héroux-Devtek/APPH distributorship as one of five distributors worldwide.
APPH Wichita, a part of Heroux Devtek Group, recently announced it is ceasing all US operations effective 19 March 2021 and transferring all work to APPH Ltd (Heroux Devtek UK) in Runcorn, UK. After this date, all US customers will still be able to receive customer support by going directly to APPH Ltd (Heroux Devtek UK) or seeking out a Héroux-Devtek distributor such as Duncan Aviation.
Duncan continues to offer seamless OEM support for repair, overhaul and Duncan Aviation-stocked exchanges on Héroux-Devtek/APPH landing gear actuation systems and components, like sequence valves, steering and airbrake jacks, and reversing valves found on Hawker 125 series aircraft.
“We are excited to continue our partnership with Héroux-Devtek to the benefit of our mutual Hawker 125 series customers in the United States,” says Chris Gress, Duncan Aviation parts and rotable sales business development manager. “We continue to be a resource for competitively priced repair, overhaul and exchanges.”


text:
Facebook users on iOS have been able to toggle HD video uploads on and off for a while. Now, HD uploads, picture-in-picture, and some more great features have finally made their way to Facebook for Android.
Android Police, who first reported on the changes, explained that video features have “been a weak point of the FB experience on Android for quite a while now,” so the addition of HD video uploads, system-wide picture-in-picture video, easier notifications, and more, is very welcome.
Firstly, and most importantly perhaps, Android users can now choose to upload videos in HD from their Facebook apps. The toggle appears below the its photo equivalent. The new feature appears to most Android users at the moment so it should be close to be fully rolled out.
Facebook also seems to be testing system-wide picture-in-picture video, which Android Police says “will require you to give the ‘draw over other apps’ permission to FB, similarly to what FB Messenger requires for Chat Heads.”
Android users will also soon be able to download videos to watch later, and choose their own playback quality within the app, just like YouTube. Finally, they will be getting a way to “easily skip back and forth between notifications, without needing to go back to the notifications top view.”
Some great new features for Android users, and they were long due!
Images credit: AndroidPolice.com
You might also like
More from Facebook
Businesses in the US will soon be able to enable Facebook Pay as a payment option directly on their websites.
Facebook Gaming is scaling its cloud gaming infrastructure and announcing an expansion of its games library and availability.
Facebook has announced several new shopping updates across its apps, including the expansion of Shops to WhatsApp and Marketplace.
Facebook has announced the official launch of Live Audio Rooms, one of the social audio features it announced recently.
Facebook has announced several new features that will help Group admins manage and moderate their groups more effectively.

domain: news


text:
Some 160 employees of Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia Inc. are headed to South Korea this month as part of an ongoing training process to develop skills they can use at the automaker’s West Point factory.
More than 1,200 workers from the Georgia plant have trained in Korea, mostly at the research and development center in the city of Namyang. The center covers all aspects of the vehicle design process, from pre-design studies to crash testing, according to a Kia news release.
During the trip, the workers will also gain cultural insight on Korea and learn more about the Kia Way, the company’s guiding philosophy.
Kia began making the Sorento sport-utility vehicle in Georgia in November 2009 and plans to ramp up to producing 360,000 cars per year in 2012.
Visit www.kmmgusa.com for more information.


text:
The first holiday weekend of summer is here! Kincardine is ready to welcome residents and visitors to their lakeside downtown for shopping, dining, and entertainment.
“We’re excited to kick things off with great events and invite everyone to come out and enjoy,” says Lorie Fioze, Manager of Strategic Initiatives.
The weekend starts off Saturday morning at 9 a.m. with the grand opening of the new Welcome Centre at 707 Queen Street in Kincardine. This family-friendly, casual event will have activities, prizes, visits with Blinky, and a ribbon cutting at 11 a.m. The new space will be open Tuesday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. this summer.
Sunday, you can see artistry in action at the bottom of Harbour Street. The creation of two crosswalk paintings will start at 10 a.m. The work is part of the ongoing journey to reconciliation as well as a representation of the community’s actions supporting and celebrating inclusion.
Artist Jeffrey (Red) George (Ma-Mi-No-ga-boo) will be onsite creating original artwork for an Indigenous ground mural. The second painting will be a Pride flag crosswalk illustrated by volunteers from the community.
“These painting symbolize our community’s commitment to being a safe and welcoming place, as well as inspiring action towards reconciliation,” says Fioze. “It’s a really positive way to start summer.”
The weekend fun continues with the return of an annual favourite on Monday: Market in the Park. Running from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Connaught Park at 133 Broadway Street, over 65 vendors are showcasing their wares.
Kathryn Bruce, Tourism Coordinator, is excited by the variety. “Our vendors are bringing a great selection to the new location in Connaught Park. From locally grown produce to foods, eco-friendly items to antiques and collectibles, there’s really something for everyone.”
Even with the Downtown Dig causing disruption this year, businesses are open with sidewalks open and additional crossings in place to make it easier to get around this holiday weekend.
“Everyone, from businesses to event planners, have adapted to make sure the summer is going to still be fabulous. We’re ready to welcome everyone because it’s all here,” enthuses Fioze. Explore this year’s events and plan your summer in Kincardine by visiting www.kincardine.ca/Events.


text:
helloNetwork and Far East Tone to Launch Multimedia Services in Taiwan
helloNetwork, the top developer of Java(TM)-based wireless streaming media technology, has partnered with Today Fast East Tone (FET), the third largest mobile carrier in Taiwan, to launch a new range of services which provide multimedia services to FET’s Bravo subscribers. These new services include downloadable movie clips and MTVs for a variety of different GPRS and JAVA enabled handsets.
The launch, on July 10th in Taipei, was attended by a large number of key mobile handset manufactures that included BenQ, Motorola, Nokia, Siemens and Sony Ericsson. Content providers participating in the launch included ELTA, Disney, mTEL, Sony Music andYOYO Rock records.
The range of handsets that support these new services includes SHARP i98, BenQ 830C,Motorola 388C, Nokia 3650, Nokia 7650, Nokia 7210, Nokia 6100, Nokia 6600, Nokia 7250 and Siemens SL55.
All of the content available for FET’s primary Bravo users (which is based on the SHARPi98) is powered solely with helloNetwork’s JAVA mobile video player. Forty different clipsare provided to FET per month, all based on the VideoScreenSaver(TM) (VSS) product.
With the previous launch of VSS with Chung Hwa Telecom (CHT, the state-owned mobile carrier in Taiwan) late last year, ELTA and helloNetwork are covering over 60% of all subscribers within Taiwan today. Sally Chen, CEO of ELTA, comments “We will soon be deploying with the second-largest mobile network with helloNetwork-enabled content early next month, and we will be able to offer hNI products to over 92% of all subscribers inTaiwan”
“helloNetwork’s technology is ideal for low- to mid-range phones, so it has far greater reach than any other mobile video solution,” says Victor Siegel, CEO and President of helloNetwork. “With nearly 100% of all mobile subscribers in Taiwan able to enjoy video content on their handsets, helloNetwork is truly bringing high-demand mobile video to the masses.”


text:
Stock to Sell: BlackBerry
The biggest reason for trouble at BBRY lately is BlackBerry earnings that included a surprise loss of $84 million on the quarter vs. an expected profit. Even worse than the minor loss was the major disappointment on Wall Street over gadget sales with only 2.7 million BlackBerry 10 devices shipped, sparking concerns that the Q10 and Z10 will not be the gamechangers many had hoped they would be.
BlackBerry was downgraded from “buy” to “hold” at Societe Generale on Monday after disappointing numbers. Analysts at Needham & Company and Deutsche Bank on also downgraded BlackBerry after the results. Targets around Wall Street continue to move lower, telling investors that the dip is expected to last.
BBRY believers point out that BlackBerry is trading for a fraction of book value. But BlackBerry stock hasn’t traded for par at any time in 2013, so why start now? Sentiment is clearly ugly, so investors should avoid this stock at all costs.


text:
New facility part of national effort to promote an enhanced customer experience
Charleston, SC – July 17, 2017: Comcast announced today the opening of its new Xfinity customer retail store in Mt. Pleasant, SC. The 5,125-square-foot facility is located at 1102 Bowman Road, and will offer hands-on access to Comcast’s Internet, X1, digital voice and Xfinity Home products.
“Our customer experience transformation has arrived in Mt. Pleasant with the addition of this new, more modern Xfinity retail center,” said Vic Pascarelli, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Comcast. “We look forward to bringing an exciting new level of personalized service to our customers.”
The new location features multiple service counters staffed by Xfinity sales consultants, interactive iPad product demonstrations, and dedicated areas that showcase Comcast’s suite of products and apps. It also offers an automated payment kiosk to increase speed of service.
The store is open for business Monday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Comcast recently opened its new Center of Excellence in nearby North Charleston, a major milestone in the company’s effort to transform the customer experience. Comcast is bringing more than 550 new Customer Care and technical support jobs to the $21.4 million, 80,000 square-foot facility, located at 3450 Ingleside Blvd. near U.S. Route 78 in North Charleston.
Nationally, Comcast has made significant improvements to the customer experience through employee trainings, creating new customer tools and significantly reducing customer wait times. In total, Comcast is creating more than 5,500 customer service jobs in the U.S. to support this mission.


text:
South Bend man says he found piece of skin, hair in Pepsi can
It could be weeks before a northern Indiana man finds out exactly what he found floating in a can of Pepsi.
The maker of the popular soft drink is investigating after a South Bend man said he found what appeared to be a piece of skin with hair in the can Sunday afternoon - and he may have swallowed some of it.
"I cracked this one open and swallowed a chunk of something," Joseph Hidey explained. "We opened the can up and found another piece of what looks like skin with hair attached."
He said the can was part of a 24-pack he bought at the Walmart on Ireland Road last week. He called the Walmart location as soon as he found the item in his drink and they directed him to the Pepsi support line.
"I filed a lengthy report and they said somebody would be out the next day to check it out," he said.
A representative from an independent lab company called Stericycle picked up the specimen Monday night.
"They sent a representative here to pick up a sample as well as the can and two other cans that were left," said Hidey's attorney, Pete Agostino. "And, those were going to be sent to a lab for investigation, and determination and analysis."
It could take several weeks for test results to come back. Hidey also kept a small portion of the specimen to have tested himself.
"I want to know what's in it because I want to know what I ingested -- if it's human or if it's an animal," he said.
PepsiCo said the safety and integrity of their products "is our highest priority" and the company would thoroughly investigate this matter.
Hidey said he just wants to know what he swallowed and if it poses a health risk.


