text:
|By Marketwired .||
|January 4, 2013 11:30 AM EST||
WEST COVINA, CA -- (Marketwire) -- 01/04/13 -- E FUN, a consumer electronics designer and marketer of fun, easy-to-use lifestyle products, is set to introduce the next member of its new Nextbook Google Play Series, an 8" IPS panel tablet called the Nextbook 8GP. As with the other 7" model in the line, this latest addition also features the Jelly Bean Android 4.1 operating system, full access to Google Play, a high definition screen, and up to 32GB external memory. The Nextbook Google Play series will be on display at CES in South Hall MP25067, January 8-11.
"Our engineering team has gone above and beyond with the Nextbook 8GP by not only creating one of the thinnest Android tablets on the market, at only 9.5mm, but by adding a high definition IPS screen," remarked Jason Liszewski, managing director and VP of sales for E FUN. "The IPS panel model is ideal for graphic design and other applications that are graphic intense. IPS also broadens the viewing angle, making it easier to share screen content among a group of people."
Optimized for Google Play, the Nextbook Google Play Series gives users numerous benefits including:
- Access to more than 600,000 apps and games, millions of songs and books, and thousands of movies in the Google Play Store.
- Capability to read, listen and watch content not just on the Nextbook but on any device including a desktop, laptop or mobile phone with Google Play's cloud feature.
- Access to preloaded Android apps from Google including Gmail, Chrome, Google Talk, Google+, Google Maps, YouTube and much more.
- 5GB of free cloud storage with Google Drive.
Improved hardware on the Google Play series includes a Dual Core 1.5GHz processor, 1GB DDR3 RAM, front and back cameras, and an HDMI-out port to send 1080p HD video to an HDTV or computer. Other features that make the Nextbook 8GP an outstanding tablet include: 8GB internal memory; microSD card slot for memory expansion up to 32GB; 2.0 USB slot; G-Sensor; microphone; B/G/N Wi-Fi connection; and a built-in Lithium-Ion battery.
Its Jelly Bean 4.1 operating system is the fastest, smoothest version of Android yet. It features improved performance, including faster orientation changes, faster responses when switching between apps, and smoother and more consistent rendering across the system through vsync and triple buffering.
The Nextbook 8GP will be available February 2013 for a retail price of $169.99.
About E FUN
As its name implies, E FUN is a designer and markets fun, lifestyle e-products that are easily accessible. While appreciated by techies, E FUN products are primarily designed for consumers who desire the latest technological products, but are more concerned with what they do, not how they do it. E FUN's ongoing product innovation focuses on making electronics and computing more fun! Initial products offerings from E-Fun include the APEN digital pen and Nextbook Android tablets. E FUN is headquartered in West Covina, California.
All products/services and trademarks mentioned in this release are the properties of their respective companies.
© 2012 E FUN. All rights reserved.
Image Available: http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/frame_mw?attachid=2190966
Multiple data types are pouring into IoT deployments. Data is coming in small packages as well as enormous files and data streams of many sizes. Widespread use of mobile devices adds to the total. In this power panel at @ThingsExpo, moderated by Conference Chair Roger Strukhoff, panelists will look at the tools and environments that are being put to use in IoT deployments, as well as the team skills a modern enterprise IT shop needs to keep things running, get a handle on all this data, and deli...
Apr. 28, 2017 09:15 PM EDT Reads: 2,601
The Internet of Things is clearly many things: data collection and analytics, wearables, Smart Grids and Smart Cities, the Industrial Internet, and more. Cool platforms like Arduino, Raspberry Pi, Intel's Galileo and Edison, and a diverse world of sensors are making the IoT a great toy box for developers in all these areas. In this Power Panel at @ThingsExpo, moderated by Conference Chair Roger Strukhoff, panelists discussed what things are the most important, which will have the most profound e...
Apr. 28, 2017 08:15 PM EDT Reads: 2,380
The age of Digital Disruption is evolving into the next era – Digital Cohesion, an age in which applications securely self-assemble and deliver predictive services that continuously adapt to user behavior. Information from devices, sensors and applications around us will drive services seamlessly across mobile and fixed devices/infrastructure. This evolution is happening now in software defined services and secure networking. Four key drivers – Performance, Economics, Interoperability and Trust ...
Apr. 28, 2017 07:45 PM EDT Reads: 891
@ThingsExpo has been named the Most Influential ‘Smart Cities - IIoT' Account and @BigDataExpo has been named fourteenth by Right Relevance (RR), which provides curated information and intelligence on approximately 50,000 topics. In addition, Right Relevance provides an Insights offering that combines the above Topics and Influencers information with real time conversations to provide actionable intelligence with visualizations to enable decision making. The Insights service is applicable to eve...
Apr. 28, 2017 07:45 PM EDT Reads: 2,925
The 20th International Cloud Expo has announced that its Call for Papers is open. Cloud Expo, to be held June 6-8, 2017, at the Javits Center in New York City, brings together Cloud Computing, Big Data, Internet of Things, DevOps, Containers, Microservices and WebRTC to one location. With cloud computing driving a higher percentage of enterprise IT budgets every year, it becomes increasingly important to plant your flag in this fast-expanding business opportunity. Submit your speaking proposal ...