text:
Watching Lance Armstrong vie for an eighth Tour de France title got me to thinking about last year’s Interbike, when Lance made his formal announcement that he was returning to pro cycling.
Here is another round of 2010 product seen at Press Camp this week in Sun Valley, Idaho.
Here is some of the 2010 product being showcased at Press Camp in Sun Valley.
I attended the Dirt Series Camp in Sun Valley, Idaho this past weekend and had a great time despite the few brief downpours and thunderstorms and one pretty crazy hailstorm.
Got a call earlier from Stan Kilbas at Wheels of Wellington in Wellington, Florida regarding a scammer that’s apparently targeting bike shops in his area.
Burley CEO Michael Coughlin, along with business development manager Erin Koenig, dropped by last Thursday to discuss new products in development and how Burley is positioning itself in the growing commuter market.
Specialized introduced its new brand of urban bikes, called Globe, in Minneapolis, Minnesota last week.
Pat Sorensen, president of Penn Cycle, interview from Dealer Tour.
Ed Vigil, owner of Bokoo Bikes in Minnetonka, Minnesota shares his keys for success in the bicycle industry with BRAIN.
BRAIN wrapped up its Twin Cities Dealer Tour on Thursday with stops at five unique urban shops: Penn Cycle & Fitness, Flanders Brothers Cycle, Freewheel Bike, The Hub Bike Coop and One on One Bicycle Studio.
The second day of BRAIN's Twin Cities Dealer Tour started with a 16-mile ride from Minneapolis to the suburb of Long Lake, home to Gear West Bike & Triathlon, the preeminent tri shop in the state and for much of the Midwest.
BRAIN editors, along with riders from Giant, Pedro's, Michelin and Ergon—sponsors of the Twin Cities Dealer Tour—and QBP visited four bike shops in the metro area on Tuesday.
Speedplay’s Richard Bryne and wife Sharon talk shop during our recent visit to their San Diego headquarters.
Here are the full results for the Challenge.
Robert Torrico and I cruised north on the 405 yesterday to visit Phat Cycles in Huntington Beach.
Thursday was Bike to Work day for much of Southern California and elsewhere in the country. No surprise that many companies in the industry took the opportunity to entice employees to do good on the planet and leave their cars at home for the day.
Over 650 bell ringers filled a Boulder high school field last Saturday, and raised over $18,000 to help a single mother of four fighting cancer, and shattered a world record.
Do you like the Tour of California moving to May?
On New York streets usually overrun by the city’s iconic yellow taxis, cyclists took over for just one morning. Cyclists on all forms of two wheels imaginable conquered the streets of Manhattan and the surrounding boros during the Five Boro Bike Tour.
Bike to Work Month kicks off today and BRAIN isn’t letting the occasion pass us by this year.


text:
The Fish Guy Market, the popular fresh seafood shop on Elston Avenue, will be closing after a massive sale this weekend, according to a tweet sent out by Steve Dolinsky. The Northwest Side shop, owned by Bill Dugan, will shut down after business on Sunday in order to begin demolition and revamp the space.
Dugan will re-open the shop as Wellfleet hopefully in two weeks, according to a staffer at the shop. Dugan has hosted weekly Wellfleet pop-up dinners in the space and has decided to make it a more permanent fixture.
When Wellfleet opens, it'll still be a fish market during the day and will retain its daily lunch menu, which features items like lobster rolls, the clamwich, grilled rare tuna and fish tacos. The biggest change will come with the new nightly dinner service, which will step things up a little with servers, some pizzas (traditional white pizza with clams; smoked salmon pizza) and, of course, fresh seafood. To start, it'll be BYO and they hope to add a very limited selection of wine and beer. When asked why they were making the change, the staffer said it was to fill a need for more dining options in the area.


text:
Grill Kabob is expanding its Tysons footprint beyond the mall food court.
With 17 years at Tysons Corner Center under its belt, the Afghan kabob chain is working on its first standalone location in the area at Pike 7 Plaza (8385 Leesburg Pike). An exact launch date hasn’t been set, but the restaurant will “definitely” be ready in June, co-owner Wais Shoja says.
“You have a wonderful location there,” Shoja said of Pike 7 Plaza. “You have the Metro close by, it’s a busy shopping center, you have a lot of residential, a lot of office space, so you’re pretty much getting…every kind of angle, every kind of avenue of people coming in.”
Started at Springfield Town Center — then called Springfield Mall — in 1998 by Shoja’s father and uncles, Grill Kabob has grown to 11 locations across the D.C. area, including the Tysons Corner Center stand that has been in the third-floor food court since it opened in 2005.
The Pike 7 site will be the chain’s 12th. Additional locations in Ballston and Ashburn as well as F Street in northwest D.C. will bring the total to 15 by the end of this year.
Shoja says the business has never juggled construction on this many new locations at the same time before, attributing the convergence to pandemic-related delays on the Ballston and F Street restaurants.
“That’s something new and different, but as an expanding family-owned business, there’s things you learn as the business continues to grow,” he said.
Starting with the new Tysons location, Grill Kabob is taking advantage of the major expansion to update its decor and overall aesthetic approach. Visitors can expect more mosaic tiles and “pops” of color in the furniture for a more modern design, according to Shoja.
The menu, though, will feature the same, reliable lineup of kabobs, wraps, rice bowls, and salads that the chain has been serving up for more than two decades now.
A worker in the family business since he was 13, Shoja says his whole family is proud to see how far Grill Kabob has come since that first restaurant in Springfield. While the focus continuees to be on the D.C. area, an expansion to other parts of the country isn’t out of the question.
“We’re always open to looking for new locations,” Shoja said. “If the location is right, if there’s a good opportunity, of course we would love to…We’re continually looking to grow.
The weekend is almost here. Before you try to process the end of the Roe v. Wade era or head to bed for some much-needed sleep, let’s revisit the past…
Neighbors are frustrated by a lack of safety improvements in recent years in Oakton’s Blake Lane corridor, where a driver struck three pedestrians, killing two, earlier this month. At a…
Fairfax County has a plan to fix the Balls Hill Road and Old Dominion Drive intersection, but it will likely take another half-decade for the changes to fall into place….
A new Chinese restaurant is opening soon at Lake Anne Plaza. Big Wonton, a Chinese restaurant that already has another delivery concept in Reston, will take up space at 14438…


text:
Shortly after 2 am Pacific time on Monday, multiple OpenAI employees, including Chief Technology Officer Mira Murati, simultaneously posted on X: “OpenAI is nothing without its people.” Sam Altman, who had been removed as the company’s CEO on Friday, reposted many of these messages. By that time, Altman had already secured a new position. Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft, a major investor and partner of OpenAI, announced late on Sunday that Altman and his co-founder Greg Brockman would be heading a new “advanced AI research team” at the tech giant. Nadella’s statement hinted at the possibility of other members from the startup joining Microsoft.
By bringing Altman and Brockman on board amid the turmoil at the top of OpenAI, Microsoft has successfully acquired one of the most successful management teams in artificial intelligence without having to purchase the company, which was valued at $86 billion before the upheaval.
“Satya now looks like one of the most epic kingmakers,” says Nathan Benaich, founder and general partner at Air Street Capital and author of the State of AI report.
At least three other senior researchers—Jakub Pachocki, Aleksander Mądry, and Szymon Sidor—have reportedly left OpenAI.
“The head and the arms and one of the legs [of OpenAI] have gone to Microsoft,” says tech analyst Azeem Azhar, author of the newsletter Exponential View. “This is an enormous opportunity for Microsoft because it gets to take Sam Altman and Greg Brockman and probably a large part of the leadership team, and many of the very best engineers and researchers.”
At Microsoft, Altman and Brockman will have access to substantial amounts of capital and computing power, as well as the tech giant’s support for developing other parts of the AI tech stack, including chips and consumer electronics. Altman was reportedly in the process of raising billions of dollars from investors for a new chip project in the weeks leading up to his removal. Altman and OpenAI had also been linked to a hardware venture with former Apple head of design Jony Ive that was supposedly aiming to build the “iPhone of AI,” backed by Softbank’s Masayoshi Son.
“I’m sure [Microsoft] will give Sam the leeway to go up and down the stack,” Azhar says. “Microsoft itself is developing its own chips for AI. Well, Altman’s group can probably help with that now, and they will be developing consumer electronics like surface computers and so on. Sam can start to head into that direction now through this group.”
Microsoft shares dropped on Friday as news of the issues at OpenAI spread. OpenAI’s technology has been integrated into several Microsoft products, including its Bing search engine, and the two companies’ fortunes had been considered deeply intertwined. The news that Altman will be joining the company is likely to restore confidence, analysts say.
“[Microsoft] hired this key asset, and now he will oversee OpenAI from Redmond along with Nadella, which is music to the ears of investors,” says Dan Ives, senior equity research analyst covering the technology sector at Wedbush Securities. “If Microsoft lost Altman, he could have gone to Amazon, Google, Apple, or a host of other tech companies craving to get the face of AI globally in their doors. Instead, he is safely in Microsoft’s HQ now leading the company’s key AI efforts.”


text:
Spireon announced new Mobility as a Service (MaaS) capabilities with its Kahu solution at the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES).
CES 2018 will feature over four hundred automotive vehicle technology exhibitors as well as many speakers, demonstrations, parties and events.
BlackBerry Limited and Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., a subsidiary of Qualcomm Incorporated announced a strategic collaboration to develop and produce cutting-edge
Consumer Watchdog today joined Privacy International and other public interest groups in an international call for car rental companies to
The Virginia Tech Transportation Institute announced two new initiatives. Working in partnership with the Virginia Department of Transportation, the university
For automotive enthusiasts Black Friday and Cyber Monday offer discounts to accessories and systems that are not seen during the
Beginning today Hum connected car service from Verizon Wireless now includes safety score leaderboard, locations of other Hum-equipped vehicles on
U.S. Cellular customers can manage their vehicles and keep tabs on the safety of their drivers using CruiseConnect, an easy-to-install
AT&T, Ford, Nokia, and Qualcomm are helping to accelerate the development of connected cars with the first announced Cellular-V2X (C-V2X)
At 2017 ITS World Congress there are many connected car and smart city announcements, papers and demonstrations. Companies include Toyota,
In anticipation of the iPhone X launch, consumers are becoming aware of wireless charging. Apple calls wireless charging for Qi
Wards 10 Best User Interface competition honorees have been announced, this award is part of Wards best interiors. The automobile


text:
Omantel, the Sultanate’s most valuable brand in Oman according to the annual brand survey of Brand Finance, has been voted as the Most Trusted Brand in the telecom sector in the Sultanate.
The selection was announced by Oman Economic Review, a renowned local English magazine in its September issue as part of the brand survey conducted by the magazine in collaboration with the Arab Research Bureau. Moreover, all the participating categories have named Omantel as the most trusted brand in the telecom sector.
The participants at the survey have been divided into two main groups (senior management and executives) and six sub groups. The senior management group included two categories namely the Omanis and expats. The executive group included four main categories namely Omanis, expats, males and females. When it comes to telecom services, there has been a consensus among all groups that Omantel is the most trusted brand in the Sultanate; up to 10 points higher than the first runner up. The selection reflects the confidence vested by more than 3 million customers in Omantel products and services.
Commenting on this achievement, Talal Said al Mamari, CEO Omantel said ‘This is another milestone achievement that reiterates Omantel’s leadership of telecom sector in the Sultanate. The achievement is s result of accumulation of confidence that has been reinforced and integrated over the past decades.
‘We are delighted to learn that there has been a consensus among all groups that Omantel is the most trusted brand in telecom. This is itself a strong evidence of our customers’ confidence in our products and service. The selection will urge us to double our efforts to ensure that all our customers enjoy good experience with us”. he furthered.
‘Our new strategy is focused around capitalizing on the opportunities generated by digital transformation to provide an experience that exceeds our customers’ expectations. Omantel has already launched a number of initiatives that contributed to the enhancement of the services provided to Omantel customers”. Al Mamari concluded.
Over the last few years, Omantel brand received a number of regional and international awards. Besides maintaining its position as the most valuable brand in Oman since 2010, the brand has been selected as the best brand in the telecom sector as per the outcomes of the annual survey conducted by Business Today magazine. Omantel also captured a number of other prestigious regional and international awards.


text:
Vietnam among three global largest instant noodles consumers
Vietnam ranked third in instant noodles consumption after China/Hong Kong and Indonesia.
Around 7 billion packs of instant noodles were eaten in the country last year, according to the World Instant Noodles Association (WINA). The latest survey by Nielsen Vietnam shows that the consumption rate has increased by 67 per cent. Vietnam is home to about local and foreign instant noodles producers.
China is currently the world's highest consumer of instant noodles, but the growth rate in consumption is not as high as that of Việt Nam.
According to data from the WINA, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has caused a sharp increase in the demand for instant noodles around the world. The consumption demand of this product surged by 14.79 per cent year-on-year in 2020.
Statistics of the WINA show the Asian market was the biggest consumer of this product, accounting for 56.45 per cent of the total global instant noodle consumption last year, especially in Northeast Asian countries such as China, the Republic of Korea, and Japan.
With the five main markets, Indonesia, Việt Nam, the Philippines, Thailand and Malaysia, the Southeast Asian region accounted for 25.24 per cent of the total demand.
According to a market research report of Facts and Factors, revenue from noodles is expected to increase to US$73.55 billion over the next five years from $45.67 billion in 2020.
A number of Vietnamese companies recorded a 300-per cent surge in the noodle export output. Instant noodles made in Việt Nam have been sold in more than 40 countries worldwide.
The above materials from the local newspapers are provided for informational purpose only. The content may include subjective parts and doesn't necessarily represents our own opinion. The Embassy therefore is not accountable for the objectiveness or accuracy of the content


text:
March 3, 2015
Teletrac and Navman Wireless have merged into a single telematics company, the two recently announced.
February 20, 2015
Knight Transportation has chosen the Zonar 2020 Mobile Tablet as the new telematics platform for its fleet.
February 10, 2015
Omnitracs, LLC, hosted its first global user conference in the company’s new hometown, Dallas, Feb. 8-11, kicking off with a rousing drum line performance.
As part of Omnitracs, LLC’s global user conference held Feb. 8 – 11 in Dallas, the company’s Roadnet Technologies business unit unveiled new products and enhancements, including a new business intelligence tool.
January 12, 2015
Swift Transportation announced that it would partner with Spireon to bring GPS-based trailer tracking and management to dry van trailers added in 2015.
January 8, 2015
The advent of the "Internet of Things" concept in trucks helps fleets improve security for vehicles, drivers and cargo, with smart devices, locks and sensors that do their work in the background.
December 19, 2014
CVS used the routing software in the Telogis telematics system to analyze the best routes for drivers to approach a location, pull into a parking lot, and maneuver into the loading dock.
December 18, 2014
The recently enacted change to drivers hours-of-service rules, scrapping parts of the restart provision adopted in July 2013, has prompted telematics and e-log providers to hustle out updates to their hours-of-service applications.
December 9, 2014
The joint Mack and Volvo Uptime Center brings all of the companies' aftermarket experts under one roof, where the support people and their expertise can get immediately to work on a customer downtime problem.
November 4, 2014
The latest version of Teletrac’s Fleet Director software adds improvements for mobility, mapping, business and safety analytics.
November 3, 2014
Omnitracs completed its $178 million acquisition of fleet management software company XRS, the company announced. The company began the acquisition process in September.
Omnitracs announced it had agreed to acquire XRS Corp., Minneapolis, in a deal valued at $178 million. Approved unanimously by XRS’ board of directors, the deal is expected to be finalized by the fourth quarter of this year.
October 23, 2014
Isuzu Commercial Truck of America, Inc. distributor of low-cab-forward trucks, has announced an exclusive collaboration with Telogis to improve the overall ownership experience for Isuzu customers.
October 5, 2014
SAN DIEGO – Navistar announced several new OnCommand Connection remote diagnostics features at the American Trucking Associations Management Conference and Exhibition.
September 29, 2014
The new services enhance operations, reduce costs and increase safety for customers, and eliminate the need for aftermarket hardware purchases and installation costs for Macks built recently.
September 24, 2014
Fleets using TMW Systems’ TL2000 transportation management system and Omnitracs’ thin client AS/400 integration and mobile computing platforms gain increased features and enhanced integration via new integrations.
September 2, 2014
Omnitracs, the original pioneer of tracking and communications in the trucking industry, announced it's buying XRS Corp., which led the industry in going to a mobile platform using the bring-your-own-device strategy.
August 29, 2014
OEMs are increasingly getting involved in the web of smart devices, sensors and data.
August 20, 2014
PeopleNet has partnered with Pana-Pacific to distribute its fleet management products and software through truck dealerships.
August 19, 2014
As part of its 2014 User Conference, PeopleNet spent Tuesday evening recognizing the top innovators among its client base, fleets that have demonstrated exceptional leadership over the past year by using PeopleNet products and services to create unique solutions that accelerate and drive return on investment.
We offer e-newsletters that deliver targeted news and information for the entire fleet industry.
The expert, Mark Betner from CITGO, will answer your questions
The expert, Rence Oliphant from Hendrickson, will answer your questions
Timken Adds A Wheel End Parts Line
Eaton Expands Flex Reman Transmission Lineup
ARI Adds Custom Dashboards to Fleet Management System
TruckTech+ Provides Diagnostics to Fleets and Dealers


text:
21 June 2001 | Robin Parker
Corporate travel managers are moving into more general purchasing roles and there is the potential for a more strategic responsibility, according to the Institute of Travel Management (ITM).
"The role of the corporate travel manager is changing," Loraine Holdcroft, executive secretary of ITM, told SM. "Applications to join the ITM are increasingly from people in general procurement who have been given responsibility for travel management as one of their procurement roles."
She denied that travel management will cease to be a specialist skill, "but there is a trend, even among long-term ITM members, to broaden one's skills to other areas of procurement".
A survey by Cranfield University commissioned by the ITM suggested that travel managers could outsource much of their purchasing administration to travel agents to justify their transaction fees.
"The opportunity is certainly there to remove a lot of administration and free up time for strategic decision-making,"said Keith Mason of Cranfield's air transport group, who compiled the study.
Most respondents use only one travel agent, which handles on average 92 per cent of their air travel spend. Most buying is arranged by telephone, with a tenth booking via e-mail.
The Internet's main benefit, identified by more than 80 per cent, is for checking flight schedules. Less than 5 per cent book online, a process actively discouraged by three-quarters of travel managers on the grounds that it makes it hard to monitor and control spending. But they said 42 per cent of travel would be booked online within five years, as users become accustomed to the net and technology improves.
"Online booking is being used for short-haul flights, but it will never replace the corporate travel agent, as it cannot replicate the diversity of roles or provide management information such as payment history," said Holdcroft.
The survey team spoke to travel managers of 20 companies with over 1,000 employees, and to travellers at 16 of these firms. The firms have a total annual air travel spend of £95 million.


text: Secaucus, NJ - As the industry awaits the winners of the annual New Product Competition to be announced in the next issue of Kosher Today (October 30th), the indications are that as many as 500 new products will be introduced at Kosherfest ‘17 set to open on November 14th at the Meadowlands Exposition Center. These new items will include a significant number of gluten-free products. A major focus of the new products is Passover, where for example, Gefen will be introducing the first ever Lasagna. Kayco will introduce Yehuda Wassah crackers, a Passover spin on Wasa crackers. In addition to the gluten-free items, many of the exhibitors will focus on healthier items that fit within the natural and organic categories. According to industry experts, new products in recent years have driven growth in kosher in almost every category. One retailer who admits that he was once “more comfortable” simply stocking shelves with familiar items, admits that younger consumers are definitely more apt to try the new items. He noted that a whole generation of foodies is “demanding” the new items.