Apr. 28, 2017 07:30 PM EDT Reads: 1,498
SYS-CON Events announced today that Grape Up will exhibit at SYS-CON's 21st International Cloud Expo®, which will take place on Oct. 31 – Nov 2, 2017, at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, CA. Grape Up is a software company specializing in cloud native application development and professional services related to Cloud Foundry PaaS. With five expert teams that operate in various sectors of the market across the U.S. and Europe, Grape Up works with a variety of customers from emergi...
Apr. 28, 2017 07:15 PM EDT Reads: 2,315
DevOps is often described as a combination of technology and culture. Without both, DevOps isn't complete. However, applying the culture to outdated technology is a recipe for disaster; as response times grow and connections between teams are delayed by technology, the culture will die. A Nutanix Enterprise Cloud has many benefits that provide the needed base for a true DevOps paradigm.
Apr. 28, 2017 07:00 PM EDT Reads: 1,160
With billions of sensors deployed worldwide, the amount of machine-generated data will soon exceed what our networks can handle. But consumers and businesses will expect seamless experiences and real-time responsiveness. What does this mean for IoT devices and the infrastructure that supports them? More of the data will need to be handled at - or closer to - the devices themselves.
Apr. 28, 2017 06:15 PM EDT Reads: 996
SYS-CON Events announced today that T-Mobile will exhibit at SYS-CON's 20th International Cloud Expo®, which will take place on June 6-8, 2017, at the Javits Center in New York City, NY. As America's Un-carrier, T-Mobile US, Inc., is redefining the way consumers and businesses buy wireless services through leading product and service innovation. The Company's advanced nationwide 4G LTE network delivers outstanding wireless experiences to 67.4 million customers who are unwilling to compromise on ...
Apr. 28, 2017 04:15 PM EDT Reads: 1,388
@GonzalezCarmen has been ranked the Number One Influencer and @ThingsExpo has been named the Number One Brand in the “M2M 2016: Top 100 Influencers and Brands” by Analytic. Onalytica analyzed tweets over the last 6 months mentioning the keywords M2M OR “Machine to Machine.” They then identified the top 100 most influential brands and individuals leading the discussion on Twitter.
Apr. 28, 2017 04:00 PM EDT Reads: 1,401
With major technology companies and startups seriously embracing Cloud strategies, now is the perfect time to attend @CloudExpo | @ThingsExpo, June 6-8, 2017, at the Javits Center in New York City, NY and October 31 - November 2, 2017, Santa Clara Convention Center, CA. Learn what is going on, contribute to the discussions, and ensure that your enterprise is on the right path to Digital Transformation.
Apr. 28, 2017 03:30 PM EDT Reads: 1,492
20th Cloud Expo, taking place June 6-8, 2017, at the Javits Center in New York City, NY, will feature technical sessions from a rock star conference faculty and the leading industry players in the world. Cloud computing is now being embraced by a majority of enterprises of all sizes. Yesterday's debate about public vs. private has transformed into the reality of hybrid cloud: a recent survey shows that 74% of enterprises have a hybrid cloud strategy.
Apr. 28, 2017 02:30 PM EDT Reads: 3,262
Five years ago development was seen as a dead-end career, now it’s anything but – with an explosion in mobile and IoT initiatives increasing the demand for skilled engineers. But apart from having a ready supply of great coders, what constitutes true ‘DevOps Royalty’? It’ll be the ability to craft resilient architectures, supportability, security everywhere across the software lifecycle. In his keynote at @DevOpsSummit at 20th Cloud Expo, Jeffrey Scheaffer, GM and SVP, Continuous Delivery Busine...
Apr. 28, 2017 02:15 PM EDT Reads: 1,178
New competitors, disruptive technologies, and growing expectations are pushing every business to both adopt and deliver new digital services. This ‘Digital Transformation’ demands rapid delivery and continuous iteration of new competitive services via multiple channels, which in turn demands new service delivery techniques – including DevOps. In this power panel at @DevOpsSummit 20th Cloud Expo, moderated by DevOps Conference Co-Chair Andi Mann, panelists will examine how DevOps helps to meet th...
Apr. 28, 2017 01:30 PM EDT Reads: 1,713
SYS-CON Events announced today that Juniper Networks (NYSE: JNPR), an industry leader in automated, scalable and secure networks, will exhibit at SYS-CON's 20th International Cloud Expo®, which will take place on June 6-8, 2017, at the Javits Center in New York City, NY. Juniper Networks challenges the status quo with products, solutions and services that transform the economics of networking. The company co-innovates with customers and partners to deliver automated, scalable and secure network...
Apr. 28, 2017 12:45 PM EDT Reads: 1,670
With major technology companies and startups seriously embracing IoT strategies, now is the perfect time to attend @ThingsExpo 2016 in New York. Learn what is going on, contribute to the discussions, and ensure that your enterprise is as "IoT-Ready" as it can be! Internet of @ThingsExpo, taking place June 6-8, 2017, at the Javits Center in New York City, New York, is co-located with 20th Cloud Expo and will feature technical sessions from a rock star conference faculty and the leading industry p...
Apr. 28, 2017 11:45 AM EDT Reads: 1,415
SYS-CON Events announced today that Hitachi, the leading provider the Internet of Things and Digital Transformation, will exhibit at SYS-CON's 20th International Cloud Expo®, which will take place on June 6-8, 2017, at the Javits Center in New York City, NY. Hitachi Data Systems, a wholly owned subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd., offers an integrated portfolio of services and solutions that enable digital transformation through enhanced data management, governance, mobility and analytics. We help globa...