text:
Electric vehicles are making strides in Quebec. Car manufacturers are helping to increase the momentum of electric vehicles by offering models that are more affordable and have increasing range. Contrary to popular belief, these vehicles have sufficient power to withstand Quebec winters and are seemingly more affordable when considering the significantly lower maintenance costs as compared to gas-powered models. The commercial benefits aside, the mere satisfaction of driving a vehicle without discharging any greenhouse emissions is unparalleled.
The momentum is not only being driven by car manufacturers, but also increasingly by the governments. The Quebec government has vocalized its determination to reduce the carbon footprint of personal transport by focusing on electric vehicles. In addition, the 2019 federal budget proposed a number of measures aimed at encouraging both Canadian individuals and businesses to adopt zero-emission and plug-in hybrid vehicles.
There are currently over 2,000 charging stations across Quebec, and this number is expected to increase in the near future based on plans with Hydro-Québec and the Electric Circuit to make access to various forms of charging possible.
Though these goals are quite ambitious, the Quebec government intends to accomplish these objectives through its various incentive programs. Specifically, with respect to the purchase or lease of new electric vehicles, the government offers a rebate of $8,000 for vehicles with a value of less than $75,000, and $3,000 for vehicles with a value between $75,000 and $125,000. Similar rebates are offered for the purchase of new rechargeable electric hybrid vehicles with a suggested manufacturer’s price below $75,000. Further, the Quebec government also offers financial assistance to Canadian businesses of up to $25,000, subject to certain conditions, under its “Branché au travail” program for the purchase and installation of charging stations for electric vehicles at the workplace. The incentives offered by Quebec are among the most generous in North America, making such vehicles more appealing for drivers.
The federal government is driving efforts towards a lower carbon footprint as well, with the introduction of several new initiatives. In an effort to be leaders in the field, the Canadian government has proposed a program of over $300 million of incentives over the next few years with the hope of encouraging 100 per cent zero-emission vehicle sales by 2040. One such incentive is a rebate offered, ranging from $2,500 to $5,000, that is calculated according to the manufacturer’s selling price and the range of the vehicle, and will be available on the purchase or lease of a new zero-emission vehicle until 2022. Specifically, vehicles eligible for this rebate include those with six or fewer seats with a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of less than $45,000, as well as those with seven or more seats with a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of less than $55,000. Canadians who purchase or lease an eligible battery electric, hydrogen fuel cell or longer-range plug-in hybrid vehicle will be eligible for a rebate of $5,000, while an incentive of $2,500 will be available on the purchase or lease of a shorter-range plug-in hybrid vehicle.
In line with these efforts, the 2019 federal budget proposed to create two new classes of depreciable property for zero-emission vehicles, namely Class 54, which is proposed to have a capital cost allowance rate of 30%, and Class 55, which is proposed to have a capital cost allowance rate of 40%. Class 54 is designated for zero-emission vehicles that would otherwise be included in Class 10 or 10.1 (regular automobiles), while Class 55 will include zero-emission vehicles that would otherwise be included in Class 16 (taxicab, automobile used for short-term rental or leasing, and others). Further, the budget proposed the introduction a multiplier for zero-emission vehicles included in Class 54 or Class 55 that become available for use on or after March 19, 2019 and before 2024. This measure would effectively allow for a 100% deduction of their capital cost in the year the property becomes available for use.
Our governments’ vision for a better future is clear, with generous incentives and programs to encourage and facilitate the adoption of zero-emission forms of transport. The driving forces to improve our carbon footprint and reduce greenhouse emissions are in place. It is now up to each of us to take the wheel to make strides for a better tomorrow.
For further information, please contact your Crowe BGK advisor.
About the Author:
Brittany Klumak, CPA Auditor, is a Tax Specialist at Crowe BGK
Connect with her: [email protected]


text:
This ad started running late in 2018, and the article below was first published on February 4, 2019… the ad is sending a lot of questions our way this week and is almost entirely unchanged, and the article below is lightly updated to share some more recent news and developments.
The promise in Dave Forest’s ad for Casey’s International Speculator ($1,995, no refunds) is pretty monumental — he implies that one little company is on the verge of cornering the supply for a critical battery metal, and that this is keeping Elon Musk up at night.
Here’s a little piece of the spiel:
“Is Elon Musk’s worst nightmare coming true… 3.1 Million Electric Vehicles: Now Obsolete?
“One tiny company may be responsible.
“Early investors could turn a small stake into $55,000—fast.”
Who knows what “a small stake” might be (for some it would be $50,000, which would make $55,000 seem less impressive), but let’s see if we can ID this “one tiny company” for you.
Some more from the ad:
“This presents car companies with a unique opportunity:
“If one of them can get their hands on the entire nickel sulfate supply, they will essentially have a monopoly on 1-1-8 tech for quite some time…
“And, as a result, dominate the electric vehicle market, which I expect could soon generate $407 billion in revenue every year. (That’s more than the yearly revenue of Nissan, BMW, and Honda… combined.)
“It looks like one company has already caught on to this strategy.
“According to my research, Tesla is already trying to lock in long-term supplies of nickel sulfate.
“To avoid losing to Tesla, competitors must act fast.”
So what is this 1-1-8 deal? In Forest’s words:
“It is not a new battery.
“Instead, it’s a new chemical composition of a critical piece inside the battery itself:
“It’s responsible for storing and unleashing the built-up energy within each battery….
“The result of 1-1-8 tech is the most advanced, stable, and powerful battery in existence….
“It makes even the most advanced electric cars today look like they were built in the Stone Ages.
“The Tesla Model S—widely known as the best electric car today—can only last 335 miles on a single charge.Are you getting our free Daily Update
"reveal" emails? If not,
just click here...
“A car integrated with 1-1-8 tech is expected to drive 100 miles further.
“And actually costs less to build!”
So apparently this technology is already in most new electric cars…
“Within a year, most of the 400,000 electric cars made each quarter will use this tech. And it’ll only increase exponentially from there.”
And then we get to the crux of the pitch — how do you make money off this “1-1-8” business?
“… if history repeats, then a few suppliers of 1-1-8 tech materials will soon see explosive growth.
“One of These Elements Could Hand Early Investors an Absolute Fortune!
“It’s the “8” in 1-1-8.
“The 1-1-8 ratio, as you may have guessed, stands for a specific percentage of a certain element.
“10% is cobalt. It’s used to improve the battery’s cycle. Meaning, it extends the life of a battery.
“10% is manganese. It’s used to stabilize the battery.”
OK, so what’s that “8?”
“It’s a rare, highly conductive material found in meteorites.
“Its scientific name is NiSO4(H2O)6.
“It’s the purest form of nickel mined from magmatic deposits deep inside the Earth.
“It’s called ‘nickel sulfate’—and it’s pretty rare.”
And despite that rarity, we’re told, it’s not all that expensive just yet…
“These days, a pound of cobalt—another battery material—costs $28.
“Today, a pound of nickel sulfate still sells for just $1.78. Pretty cheap.”
That’s no longer true, Cobalt did spike from about $10 per pound in 2016 to $40 in early 2018, and it was in the $20s when this ad first ran, but they didn’t bother to update the numbers — it’s now around $16.
He pulls out examples of past “battery metals” that spiked in price, including cobalt, lithium and vanadium, in predicting a big surge for nickel sulfate…
“I wouldn’t be surprised if nickel sulfate surged 200, 300, even 500% from here.
“The few companies who mine nickel sulfate are about to see their value shoot through the roof!”
And that is still a valid prediction here in November of 2019, nickel sulphate is widely expected to see supply shortfalls as demand increases for electric car batteries — there was a good Wall Street Journal article on that just a couple months ago and this has been predicted for several years, so it’s not exactly secret news, though nickel has been so volatile, and so tied up in trade-war worries, that there is probably still not enough investment in increasing production.
So, naturally, this is when we get to the “one tiny company” bit about your future riches:
“But one tiny company in particular may see far greater growth than any other.
“Insiders seem to know this…
“They’ve been snatching up shares at an unusually rapid pace. It’s obvious they’re getting ready for a big payday.”
OK, so insider buying is good… and extremely rare in mining stocks, in my experience. So that’s interesting. What other clues do we get?
“On June 11 of this year, a $341 billion conglomerate acquired a 19.9% stake in this company. They paid a 43% premium.”
(That’s 2018, the ad has been running for a year or so now — and yes, I can see why


text:
AmEx sales miss; Apple slumps (2:11)
April 17 - Summary of business headlines: American Express revenues disappoint on slower cardmember spending; Wall Street takes big swing downward on Apple speculation, Bank of America sales target miss; European index loses all of 2013 gain. Conway G. Gittens reports. ( Transcript )
Hard-edged reporting, insight and analysis, Reuters TV breaks ground creating informative news and financial videos. Showcasing Reuters’ 3000 award-winning journalists, Reuters TV delivers high-energy investigative journalism with concise explanations. Check it out and let us know what you think.