Apr. 28, 2017 11:30 AM EDT Reads: 2,526
The explosion of new web/cloud/IoT-based applications and the data they generate are transforming our world right before our eyes. In this rush to adopt these new technologies, organizations are often ignoring fundamental questions concerning who owns the data and failing to ask for permission to conduct invasive surveillance of their customers. Organizations that are not transparent about how their systems gather data telemetry without offering shared data ownership risk product rejection, regu...
Apr. 28, 2017 11:30 AM EDT Reads: 1,770
SYS-CON Events announced today that Hitachi Data Systems, a wholly owned subsidiary of Hitachi LTD., will exhibit at SYS-CON's 20th International Cloud Expo®, which will take place on June 6-8, 2017, at the Javits Center in New York City. Hitachi Data Systems (HDS) will be featuring the Hitachi Content Platform (HCP) portfolio. This is the industry’s only offering that allows organizations to bring together object storage, file sync and share, cloud storage gateways, and sophisticated search an...
Apr. 28, 2017 11:15 AM EDT Reads: 719
SYS-CON Events announced today that SoftLayer, an IBM Company, has been named “Gold Sponsor” of SYS-CON's 18th Cloud Expo, which will take place on June 7-9, 2016, at the Javits Center in New York, New York. SoftLayer, an IBM Company, provides cloud infrastructure as a service from a growing number of data centers and network points of presence around the world. SoftLayer’s customers range from Web startups to global enterprises.
Apr. 28, 2017 11:00 AM EDT Reads: 2,280


text:
EATONTOWN: The Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Authority (FMERA) has reached a purchase and sale and redevelopment agreement (PSARA) with a developer who is looking to make a $130 million investment in the property.
The PSARA with Fort Monmouth Parcel B Redevelopment, LLC was unanimously approved during the the Feb. 15 FMERA Board meeting.
The LLC is an affiliate of Paramount Realty Services and LMS Commercial Realty which will redevelop Parcel B into "Freedom Pointe," a walkable lifestyle town center, including approximately 350,000 square feet of retail space and 302 residential units. The parcel fronts Route 35 near the main gate and currently contains 89 acres with 13 buildings that will be demolished to make way for the future development
Eatontown Mayor Dennis Connelly said he is thrilled with the agreement.
"I'd like to thank the FMERA Board..we've come a long way," Connelly said. "Our goal has been to get the project possible for Fort Monmouth and I think we've achieved that."
Another goal of Eatontown was for all of the 302 units to be for-sale and not rentals. According to the PSARA, 241 of the units will be market-rate,owner occupied townhomes and 61 affordable condominium or rental flats will satisfy the project's minimum 20 percent affordable housing requirement. The developer has agreed to develop the affordable housing as condominiums as long as they receive a payment in lieu of tax agreement and a subsidy from Eatontown's affordable housing trust fund.
Paramount Realty Services and LMS Commercial Real Estate Vice President Lee Zekaria has said two-thirds of the property will be retail and the other third will be residential with 302 townhomes that will be built by Paramount's partner, Ryan Homes.
He said Freedom Pointe will not be a "traditional shopping center" and that it will be an experience for customers. He said there are already commercial tenants on board for the property, but would not specifically say which stores will be there.
The site plan will also include an ice skating rink, open lawn areas for shows, concerts, exercise classes, seasonal community and holiday events including a Christmas tree lighting. Jogging and bike trails, a high-end playground, a spray park for kids, miniature golf, pop jets, bocce, street performers, and movie nights will be held in the summer. The concept also includes public space with a park with smaller pocket parks.
Paramount will begin demolishing the old structures on the poetry within three months of closing and must complete demolition within 18 months.
Zekaria has said construction of the project should begin by the end of 2017 with work ending in the spring of 2019.

domain: news


text:
An app, launched in South Africa on Thursday, allows consumers to scan barcodes on packaged food items to get detailed information about the nutritional content.
First launched in Australia, the app, called HealthyFood Switch, and which is available for download in the Google and Apple South African app stores (Android version or iOS version), is being brought to the local market as a partnership between the George Institute for Global Health and Discovery Vitality.
When used to scan the barcode on an item of food in a supermarket, or elsewhere for that matter, consumers will get nutritional information on the energy, total fat, saturated fat, sugar, fibre, sodium and calcium of the product, Discovery said.
“The algorithm that governs the app displays nutrient composition either by a star rating system (half a star to five stars) or by traffic light labelling (red, amber or green),” the company said.
“The user is also shown healthier alternatives within the same food category, allowing them to make a switch to a healthier product before they head to the check-out counter.”
Vitality Wellness head Dr Craig Nossel said in a statement that nutritional labelling information is often confusing to consumers. “FoodSwitch makes the whole thing easy because it allows people to interpret the information at a glance and make quick swaps while they’re shopping.”
The app, which has been launched in Australia, New Zealand and the UK, has been downloaded more than 600 000 times. There are plans to release it in another 30 countries, many of them low- to middle-income countries, said Dr Elizabeth Dunford of the George Institute.
Consumers can add items to the database by taking pictures of the relevant information on food items and sending this on to the app developers. More than 75 000 items are listed in the database.
“The data provided by the app will provide interesting insight to support the setting of food policy, including South Africa’s recent aim to reduce the whopping quantities of salt in many food items, said Discovery in the statement. — © 2015 NewsCentral Media


text:
According to World Dairy Expo officials, the 2011 World Dairy will go down in history as a record-setting success.
This year a record 2,587 head of dairy cattle were exhibited at the Dairy Cattle Show by 1,130 exhibitors from 37 states and seven Canadian provinces. The trade show set new participation levels with 810 companies from 28 countries, including 130 first time exhibitors.
Youth contests also set record levels of participation. Over 3,200 FFA members attended World Dairy Expo and many participated in the Central National FFA Events. A record 705 entries competed in the Championship Dairy Products Contest this year in hopes of using the title to promote their dairy product. The World Forage Analysis Superbowl entries also set a new record with a 43% increase in entries from 23 states.
Sunny skies and unusually warm weather helped to create a memorable event for all that participated in the 2011 World Dairy Expo. Total attendance for World Dairy Expo was 68,006 visitors, with 2,699 registered international guests from 90 countries. Visitors from Canada, Mexico, Ireland, China and Germany topped the list of international guests during the five-day event.
We have officially finished up our coverage from the 2011 World Dairy Expo and are already looking ahead to next year, October 2-6, 2012 as always at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison, Wisconsin. 2012 World Dairy Expo theme will be “Market Fresh”. Wonder what color the shavings will be?World Dairy Expo coverage sponsored by Charleston Orwig Dairy Business Association Alltech Hoard’s Dairyman Accelerated Genetics


text:
Drewry sees ports and terminal rationalisation best way going forward
PORT and terminal rationalistion is the "only long-term answer" to deal with the effects of fewer mega ship calls that bring bigger box exchanges, says London's Drewry Maritime Research.
Drewry senior analyst Neil Davidson said more M&A activity, "both operationally and financially", was needed among ports and terminals to match that of its shipping line customers, reports London's Loadstar.
In Drewry's Terminal Operators Annual Review, Mr Davidson said disruption at container terminals since the introduction of mega ships was "starting to level off", and he thought the "ceiling" had been reached on the size of newbuilds at around 20,000 TEU.
"Ship sizes are not going up in leaps and bounds as before," he said, given that the extra port costs were beginning to negate the unit cost reduction of the larger vessels.
But Mr Davidson worried about the unrelenting cascading of displaced tonnage since the advent of ultra large container vessels (ULCV), with bigger and bigger ships being deployed in smaller trades using terminals ill-equipped to handle them.
Commented one APMT man: "These larger vessels and larger alliances create pressure on port space and productivity at a time when few port operators are prepared to invest hundreds of millions in new ports and port upgrades."


text:
MUNICH — Premium pet food technology platform, AlphaPet Ventures, announced its acquisition of UK-based Arden Grange, a premium pet food brand, on Feb. 17. AlphaPet also announced it has received debt support from CVC and financial support from other existing investors for the acquisition.
According AlphaPet, acquiring Arden Grange will help the company establish itself as a leading player in the Pan-European pet food market by aiding in its global growth. Arden Grange was founded 25 years ago with the promise to provide “nutrition without compromise.”
“The high quality and innovative recipes have enabled us to successfully establish the brand in the premium market and make it one of the most popular dog food brands in the UK,” said Emma Stephens, director of Arden Grange. “Through the team at AlphaPet, I see great potential in further building the brand, not only nationally but also internationally. I am convinced that together we can fully realize the potential of Arden Grange.”
Focused on digitalization, AlphaPet directs brand-building and multi-channel distribution of premium pet food. The company’s current brands include Wolfsbut, Wilders Land, Müllers Naturhof, PRIMUM and others.
“Arden Grange is a strong and well-positioned premium brand for which we see great potential not only in the UK but also in Germany, Austria and Switzerland (DACH),” said Marco Hierling, founder and managing director, AlphaPet Ventures. “Above all, we can make a good contribution to the further growth of the brand through our digital know-how, direct end-customer access as well as through our sales team in DACH with access to over 13,000 points of sale. With the acquisition of Arden Grange, we strengthen our position as the leading digital brand platform for premium pet food in Europe. We are building on the existing and long-standing supplier and customer relationships in the UK and look forward to expanding these further in the coming years.”
Investors involved in the acquisition include Reimann Investors, Venture Stars and capiton. CVC will provide AlphaPet with debt support for the acquisition, as well as for future acquisitions.
“This takeover heralds a new era for AlphaPet in its mission to become a Pan-European player in the pet food market,” said Jussof Breshna, managing director, Reimann Investors. “AlphaPet is uniquely positioned to further expand and scale the Arden Grange brand throughout its over 13,000 retail locations in German-speaking countries. By harnessing its omni-channel sales approach, data-driven platform and consistent customer engagement, AlphaPet will be able to drive sales synergies for its existing line of brands across multiple countries.”
Read more about corporate strategy, financial performance, mergers and acquisitions on our Business page.


text:
Cutting the price of Wi-Fi will not encourage more people to use it, claimed BT Group head of Wi-Fi Chris Clark.
"The elasticity of price in Wi-Fi is still not proven," he said at the Wireless Lan Event in London's Olympia yesterday. "Reducing the price does not increase usage."
Earlier, Clark had been praising the success of BT Openzone's Wireless Broadband Week which, apparently, more than doubled the traffic on BT's Wi-Fi network by cutting prices.
Clark, formerly the president of BT Global Services, has moved into his present role because it is time to move Wi-Fi onto a commercial footing. "We are at an inflection point," he said. "Wi-Fi was a technology play, now it is a business play."