text:
Moves are afoot to have four UNESCO Geoparks established in the Pacific, a development expected to boost tourism in a sustainable way while focusing on not only geology but also culture.
It is possible that these and others may form a ‘Geopark trail’ around the Pacific.
At a South Pacific Tourism Office (supported by the South Pacific Community, SPC) webinar this week, it was noted that a number of steps needed to be taken at all sites (some more than others) before a submission could be made to UNESCO.
Vanuatu Tourism Office reports that resorts in the destination have been preparing for the return of international visitors.
Aore Island Resort on Espiritu Santo has completed a total renovation. This includes improved guestrooms, restaurants, jetties and beach huts. Agents can follow Aore Resort on Instagram @aoreislandresort
Mangoes and Terraces Resort have been working behind the scenes to upgrade the kitchens and pool areas. They also have a new app, developed to reduce contact points around the resorts. The whole team is double vaccinated.
After the recent announcement of Fiji’s borders opening on 1 December, hotel and resort bookings have soared.
The industry has seen tremendous momentum and record bookings, predominantly from families looking for a reunion, couples wanting to escape and groups looking to celebrate missed milestones.
Clean, Caring and Checked is the new mantra of tourism businesses across Vanuatu, under the Vanuatu Government’s Safe Business Operations (SBO) programme.
The Covid safety training is a required preparation for business restarts and all tourism staff are encouraged to undertake it across the 83 islands.
‘We must protect not only visitors but also our tourism staff and families. This training will ensure businesses are prepared to get back on their feet and provide our people with the confidence to greet visitors to Vanuatu,’ says Rae Ernest, safe business operations coordinator. ‘
Fiji will open to international travellers on 1 December. Prime Minister Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama said in statement on Sunday that Fiji is ready to welcome travellers back to its shores.
‘We are entirely confident in our ability to manage the risk associated with quarantine-free travel. Our planes are prepared. Our airports are adapted.’
The official announcement came as Fiji reached its goal to get 80% of its eligible population fully vaccinated.
Vanuatu Tourism Office is reaching out to the New Zealand travel trade as the possibility of border re-openings draws closer.
Retail agents and brokers are encouraged to register their details with VTO so that they can have access to key information and collateral at their fingertips. With so much change in the industry over the past 18 months VTO says it understands the challenge agents are facing with accessing up to date information to share with clients who may be currently looking at organising a South Pacific 2022 winter holiday.
Yesterday marked a border milestone between Vanuatu and New Zealand as 154 seasonal workers arrived in Christchurch with the commencement of the one-way travel bubble from Vanuatu to New Zealand.
‘The new travel bubble establishes a series of new protocols in both Vanuatu and New Zealand to create this safe travel pathway,’ says Len Tarivonda, director of Vanuatu’s Public Health. ‘It is the first stage in testing the systems we have put in place in Vanuatu and ensuring our citizens are prepared for travel.
‘Naturally we are hopeful that this will lead to two-way travel between our countries – however we need to take it step by step to ensure our preparations are sound,’ says Tarivonda.
Island Hopper Vacations in Cook Islands has re-introduced Close Encounters FIT packages to the islands of Mangaia, Mauke, Mitiaro, or Atiu.
The packages are for two or three nights with tours, transfers, dinner and some breakfasts.
Robert Skews, managing director of parent company Turama Pacific Travel Group, says Island Hopper has been using RI’s Retreat near the airport in Mauke, and notes that RI’s Hideaway is currently being renovated and will provide a more remote beachside option.
Tourism Fiji is advising the New Zealand trade that key resorts and hotels will be ready for their clients when they return, with many having refurbished, renovated and even added to their offerings while international visitors have been away.
The Sheraton Fiji Resort has renovated its guests’ rooms and revitalised the lobby space. The resort has three new dining experiences designed by CHADA; Tatavi Grill & Bar Restaurant, Island 619 and 28g (Grams). Additionally, the meeting spaces have been given a new look.
Shannon Mawer has joined Tourism Fiji as public relations and marketing manager, New Zealand, in its Auckland office.
Mawer was most recently in a marketing coordinator position with Joylab Network NZ and previously a publicist at Mediaworks. She has skills in PR and marketing campaign development, media relations and publicity, content management and creation, as well as stakeholder management.
Taumeasina Island Resort, close to Apia’s CBD, will soon complete the addition of new villas.
According to general manager Tuitaga Nathan Bucknall, the new development consists of 12 self contained three-bedroom villas offering views of the Pacific Ocean.
The new villas are larger in size compared to those which are part of the original build. All are on the mainland by the main entrance and directly face Taumeasina Island.
More than 50 agents have completed the Certified Tahiti Specialist Programme (CTS) online training modules. They will all receive a gift from Tahiti Tourisme.
Moana McKeen, trade manager – New Zealand with Tahiti Tourisme, says hundreds more have registered for the programme and are yet to complete the modules.
‘The programme is a ‘one stop shop’ for all travel advisors, offering comprehensive destination training as well as benefits for joining the programme and becoming a Certified Tahiti Specialist.
Samoa’s Covid-19 contact tracing app, Samoa Travel Tracer, has been officially launched in Apia by Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa.
The platform is a joint initiative between the Ministry of Health and Samoa Tourism Authority and is a vital component of the Samoa Travel-Ready Toolkit.The toolkit also includes vaccination, tourism business operator training and maintenance, and sales and marketing initiatives.
Samoa Travel Tracer is based on the privacy-preserving BlueTrace protocol developed in Singapore, and it was developed locally in partnership with SkyEye and the Samoa Information Technology Association.
Samoa looks likely to welcome only vaccinated travellers once borders reopen, attendees at a Beautiful Samoa webinar heard yesterday.
The two Sheraton properties at the destination – Sheraton Hotel and Bungalows and Sheraton Samoa Beach Resort, have already signalled that they will insist on proof of vaccination before entry to the properties.
Sonny Rivers, NZ sales and marketing representative with Samoa Tourism, says that the requirements have not been finalised by the government.
Tourism Fiji has a new initiative to encourage all Fijians to be ready to welcome back international visitors when travel resumes. The initiative communicates a simple, but important, message in a bid to reach 100% vaccination of eligible population in Fiji.
‘It’s our best shot at travel: get vaccinated and get ready,’ will be shared across Tourism Fiji’s digital channels, both locally and globally.
‘The campaign also includes a toolkit for the Fijian tourism industry so they too can encourage Fijians to support the drive to get vaccinated and be ready to reopen,’ says Brent Hill, Tourism Fiji CEO.
Cook Islands Tourism is highlighting one of Rarotonga’s newest resorts to the trade in New Zealand.
Ocean Escape Resort, an adults-only resort with 12 villas, opened in May when the ‘bubble’ between AKL and RAR began. However, feedback indicates that many agents are still not aware of the property.
A major feature of Ocean Escape is its lagoon fed pool, where guests can swim with tropical fish. It also has a poolside cabana and a social barbecue area, plus a beach front lounge from which people can whale watch in season.
Over the past 12 months an extensive refurbishment programme at Rarotonga’s Manuia Beach Resort has included new kikau style roofing, retiling of the infinity pool (which features as the last shot of the sunset on the currently running Cook Islands television commercials), and new Balinese style furniture in all rooms. New lighting and landscaping has been undertaken, the drainage has been upgraded and the rooms have been painted inside and out.
The resort also has a new general manager – Ross McLauchlan. McLauchlan was most recently manager of the Alcamo in Hamilton. He has been involved with Rarotonga for over a decade after being appointed head judge for the inaugural Air New Zealand Tourism Awards in 2009, and again in 2011 and 2013. He also recruited New Zealand staff for the Cook Island Accreditation programme from its inception, and later became an accreditor.
Vanuatu Tourism Office has named Paul Pio as the new short haul markets manager. He is responsible for managing and developing the brand positioning of Vanuatu as a tourism destination in the short-haul markets of New Zealand, Australia and New Caledonia, including managing VTO’s representation in each market.
Crown Beach Resort & Spa on Rarotonga has appointed Mike Geary from Eye 4 Travel as its NZ and Australian representative. He will be look after all aspects of the sales and marketing for the resort. On the western coast of Rarotonga, Crown Beach Resort & Spa is on five acres of tropical gardens with 36 stand-alone villas (some with their own pool), a conference / functions centre, onsite spa, two restaurants and bars, a waterfall-fed swimming pool and 120m of private beach. The resort is 15 minutes from downtown Avarua, 10 minutes from the airport.
A massive consumer turnout at the Cook Islands Travel Expo in Auckland on Sunday not only illustrated the high level of interest in the destination but also how important it is for agents and brokers to keep abreast of developments there, say participants at the event.
‘People were talking not only about the islands of Rarotonga and Aitutaki but also wanted to know about the outer islands and the differences between them,’ says Alana Eli, New Zealand / Australia represntative with Turama Pacific Travel group, the parent company of Island Hopper Vacations.
The tourism industry in Fiji continues to show its resilience and determination to get back to business by leading the way with getting vaccinated.
Tourism Fiji’s head office team in Nadi, Fiji, received their second dose at Nadi Airport last week. Other industry partners are also now in the position of having their staff fully vaccinated in support of the Fiji Government drive to get every eligible Fijian vaccinated as soon as possible.
Cook Islands Tourism is hosting a Cook Islands Trade Expo featuring Rarotonga, Aitutaki, Atiu and their sister islands, on Monday 5 July 2021 at the Hilton Auckland. Travel professionals will have the flexibility to attend the expo anytime that is convenient for them between 10am and 8pm. Destination presentations will take place at 11.30am, 2.00pm, 4.00pm and 6.00pm.
Demand for travel to the Cook Islands has exceeded expectations as New Zealanders respond to the once in a lifetime opportunity of having the tropical island to themselves.
Graeme West, general manager for Cook Islands Tourism Australasia, says since the travel bubble between the two countries opened last week, bookings and enquiries have been much higher than anticipated. Air New Zealand has added 16 more flights in July and additional flights through to October.
Island Hopper Vacations has new packages that open up the Cook Islands beyond Rarotonga and Aitutaki.
‘These are essentially small group charters with the ability for individuals or couples to join,’ says managing director Robert Skews.
The Southern Group Adventure package takes up to 12 people to Atiu, Mitiaro, Mauke and Mangaia, staying two nights in each island and includes flights, accommodation, tours and breakfasts and dinners.
Signs are promising that Niue will open to New Zealand quarantine-free in the fourth quarter of this year, according to the chair of the Pacific Island nation’s Tourism Advisory Board, Vanessa Marsh.
Marsh emphasises that a two-way bubble will be dependent on the vaccination roll out in Niue, plus agreement by both governments. However, there is reason to be optimistic with vaccinating expected to start in Niue
in June and take six weeks.
Pacific Resort Hotel Group has completed a $10 million renovation and repositioning of the Little Polynesian Resort and Pacific Resort Rarotonga.
The renovation programmes at both resorts has been ongoing over the past five years and entailed a full remodel of all guestrooms including new furniture, floor and wall coverings, as well as a bathroom remodel. In addition, renovation of all public areas, including restaurant, bar and pool is finished. A year-long closure of international borders into the Cook Islands due to Covid-19 has allowed both resorts to fast-track and complete upgrades ahead of schedule.
With increased prospects on a widening Pacific travel bubble in the next few months, Samoa Tourism Authority held a casual lunch and informative presentation for trade and media partners at Swashbucklers in Auckland last Friday.
Sonny Rivers, who handles the New Zealand market for STA, says that the opening of trans-Tasman borders and continued hope that Rarotonga and Niue will open to Kiwis soon are steps in the right direction for Pacific travel.
The Samoa Tourism Authority (STA) is leading ongoing renovation works for sites within the country with assistance from the New Zealand Government through the Samoa Tourism Growth Partnership (STGP).
The partnership is a five-year investment since 2017, which also includes broader support of product development, tourism training and destination marketing.
As talks of two way international travel between New Zealand and the Cook Islands increase, travel agents are encouraged to become Cook Islands specialists through an all new online training platform from Cook Islands Tourism that focuses on the two most popular of the 15 islands - Rarotonga and Aitutaki.
The training platform features five modules: About the Cook Islands; About Rarotonga; Where to stay and things to do in Rarotonga; About Aitutaki; Where to stay and things to do in Aitutaki.
With Skal Nadi’s Christmas Party being cancelled due to Tropical Cyclone Yasa in December, the New Year’s event was the first time members had been able to meet for just on two months.
The meeting was held at a Nadi Skaleague’s restaurant, Nadina Authentic Fijian Restaurant at Port Denarau where owner Amy Subam arranged a menu of traditional local cuisine. About 30 people attended, including the entire Nadi-based membership. The acting CEO of Tourism Fiji, Robert Thompson was the official guest and gave an update on the latest news from the organisation.
Agents looking for information and advice on the Cook Islands in anticipation of a travel corridor can access an Instagram page that gives tips in the destination.
Erin Micthell has been living in the Cooks for two and a half years and says the border closure has given her the chance to explore her own back yard.
‘I’ve created an account called Top 5 Cook Islands,’ says Mitchell. ‘Every week I select a category and highlight my top five – everything from great places to eat, sleep, drink and swim will be covered.’
New Caledonia Tourism has appointed Nouvelle Vague Marketing to represent the destination in New Zealand and Australia.
Translating to ‘French New Wave’, Nouvelle Vague is headed up by tourism industry specialist Caroline Brunel.
With more than 20 years’ experience in destination marketing (including five years working on New Caledonia), Brunel has worked across major DMOs and wholesale, on both client and agency side,
Fiji is high on the list of New Zealanders’ travel aspirations lists right now and many would pack their bags and go if the borders opened now, according to research released late last week.
Tourism Fiji partnered with Mediaworks at the end of 2020 to survey Kiwis around their mindset towards Fiji for a holiday. The research targeted listeners on three radio stations – MoreFM, The Breeze and George FM.
A well known Fiji adventure tourism operation is on the market.
The sale of Excitor Fiji includes two boats, a semi sub, and other aspects of the business and intellectual property.
The vessels service a number of destinations out of Denarau, including the new platform 7th Heaven which Excitor will serve exclusively.
Papua New Guinea Tourism Promotion Authority (PNGTPA) has a new destination training website for the trade.
Designed to immerse agents in the history, culture, adventures and unique stories of Papua New Guinea, as well as provide lots of practical information, the platform will help to increase destination knowledge and support the industry to better sell the destination.
The Cook Islands has created a new virtual reality feature online, showcasing six of the nation’s 15 islands.
Agents can navigate their way virtually around popular islands such as Rarotonga and Aitutaki from a computer, tablet or mobile device, whilst utilising the 360 navigation tool for an expanded outlook on accommodation, lagoons, scenic views and sites, plus dining facilities and activity locations.
Tropica Island Resort will temporarily close for international arrivals until 31 March 2021 and will reopen on 1 April 2021.
Wayne Deed, director of sales and marketing, says the decision was made in light of it looking extremely unlikely that Fiji will be open any time over the next few months.
A selection of 56 self catering properties and holiday homes in Rarotonga and Aitutaki, as well as hotels and resorts, are among the features of a new 36 page online brochure that focuses on the Cook Islands.
Released by Discover Cook Islands, a division of the Turama Pacific Travel Group, the brochure also has sample five and seven night stays in the destination. Rates are public and commissionable to bona fide travel agencies at 12%. Pricing is valid through to 31 March 2021 and the company will produce a further version for the next rate year.
Vanuatu Tourism Office’s latest campaign, We’re Saving You A Spot, aims to motivate travellers to put Vanuatu on their holiday list.
The office says Vanuatu has remained Covid free and is ‘cautiously holding discussions and looking to open borders with New Zealand.’
Fiji has set out a guideline to restart tourism, utilising VIP (Vacation in Paradise) lanes, that will see arrivals from Australia and New Zealand ‘holidaying in a manner that is carefully controlled and safely insulated’.
New Zealand will miss an important opportunity to travel safely if a South Pacific bubble doesn't open soon, according to Daniel Eggenberger, general manager of Air Tahiti Nui.
Tahiti is opening to visitors from 15 July, with pre-departure health checks required by visitors.
Airing fortnightly on Tourism Fiji’s YouTube Channel, ‘Happy Hour TV’ will be available for international travellers and locals alike to tune in for an extra dose of Fiji happiness.
In the first episode the hosts report on the revival of bartering across Fiji as they speak with the founder of the revolutionary Facebook page, ‘Barter for Better Fiji.’ This Facebook group was created during the pandemic as a way for Fijians who are short on cash to still collect the items and resources they need.
A leading hospitality personality in the Cook Islands has added his voice to calls for travel between that destination and New Zealand to be opened as soon as possible.
‘There are a number of reasons that make this logical and beneficial to both countries,’ says Tata Crocombe, chairman of Aitutaki Lagoon Private Island Resort, The Rarotongan Beach Resort & Lagoonarium and other properties and products. He is also founder of hospitable.tech.ai.
New Caledonia Tourism has a new trade website and e-learning platform for travel agents.
Designed to grow agents’ knowledge and understanding of New Caledonia, both the website and platform feature practical information to engage the industry with the South Pacific archipelago.
A well known Kiwi representative for Pacifc Island destinations and products has called for innovative ideas to boost travel in the region when it is safe to do so.
Susan Williams, of Hogan and Associates, says one such idea borrows from the past, but generated plenty of interest when she mentioned it on Facebook over the weekend.
Felicity Bollen is departing the role of Niue Tourism chief executive. Prior to a five-year tenure leading Niue Tourism she worked as the business development manager of the Niue Chamber of Commerce for two years.
Bollen will continue to contribute to the development of the Pacific region, taking up the position in early May of director of Pacific Connections at the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade based in Auckland.
Edgewater Resort and Spa and Club Raro in the Cook Islands are increasingly being marketed as a ‘combined force’ under the banner of Island Hotels Group.


text:
Portland continues its decline. Residents complain – and continue to vote Democrat:
REI, the outdoor retailer beloved of well-quipped hikers, bikers, skiers and paddlers, sent a letter Monday to customers saying it will close its store at Northwest 14th Ave. and Johnson Street in early 2024.
“The safety of our employees, members and customers is always our number one priority. In recent years, Portland has been dealing with increased crime in our neighborhood and beyond.”
The Pearl District location was known for its rock-climbing wall, friendly staff, bike shop and lines around the block at sale time.
Management blamed the store’s “highest number of break-ins and thefts in two decades, despite actions to provide extra security.” In November 2022 thieves crashed a car though a glass door and made off with supplies, the third break-in in a week.


text:
Novell Gives Nod to Attachmate's $2.2 Billion Offer
Vendor also plans to sell rights to 882 patents for $450 million to Microsoft-led CPTN Holdings.
Novell Inc., based in Waltham, MA, said that it has agreed to a $2.2 billion buyout offer from Attachmate Corp., a privately-held investment group headed by Francisco Partners, Golden Gate Capital and Thoma Bravo.
Attachmates $6.10 per share cash bid represents a 2 percent premium from the software vendors $5.96 closing stock price on Monday.
Novell also said that it will sell $450 in intellectual property to CPTN Holdings LLC., a consortium led by Microsoft Corp. While Novell did not disclose the specific patents involved, it revealed in a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) 8-K filing that it will sell rights to 882 patents.
The deal with Attachmate is conditioned based on the intellectual property sale, officials said. Novell said that both the Attachmate and CPTN transactions are subject to shareholder and regulatory approvals. The deals are expected to close in the first quarter 2011.
In March, Novell dismissed a $2 billion, or $5.75 per share buyout offer submitted by Elliott Associates L.P., an institutional holder of 8.5 percent of Novell's common stock. At the time, the vendor contended that Elliotts proposal did not adequately express the companys value. In rejecting the offer, however, Novell left the impression that it was open to other suitors.
"After a thorough review of a broad range of alternatives to enhance stockholder value, our Board of Directors concluded that the best available alternative was the combination of a merger with Attachmate Corporation and a sale of certain intellectual property assets to the consortium," said Ron Hovsepian, Novell president and chief executive.
Hovsepian said that the Attachmate and CPTN deals more accurately recognized Novells value and provided its shareholders with a higher return on investment, indirectly referencing the earlier Elliott offer.
Attachmate said that it will operate Novell and its SUSE Linux operating system as two separate business units, folding it in with its flagship Attachmate line and NetIQ, which it purchased in 2006.
"The addition of Novell to our Attachmate and NetIQ businesses will enhance the spectrum of solutions we can offer to customers, said Jeff Hawn, Attachmate chairman and chief executive.
Novell is advised financially by J.P. Morgan and legally by Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP. Attachmate is advised financially by Credit Suisse and RBC Capital Markets and legally by Jones Day.
Business News Solutions


text:
One week away from the first anniversary of the hit game’s debut, Spider-Man developer, Insomniac Games, has officially announced over a Playstation blog post that a complete game of the year edition will be swinging today into our physical and digital storefronts.
As well as all of the content included in the edition, Community Director of Insomniac Games, James Stevenson, looks back on the journey the team has gone through over the past few years.
It seems crazy that just about a year ago people hadn’t yet had a chance to swing around Marvel’s New York. We’ll always remember that first E3 in 2016, when our teaser trailer surprised fans that we had teamed up with Sony Interactive Entertainment and Marvel Games to put our own spin on one of the most famous fictional characters of all-time. From working to nail web-swinging and acrobatic Spidey combat, to imagining a brand-new Spider-Man universe and storyline, and getting to build our own version of Marvel’s New York – it’s been a wild ride for all of us here.
We’re honored to mark the one-year anniversary of the game with this new Game of the Year Edition. We hope that some of you who maybe haven’t had the chance to experience Marvel’s Spider-Man can now swing into all of the amazing Spidey action with the complete package.
In addition to the full game, Marvel’s Spider-Man: Game of the Year Edition includes the entirety of The City That Never Sleeps DLC: a three-chapter, post-game tale that’s a spectacular play and amazing story in its own right.