His predecessor, Dave Hughes, has become chief technical officer for BT Retail in a general shake-up of BT's upper echelons. "Dave will focus on new technologies such as WiMax," said Clark.
Clark's full argument is that Wi-Fi is a business service, not a consumer service, and the main barrier to business use are concerns about security, not cost.
"It is now about building user awareness," he said. "Large companies take longer to make decisions." They also need more detail on the "value proposition" than they are getting so far.
"The US marketplace is exceptional," said Clark, although he doubted that US operators were getting a lot more business by running at lower prices.
However, Californian wireless research company ON World concluded that Europe was missing out on a massive Wi-Fi boom because prices were too high. European hotspot service prices were more than double the average price in the US and four times the average in the Asia-Pacific region.
Clark claimed BT's Wireless Broadband Week promotion - which targeted business users as well as consumers - drove more users onto Wi-Fi hotspots by offering free connection. "Traffic went up by 133% in one week," he said, adding that it was not just because it was free. "It has continued to rise."
As head of wireless broadband Clark intends to make it easier for corporations to get hold of Wi-Fi centrally, for instance by finding ways to package it with other access technologies, including GPRS and 3G.
Roaming between technologies might be nice in future, he implied, but for now the big thing was merging the bills. "3G and Wi-Fi are complementary, not competing," he said.
BT has no targets for Wi-Fi business, he said, although a previous promise to make £300m revenue by 2005 is still in place.
While IT users are uncertain about Wi-Fi, Clark expected steady growth rather than an explosion. "Usage is light, but that is not an issue. This is a maturing market."
Peter Judge writes for Techworld


text:
Samsung Electronics approached a new strategy in its naming scheme for the IFA 2011 expo event, simplifying it to letters S,R,W,M and Y, where S stands for flagship, devices such as Galaxy S2, R stands for Royal, the premium device Galaxy R, W stands for Wonder, high-tier Galaxy W, M stands for Magical, mid-tier the full QWERTY Galaxy M Pro and Y stands for Young, entry-level Galaxy Y and Y Pro, targeting younger consumers. With such a line-up its more than likely Samsung will make its presence felt in Berlin.
Galaxy W (GT-I8150) runs on Android 2.3 OS and features a 1.4GHz processor, 3.7-inch WVGA (800×480) TFT LCD, and 14.4Mbps HSDPA, 5MP camera, Bluetooth 2.1, Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n and 1500mAh battery.
The Galaxy M Pro (GT-B7510) is quite slim at just 9.97mm, but packs some pretty decent hardware like 7.2Mbps HSDPA, 2.66-inch HVGA (480×320) TFT display, 1GHz processor, 5 megapixel rear-facing camera, front-facing VGA camera, Bluetooth 3.0, Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n and 1350mAh battery.
Galaxy M Pro also runs Android 2.3 operating system and adds a variety of enterprise app support like Cisco Mobile, Webex, Sybase Afaria and more.
Galaxy Y (GT-S5360) runs on Android 2.3 OS and features mid-range specs like 832MHz processor, 3-inch QVGA (320×240) TFT display, 2MP camera, Bluetooth 3.0, Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n, 7.2Mbps HSDPA and 1200mAh battery. The phone like other Galaxy smartphones feature support for Hubs, TouchWiz UI and Swype text input.
The specifications of Galaxy Y Pro (GT-B5510) are unknown at the moment but it is said to feature a QWERTY keyboard, Social Hub Premium, Wi-Fi with Wi-Fi Direct support, Bluetooth and most likely will lean towards social network consumers. All the above phones will be showcased at the IFA 2011 expo event, next week in Berlin, Germany.
Samsung introduces new GALAXY smartphone naming strategy, expands GALAXY smartphone range
SEOUL–(Korea Newswire) August 24, 2011 — Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., a leading mobile phone provider, today announced a new naming strategy for its GALAXY range of smartphones. The creation of the new naming system is marked by the release of four new GALAXY smartphone, the GALAXY W, GALAXY M Pro, GALAXY Y and GALAXY Y Pro, all of which run on the powerful Android 2.3 Gingerbread operating systems.
Samsung has created a new and simplified system of naming its smartphones, focused on its ever-expanding portfolio of industry-leading Android devices. The naming structure will organize and group all devices into five classes, identified by a single alphabetical letter. Devices will then be further designated by an additional indicator which will identify specific functionality.
“As Samsung continues to innovate, our goal is to provide consumers with an experience uniquely tailored to their needs. We have introduced steps to ensure users can simply identify the device designed to deliver the perfect experience for them,” said JK Shin, President and Head of Samsung’s Mobile Communications Business.
“In addition to this new naming strategy at IFA this year we unveilling the GALAXY W, GALAXY M Pro, GALAXY Y and GALAXY Y Pro – designed with the professional and social consumer in mind. These products further build on the phenomenal success we have enjoyed with the GALAXY range.”
New ways to identify your GALAXY Smartphones
According to the new naming structure, new class designators refer to the specific category that the smartphone product fits into, for example a premium device, or an entry-level device. All classes will be used within the higher branding of the ‘GALAXY’ smartphones.
– “S” (Super Smart) – Devices at the very pinnacle


text:
Neptune Orient Lines (NOL) has hosed down media reports that majority owner Temasek Holdings has put it up for sale.
The company said yesterday it has not made any decision on a potential sale nor entered into any such agreements. Media reports suggested Temasek aims to sell it.