text:
Stanley Furniture Names Wells Marketing VP
April 11, 2012,
HIGH POINT, N.C.-Stanley Furniture Company announced that Randy Wells will join its leadership team in the newly created position of vice president of marketing and brand development.
In this new role, Wells will oversee the development and reach of the company's Stanley brand. He will report directly to Glenn Prillaman, Stanley's CEO.
Wells comes to Stanley from World Market Center Las Vegas, where he served as vice president of the Las Vegas Design Center since 2008.
"Our team views the industry differently than past management, and Randy is certainly no exception," Prillaman said. "As one of the brightest, young marketing talents in our industry, he is the perfect person to lead the revitalization of the Stanley brand. Randy has a distinct vision for how the Stanley brand should touch customers, and that vision will soon change how retailers, designers and consumers perceive this portion of our company."


text:
This year’s virtual presentation ceremony will be held on Thursday 12 November, where the black tie is optional.
The event will be an opportunity for members of the glass industry to come together and celebrate its achievements in what has been a strange year for all of us.
British Glass are looking for people, products and projects that showcase the very best of the glass industry from the last 12 months.
It’s completely free to enter and you can enter as many categories as you like – whether you are a member of British Glass or not.
The deadline for this year’s entries is noon on Wednesday 23 September 2020.
The categories for the 2020 awards are:
- Design of the year – container
- Design of the year – flat
- Innovative solution
- Health and safety action
- Sustainable practice
- Rising Star
- Strengthening business through people
- Marketing impact
Visit the Glass Focus webpage for more information on the categories, criteria and how to enter.


text:
There were a lot of smiles in Mullumbimby on Friday morning as people driving into Mullum were greeted with the Farmers Market’s superhero banana man Tim Green, redirecting Mullum Farmers Market traffic to Byron Shire Council car park in Station Street in Mullum.
The Mullumbimby Showgrounds were under a massive layer of muddy silt making it impossible to navigate by car or foot.
Allie Godfrey, Market Manager, says, ‘With all the supermarket shelves empty of fresh produce it seemed crazy we couldn’t get our local farmers’ markets abundance of fresh produce out to our community. After chatting to a few locals an idea about using the Council car park was put out there late afternoon on Thursday.
‘We spoke to the powers that be at the Council, and thanks to Malcolm Robertson, our dream became a reality!
‘So, the market went ahead, making our community and farmers really happy. Some of the farmers offered free produce to anyone that needed it. Plus, collections boxes of fresh produce and money were filled by both our farmers and community and dropped off at the Civic Hall.
‘Whilst this is a devasting time for so many in our community. If there’s a little ray of sunshine it’s the extraordinary way our community comes together to support each other in times of need.’
New Brighton Farmers Market is on Tuesdays 8–11am and Mullumbimby Farmers Market is on Fridays 7–11am.


text:
Sheraton Beirut to introduce female-friendly room
Recognising the increasing demand of travelling women – whether for business or leisure – The Sheraton Coral Beach has gone a step further other than ensuring extra safety and security measures for the ladies and is set to launch a new service exclusively tailored for women.
“We have observed the female travel patterns and we have listened to the voice of the customer,” said Talal Jundi, GM in charge. “The hotel’s new service will offer ladies everything they may need while on the road. We are not talking about a strict diet but everyday essentials such as professional hairdryer, pantyhose, make-up and nail polish remover and face relaxing masks. These female-friendly rooms will roll out as of January 2006.”
It’s definitely a growing niche market and Sheraton Coral Beach is the first hotel in Lebanon to put forward special provisions and individualised treatment to female hotel guests. The rooms are designed to offer what travelling women would desire to find in the rooms, so when it comes to packing, their bags will be a few less kilos. The average stay of a female guest at the Sheraton Coral Beach hotel is three-and-a-half days, which provides the female guests with the opportunity to make use of these “greatly needed” amenities and room facilities. Molton Brown products are what the ladies will be pampered with in the privacy of their rooms.


text:
It's gonna get sappy up in here.
I can't remember the last time there was a beauty news roundup that didn't include at least one celebrity-centric story. Not that there's anything wrong with being interested in celebrity beauty or finding inspiration from them, but if anyone knows that beauty exists far beyond the borders of Hollywood, it's you guys.
This week, and not even on purpose, my picks for beauty news blurbs are devoid of movie, TV and pop stars.
You could be the next Pat McGrath, but first you have to impress Pat McGrath
Although she's not a starlet, Pat McGrath is arguably a celebrity in her own right — a legend in makeup artistry. And when she's not busy making models look even more unattainably beautiful on photo shoots and runways, she's teaching the next generation of makeup-artist legends.
Oh, by the way, you could be one of them.
Pat McGrath has announced an Instagram contest in which you can win a spot in her Lab Master Class. Just post a picture of your version of what she calls "divinely luminescent skin" with the hashtag #TurnYourSkinOn. (I say "just" as if it's easy to create a makeup look that's going to impress Pat McGrath.)
You have until the end of April to enter, and Pat will be regramming some of her personal favorites, which would essentially eliminate your need to seek validation ever again.
If you want to get away with a crime, don't wear lipstick
I don't know how many criminals end up smearing their lipstick against something when committing a crime, but they may want to be especially careful not to now that scientists at Western Illinois University have found a more efficient way to lift and analyze lipstick samples.
I'll let the American Chemical Society explain:
Bad news for THE LIPSTICK PRINT BANDIT, which is a criminal I just totally made up.
Contractions? Check. Ice chips? Check. Gigantic eyeshadow palette? Check.
Makeup artist Alaha Majid apparently wanted to make an especially glamorous first impression on her newborn daughter, because she applied not just a full but elaborate face of makeup while in labor. Like, in the hospital bed. Between contractions.
Majid posted the Instagram photo above as a behind-the-scenes peek at how she basically looked like Kylie Jenner in a photo she posted a few weeks ago right after giving birth.
Impressive, right? I personally have no plans to find myself in this particular position, but if I did, I know I'd have sweat streaks running through my foundation and maybe a strip of false lashes dangling from my nostril.
Tattoos are the new vaccines. Sort of.
According to a new study published in The American Journal of Human Biology, getting tattoos can strengthen your immune system. University of Alabama researchers collected the saliva of 29 people before and after getting a tattoo, and tested the immunoglobulin and cortisol levels in it.
"Their findings uncovered that getting a new tattoo suppresses your immune response because your body is kind of freaked out by the experience initially," MIMI reports. "With that being said, if you have a number of tattoos your immune system gets stronger and your body is less likely to be shocked by the experience the next time you decide to add some art to your skin."
Whoa. I wonder if that's why I've gotten fewer colds since I started getting tattoos. I hope they dig a little deeper into this!
- Do you have any tattoos?
- Would you do your makeup while in labor?
- Committed any makeup-smeared crimes lately?


text:
As part of its continued journey into the digital age, the South African Post Office (SAPO) has developed the Trust Centre, a highly secure environment that holds the public key infrastructure (PKI) and Certificate Authorities (CAs) which provide user authentication and ensures trust and legal status in electronic transactions through the use of Trust Centre digital certificates.
The Trust Centre technology, a first South African-developed PKI platform, has been accredited by the South African Accreditation Authority (SAAA), in terms of the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act 25 of 2002.
In its 2012 Norton Cybercrime Report, international security software maker Symantec said cybercrime was growing at rates never seen before, affecting 556-million victims every year.
Professional services firm Deloitte also said in a recent report that threats posed to organisations by cybercrime were increasing faster than potential victims – or online security organisations – could react, placing targeted organisations at significant risk.
Christopher Hlekane, group CEO at SAPO says, “As a South African first, the launch of the Trust Centre, is the latest in a number of developments aimed at positioning the SA Post Office for the future – both from a technology perspective and in terms of delivering more relevant, customer-focused solutions.”
“With digital capabilities being a prerequisite rather than a luxury for contemporary businesses in SA, it is important that, going forward, we create a digital environment that has trust and a clear legal status and where customers have the comfort of knowing that their communications and transactions are secure,” he adds.
What is a public key infrastructure? It is ‘a set of hardware, software, people, policies and procedures needed to create, manage, distribute, use, store and revoke digital certificates’. Trust Centre digital certificates provide the legislative authentication needed to open the doors for safe electronic communicating and transacting.
A digital certificate is an electronic file securely linking an individual to encryption keys and identification data. This certificate belongs to a server or person and resides on a mobile token or within the certificate store of an application like an internet browser – encrypting and signing communications and transactions, protecting them from being intercepted by any unauthorised third party.
The Trust Centre provides all three existing types of personal digital certificates in meeting the information security needs of prospective clients. Medium and high assurance certificates are provided for standard commercial use with varying degrees of security, and then there are advanced electronic signature certificates which provide the strongest authentication available for users and organisations looking to transact and communicate with clear legal status. The Trust Centre will also offer Secure Socket Layer (SSL) certificates which provides strong authentication of servers and websites. These certificates are crucial when surfing the web as many websites cannot be trusted, and SSL certificates provide that trust.
“The Trust Centre incorporates an environment housed within a secure perimeter with eight levels of encryption security,” says Hlekane. “It is at level eight that the encryption keys are stored. The control of each lies with a number or reputable and independent people and organisations, including Government, audit houses and private companies.”
Through its PKI, the Trust Centre will authenticate and ensure the user is who they say they are; validate the transaction to ensure non-repudiation; protect messages from tampering; encrypt messages to protect the message from unauthorised access; and will digitally sign transactions and communications to authenticate code, data messages and documents.
A local player
The SAPO Trust Centre is fully-compliant with Web Trust Certification requirements and specifications as well as being accredited by the SAAA in terms of the Electronic Communication and Transactions Act 25 of 2002 – the principle act in South Africa, which creates legal certainty around electronic transactions and communications.
“Compliance to all the relevant standards is the foundation on which the Trust Centre’s reliable, integrated and functional service delivery is built,” says Hlekane.
SAPO maintains that operating within a South African-based PKI is beneficial as it means that all processes, encryption and content of transactions and communications are kept within the country, including face-to-face maintenance and support. A local PKI will also provide rand-based costing and a local understanding of the challenges and opportunities in the South African market.
Furthermore, SAPO contends that the Trust Centre benefits not only businesses and consumers but the country as a whole. “It is important for South Africa to showcase its capability and expertise to develop intellectual property in the technology space,” says Hlekane. “This represents a giant step forward for the country and if all goes well we will be able to export this technology, proving to the world that we are more than capable.”