Shares of the mainboard-listed liner company jumped more than 8 per cent to a six-week high of 95.5 cents as trading opened yesterday.
It slipped to 92 cents at midday, but later recovered to close 7.43 per cent up at 94 cents.
A Wall Street Journal report last Friday, citing sources familiar with the matter, said Temasek has been seeking buyers for NOL in recent months.
Temasek owns about 67 per cent of the firm, which has been turning in net losses for the past four years, amid severe overcapacity in the global liner industry. NOL did not directly refute the claims in its filing to the Singapore Exchange on Sunday night. But it added it has "a duty to consider its actions to maximise shareholder value as part of its conduct of normal business".
"The company has not made any decision with respect to, and has not entered into any agreement for, a potential sale of the company and there is no assurance that any agreement for the sale of the company will be entered into," it said.
The firm also said it is "focused on returning its core liner business to sustainable growth and profitability", while advising investors to exercise caution when dealing in its shares and other securities.
NOL, with a market capitalisation of about $2.3 billion, is the largest shipping company listed here.
It had announced in February the sale of its profitable logistics business, APL Logistics, to Japanese freight carrier Kintetsu World Express Inc for US$1.2 billion - a move then that also stirred speculation in the market that the entire company would be sold off.
OCBC Bank investment analyst Eugene Chua said in a report yesterday that NOL is "indeed now more attractive to prospective buyers", given that it has become a pure-play container shipping company after divesting its logistics business.
"Recall that Temasek increased its stake in NOL from 30 to 68.6 per cent at $2.80 a share back in 2004," he said, noting that NOL has since distributed a total dividend per share of about $1.66.
"With NOL no longer a key strategic investment as it was 10 years ago, when Singapore was still building up the nation as a shipping and trading hub, it does make sense for Temasek to exit its investment in a struggling industry."
He maintained a "hold" rating on the stock, which has been languishing since the start of the year, despite surging to $1.185 in April.


text:
FRESNO, CALIF. — Sun-Maid Growers of California has named industry veteran Steve Loftus to the joint roles of president and chief operating officer. Mr. Loftus will replace interim president Braden Bender, who has served in the role since September of this year and will now return to the role of chief financial officer.
In his new role, Mr. Loftus will report to the executive chairman of the board, Harry Overly, and will oversee all functional areas within Sun-Maid, including daily operations, financial growth and long-term strategic goals.
“I’ve always admired Sun-Maid, and I’m excited to officially join the team as president and chief operating officer to help take the brand to the next level,” Mr. Loftus said. “In the new role, I plan to continue accelerating Sun-Maid’s transformation into a consumer and market-focused organization, while executing daily operations that contribute to the company’s growth strategies.”
Mr. Loftus joins Sun-Maid from TreeHouse Foods, where he most recently was vice president, general manager of the condiments business unit, leading the unit to approximately $1 billion in revenues across 12 product categories and 5 facilities. Before that role, Mr. Loftus was head of customer finance at TreeHouse Foods as well as senior director for a number of business units over his 10-year tenure. Earlier, he worked at Kraft Foods in finance positions.
“Steve is an exceptional and proven leader in the food industry, and we’re looking forward to the contributions he will bring to the team as president and COO,” Mr. Overly said. “Steve’s strong track record of results and expertise will be a key driver in building our success as we continue to grow, transforming the iconic Sun-Maid brand to be even more relevant to today’s shoppers.”


text:
Since opening almost nine years ago, officials at Bonita Lakes Mall say retailers continue to get bigger and better.
"We've had a high occupancy here at Bonita Lakes Mall for several years. It's just a matter of local compared to national," said marketing director Jana Kuner. "We're bringing in more national tenants now. We've seen a 10 percent [increase] this year over the last year's numbers, and last year we were up significantly, and that speaks volumes."
Kuner says the mall expects revenues to continue to rise with the opening of at least three new national stores over the next few months. This includes: City Gear, which is set to hold a grand opening later this week; Aeropostal, which is much like an American Eagle store, and is set to open within the next month; and a new large scale retailer which plans to expand the old Gap store and open sometime this fall.
In all, there are more than 70 retailers in the mall. With all of the store front space now full, mall officials say they are now examining other options for space, like converting a meeting room in the mall into retail space.
"I can't tell you when the changes will stop and we hope that they never stop," Kuner said.
Mall officials say they are also awaiting another announcement for the opening of a well-known national restaurant across from O'Charley's. That could happen by October 2006.


text:
|Day Low/High||117,57 / 119,21|
|52 Wk Low/High||74,76 / 126,32|
The stock market's rise might have ended after the cliff, not before it.
Investors watch big-cap names like Apple and Alphabet land after seeing highs on Monday, declines on Tuesday and then bouncing later.
Is an incredibly big earnings night the opportunity for a needed washout?
Why we ever allowed Chinese businesses to raise capital, our capital, on our shores, is beyond me.
Circling back to my comment on earnings expectations for the second half of 2021, next week we will see a more than 250% jump week over week for the number of earnings reports coming at us. That's right, just under 1,000 of companies are slated to r...
Chipotle, Domino's and Starbucks are the only food and drink purveyors to come through the pandemic stronger than before; here's why.
How these money managers get away with this duplicity is incredible. They skate by criticism as if having your cake and eating it too is second nature.
Changes in commodities prices are sending Starbucks and Weyerhaeuser in different directions while DraftKings rebounds from negative news.
As the pandemic restrictions recede, more and more people are indulging in drinks and dining out. Here's how to capitalize off of the trend.
As variety of data points simultaneously signal that the demand for housing is starting to simmer, one chart presents an interesting alternative trade.
Even if coffee prices continue to move higher, I still like this stock.
We have a debate raging between those who think that the reason we are going up is because of liquidity and those who believe it's because of the many attractive opportunities.
This is not an easy market right now, but the opportunities will eventually appear if we keep slogging away.
With the economy apparently growing robustly, the Fed has to watch how the president's plans play out in terms of the size and scope of deficit spending.
Here's why it's best to focus on a few names that interest you most or influence your portfolio, and not chase every report.
I would argue that the pandemic has lasted just long enough to wipe out the little guy and let the bigger guys have the run of the joint.
It looks like a good idea to nail down some profits.
Sudden internet anger over months-old comments about Xinjiang cotton benefits Chinese apparel makers.
A company that consistently increases its quarterly dividends tends to see a step-like move higher in its share price. For me, that's DPZ.
Put down the slingshot and study these seven tenets.
Here's the kind I like to buy -- and the vetted stocks that you can play on 'good' risk.
The RMPIA easily outpaced the main indexes for 2020, but slipped 1.7% last month.
As a trader who at times takes short positions, I don't know whether to stand up and applaud this group or to fear them.
As promised, here's my short list of corporate earnings reports to watch next week: Monday, January 25: Xilinx . Tuesday, January 26: American Express ; Raytheon Technologies ; Verizon ; F5 Networks ; Microsoft ; Starbucks . Wednesday, January 27: ...
As power has changed hands in the White House, we can expect these names -- and themes -- to benefit.


text:
The· new Zealand The government is introducing subsidies to make electric cars cheaper by thousands of dollars and new gasoline and diesel cars more expensive as the country attempts to move to a emission-free fleet.
Change in New Zealand Climate Committee Recommendations It presented the drastic changes needed to bring the country closer to its emission targets.
Subsidies for electric vehicles and some hybrid vehicles can be up to NZ $ 8,625 (£ 4,360) for new vehicles and NZ $ 3,450 (£ 1,744) for used vehicles. They will start next month.
Transport now accounts for almost 33% of Aotearoa’s long-lived greenhouse gas emissions, last week. Climate Commission has presented a new benchmark For the country to change the composition of its fleet. The Commission’s recommended plan included banning the import of gasoline and diesel vehicles by 2032 and almost completely decarbonizing road transport by 2050. 100% by 2029 and by 2035.
“Our transport emissions are New Zealand’s fastest growing source of greenhouse gas emissions, so we need to take action now to reach our 2050 target,” said the Minister of Transport. Michael Wood states in writing.
“New Zealand is actually lagging behind the spread of EVs, so we are catching up internationally,” he said. He said the policy could prevent an estimated 9.2 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions.
Subsidies are funded by introducing new tariffs on the import of high emission utility vehicles and SUVs. For example, one of New Zealand’s most popular utes, the Imported Toyota Hilux, could cost a fee of NZ $ 2,900. These charges will begin in early January 2022.
new Zealand One of the worst in the world Emissions performers are increasing and current orbits need to be reversed to reach climate targets. National emissions increased by 57% between 1990 and 2018. This is the second largest increase of all industrialized countries. Earlier this year, data showed an increase in New Zealand emissions It increased by 2% in 2018-19.
Climate change minister James Shaw said low-emission vehicles are now out of the reach of many New Zealanders.
“As technology evolves and more manufacturers decide to stop making gasoline and diesel vehicles, the cost of low-emission vehicles will go down, but at this point it will be even more expensive to buy. Today’s announcement will help us deal with that, “he said.
The policy has sparked some criticism. Centre-right opposition National said linking rebates to high-emission vehicle tariffs meant a “reverse Robin Hood” strategy. .. “Low-emission vehicles are still expensive or unfairly hurt farmers, merchants and low-income people who aren’t fit for their lifestyles,” said Michael Woodhouse, a spokesman for Shadow Transport.
Mr Woodhouse said National supported the incentive for people to buy EVs, but did not agree to pay punishment for those who did not.
“It only applies to new and used cars arriving in New Zealand, so it doesn’t affect the existing used car market, which low-income households tend to buy,” Wood said.
“It will also stimulate the second-hand market, giving more people access to low-carbon transportation options in the future,” Shaw said.
In many other countries, there are already subsidies for electric vehicles.Germany Euro 4,000 (NZ $ 6,785) subsidy for electric vehicles in 2016.. The UK has a slightly generous subsidy that allows buyers to get a £ 2,500 (about NZ $ 5,000) electric vehicle subsidy – Down from £ 3,000 in March..
Other countries are taking more radical steps. In Norway Electric vehicles currently account for 54% of the market shareAfter the country has completely exempted electric vehicles from taxes levied on people who depend on fossil fuels.The movement is New electric model cheaper than some comparable petrol cars For Norwegians.
New Zealand announces $ 8,600 subsidy for electric vehicles to reduce emissions | Electric vehicles, hybrid vehicles, low-emission vehicles
Source link New Zealand announces $ 8,600 subsidy for electric vehicles to reduce emissions | Electric vehicles, hybrid vehicles, low-emission vehicles


text:
Tale/innlegg | Dato: 06.03.2014
Norway's minister of trade and industry Monica Mæland's speech at NASF 2014, 5th March in Bergen.