text:
Other game developer awards went to LittleBigPlanet, Prince Of Persia, Dead Space, God Of War, and World Of Goo.
Fallout 3, the post-apocalyptic role-playing video game developed by Bethesda Softworks, won game of the year at the Game Developers Choice Awards.
The annual awards ceremony held Wednesday at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco also handed Bethesda and Fallout 3 the best writing award. Media Molecule's LittleBigPlanet won the most awards with four: best game design, best technology, best debut game, and the innovation award. LittleBigPlanet is a user-generated content game for Sony's PlayStation 3.
The best visual arts award went to Ubisoft's latest iteration of the Prince Of Persia, an action-adventure game for the family. Best audio went to EA Redwood Shores' horror title Dead Space, and the best handheld game was awarded to Ready at Dawn's action-adventure God Of War: Chains Of Olympus.
The World Of Goo won the best downloadable game award. Goo developer 2D Boy won the 2008 Independent Games Festival's design innovation award and technical experience award.
The Game Developers Choice Awards are voted on by developers, who this year presented the lifetime achievement award to Hideo Kojima, director of Kojima Productions and creator of the Metal Gear series. Kojima was honored for his influence on game development and his 20 years of works on Metal Gear and other successful franchises.
Video games are key to the success of the industry, driving sales of consoles, such as the Nintendo Wii, Microsoft Xbox 360, and Sony PlayStation 3, as well as portable gaming devices and a large market for accessories. Communications market researcher TMNG predicts the industry will reach $40 billion in annual worldwide revenue by 2012.
InformationWeek has published an in-depth report on rich Internet applications. Download the report here (registration required).
2014 Next-Gen WAN SurveyWhile 68% say demand for WAN bandwidth will increase, just 15% are in the process of bringing new services or more capacity online now. For 26%, cost is the problem. Enter vendors from Aryaka to Cisco to Pertino, all looking to use cloud to transform how IT delivers wide-area connectivity.
Server Market SplitsvilleJust because the server market's in the doldrums doesn't mean innovation has ceased. Far from it -- server technology is enjoying the biggest renaissance since the dawn of x86 systems. But the primary driver is now service providers, not enterprises.
Join us for a roundup of the top stories on InformationWeek.com for the week of April 24, 2016. We'll be talking with the InformationWeek.com editors and correspondents who brought you the top stories of the week!


text:
Apple is set to launch a brand new mobile phone that will featuring music, video, email, and Internet functions. It will run on a unique Apple network called Mobile Me.
Apple Computer has requested a set of trademarks for a mobile telephone service featuring music, video, email, and Internet functions, according to applications at the US Patent and Trade Office.
The maker of the iPod music players filed this month to trademark the name ‘Mobile Me,’ for devices and services combining features of the iPod with Motorola’s ROKR telephone and the Blackberry portable communications device.
Appled has asked the patents office to lock in the ‘Mobile Me’ name for handheld devices as well as accompanying mobile telephone service, according to the trademark applications. The telephone service would provide ‘digital music from local or global communications networks’ as well as online databases ‘in the fields of music, concerts, videos, radio, television news’ and more, the applications state.
maker of the iPod portable music player, could be planning to launch its own mobile-phone venture, recent federal trademark filings indicate.
The filings reinforce speculation that Apple would wade deeper into mobile phones in the wake of a partnership with Schaumburg, Ill.-based Motorola (NYSE: MOT) , the world’s second-largest mobile phone maker.
Motorola’s Rokr phone, introduced last year, was the first to feature Apple’s popular iTunes digital music store. The phone has been criticised for inadequacies, but it has still underscored the growing importance of music to mobile phones.
“I think they will have a device and an MVNO,” said Albert Lin, an analyst with American Technology Research. MVNO is short for “Mobile Virtual Network Operator.” MVNOs don’t own physical networks; instead, they buy wireless time from major networks like Sprint Nextel, and operate under their own brand.
An MVNO would be a good way for Apple to spur downloads of songs from iTunes through a wireless network, Lin said: “They have to find a way to get over-the-air downloading of iTunes.” The first iTunes phone doesn’t have that capability; users can only download songs directly from their personal computers.
By operating its own MVNO, Apple would have more control over distributing and pricing its music services than it would in a traditional relationship with a wireless carrier. “They have to take a more proactive role in developing the [over-the-air] market,” Lin said. Apple’s iPod, known for its style and functionality, has become a consumer electronics icon. The Rokr phone was criticized for lacking the iPod’s style and for holding only 100 songs, about 900 less than the new iPod Nano.
If Apple chooses to make its own phone, it will likely contract out much of the engineering to a firm that specialises in mobile phones, said Ed Snyder, a stock analyst with Charter Equity Research. One Company tipped to pick up the contract are BenQ an OEM manufacturer that recently aquired the Siemens brand. during the recent CES event in Las Vegas a senior BenQ executive did admit that they were talking to Apple about OEM manufacturing. Snyder doesn’t see an Apple phone as a threat to Motorola or other established mobile phone makers. “The mobile phone business is enormously complicated,” he said.
Phones are primarily sold through carriers. Carrier/manufacturer relationships can be tricky. Lin also said he didn’t see an Apple phone venture as a threat to Motorola: “I think Motorola would view it as positive.” Apple might market an MVNO in tandem with a Motorola phone. And Motorola is likely looking for a better outcome from its Apple relationship than it has gotten from the first Rokr phone, Lin said


text:
Zurich: Synthes said on Monday it was in takeover discussions with Johnson & Johnson, after reports the US group looking to buy the Swiss medical device maker for a price that could be about $20 billion.
A source familiar with the situation told Reuters at the weekend the two sides were in preliminary talks but no deal was assured.
A deal at $20 billion would mark an 11% premium over Synthes’ current market capitalisation of about $18 billion and allow healthcare conglomerate J&J to further diversify its healthcare business.
“In response to market speculation, Synthes Inc confirms that it is engaged in discussions with Johnson & Johnson about a potential business combination transaction,” Synthes said in a statement.
“No assurance can be given as to whether, when or on what terms any possible transaction might occur. Synthes does not intend to make any further public statements unless and until a definitive agreement has been reached, or until discussions between the parties have terminated,” the group said.
Buying Synthes would be J&J’s biggest acquisition and would help the cash-rich US healthcare conglomerate further diversify its business by giving it a leading position in equipment to treat broken bones and trauma.
Synthes makes nails, screws and plates to fix broken bones as well as artificial spine discs.
So far this year, its shares have risen 9.8%, outperforming a near 1% fall in the European health care sector index.
The medical device sector has been consolidating as pharmaceutical companies look to diversify away from drugs going off patent.
Other recent medical device deals include the $5.8 billion acquisition of Beckman Coulter by Danaher Corp, announced in February.
There had previously been speculation that J&J, which had cash and short-term investments of $27.7 billion at the end of 2010 and will report results on April 19, was interested in buying British orthopaedics company Smith & Nephew.
Medical devices and diagnostics accounted for 40% of J&J’s $61.6 billion in 2010 sales but the business has been hit by competition and recalls in its hip and knee replacement unit.
J&J owns around 250 separate companies under its corporate umbrella. The group attempted to acquire US medical device maker Guidant several years ago, but was outbid by Boston Scientific Corp.
The deal would be the latest in a string of international mergers in the healthcare sector, which recently saw France’s Sanofi Aventis acquire U.S. biotech company Genzyme and Canada’s Valeant Pharmaceuticals International make a hostile bid for Cephalon Inc.


text:
The pig price has held for this week in the main, after the previous weeks 4c/kg reduction by the main processors. Quotes today are down as low as €1.52/1.54c/kg, but many suppliers are still receiving around €1.54-1.58c/kg from plants this week. While the reducing pig price over the past few months and continuous rising feed price has squeezed margins into negative territory, the immediate concern is the ability of some pig farmers to sell their pigs as needed.
The ongoing situation with Karro Foods in Cookstown, having a much-reduced demand for pigs, has caused additional pigs to be put on the already near capacity ROI pig processing market. The capability of the main processors to handle the weekly stock available is being restricted by labour availability, an issue affecting all commercial sectors in Ireland today. Additional workers are needed to assist in processing the countries weekly pig supply.
Top prices on a flat rate basis
<= €1.52/kg-€1.56c/kg in Rosderra and Kepak
<=€1.52/kg – €1.60c/kg in Karro (Cookstown),
<= €1.54/kg – €1.58/kg in Dawn Pork & Bacon
<=€1.54/kg -€ 1.58/kg in Staunton’s
€0.48- €0.56 c/kg