*Check against delivery*
Dear Ministers, officials and representatives for the sea-food industry from all over the world.
Welcome to Norway and to the beautiful city of Bergen – the Norwegian sea-food capital.
For Norway the sea has always been our source of food, survival, welfare and prosperity.
And the industry grows even stronger. The export figures for 2013 confirm how important the Norwegian seafood industry is – and how present it is, all over the world.
Last year the value of our sea food export, was all time high – almost 61 billion Norwegian kroner (or seven point three billion Euros).
This January Marine Harvest – as the first sea-farming company – was listed on the New York Stock Exchange. This marks a new era for the company and for Norwegian sea-food industry.
The Norwegian Government has stated that we will facilitate predictable growth in aquaculture.
This is important for long-term planning, and to maintain sustainable growth. We aim to increase capacity through new licenses, and by increasing the maximum allowed biomass in existing licenses.
However, we have to have to balance growth and environmental issues, and have a generational perspective in everything we do. It is essential that the aquaculture industry and its suppliers help to reduce the footprint on the environment.
Norwegian sea-food industry is not only important to Norway – it has also an important global mission: It helps secure healthy food for the world’s growing population.
Estimates show that the world must increase food production by 70 percent by 2050. And it is obvious that sea-food will play an important role in solving the challenge of food security.
Norwegian seafood industry has the potential, and Norway will do what we can do to increase our production – in a sustainable way. And the vision for the future of our seafood industry is very promising.
Norwegian marine industries have potential to grow from 11 billion Euros in turnover today, to 66 billion Euros in 2050.
This is really good news.
Norway’s vision is to supply fresh, high quality fish all year around.
This is not a problem for the salmon production, but it is for fresh cod.
The volumes of cod export peaked last year, but the value of the exports does not follow at the same rate.
While export volumes of cod grew by 38 percent, there was only a slight increase in value of 4 percent.
This is clearly a challenge.
Cod has an untapped potential and the key is to be able to offer more cod in other parts of the year. This means that we have to set aside larger quantities of cod for live storage for 2014.
The Government is improving the conditions for growth for all businesses. We are making it easier to invest in companies by reducing taxes. Private ownership are stimulated, and our goal is that more private capital finds it way back to the business sector to secure jobs and increase our value creation.
An important area of policy is to intensify our effort on the fields of research and innovation. Research and innovation are the main drivers for future growth.
The Norwegian sea-food industry is already a driving force for Norwegian research and technology development. The overall marine industry's position today is an example of how knowledge is driving business development.
We take pride in our marine research institutions here in Bergen. Their effort is well-known and respected all over the world.
Norway is among the world’s top seafood exporters. Every single day, about 31 million Norwegian seafood meals are consumed in more than 140 foreign markets. The world is becoming hungrier for seafood. Our ambition is to ensure that consumers all over the world can enjoy and benefit from Norway’s sustainable marine resources.
As minister for trade and industry, market access for seafood is a top priority for us. Improved conditions for trade in seafood will provide the world with more healthy food. Norway’s work on market access is based on three main pillars: The World Trade Organization, the free-trade network EFTA and the European Union.
Even if seafood trade has gone global, our most important market is in our neighborhood.
Close to 60 percent of Norwegian seafood is exported to the EU.
Already we have acceptable market access for most seafood exported to the EU. Still, market access to EU can be improved. This will further develop the position of Norwegian seafood in Europe.
Around 97 percent of world trade is covered by the WTO-system, and we must work hard to ensure predictable and binding multilateral rules for trade.
Negotiations on a new WTO agreement, which has been deadlocked since 2008, finally got some momentum. This happened during the Ministerial Conference in Bali in December 2013. The ”Bali agreement” contains a number of items that were desired by many developing countries.
But it also contains a new agreement on trade facilitation, which can provide significant savings for businesses. It is expected that the Bali agreement will contribute to facilitate trade and movement of goods across national borders, as well as simplify customs procedures. This is positive for global seafood industry.
In the big picture, the consensus reached on Bali is in itself highlighted as the most promising result. Hopefully, the Bali agreement will contribute to resuming negotiations on the core areas of the Doha Round: market access in agriculture, industrial goods, fish and services, subsidies and the updating of WTO rules.
This is important in order to pave the way for a better multilateral trading regime also for seafood.
Free trade areas are an important supplement in order to promote increased trade. Through EFTA Norway has one of the world’s most extensive networks of free trade agreements. Norway has through EFTA signed 24 free trade agreements.
Currently, negotiations are on-going with several important trading partners. Norway gives priority to free trade agreements with emerging markets in Asia. These are also markets that are hungry for seafood.
Norway is not only an exporter of seafood. We also share our knowledge and experience, supporting the effort on sustainable management of marine resources globally.
Over time, our national policy has been adapted and improved based on new knowledge.
The government and scientists from Norway have been involved in development aid related to fisheries since the 1950s. As examples Norway has longstanding collaboration with Mozambique, Namibia and Vietnam.
I strongly believe that our involvement internationally will contribute to develop sustainable marine industries and improve food security in developing countries.So far, we have only used a relative small share of our marine resources for food production. I am therefore glad to see more and more advocates for the opportunities of the oceans. In this way seafood can play an important role in solving the challenge of food security.
Finally, I am sure the conference will provide fruitful discussions along these lines. I wish you all a pleasant stay in my favorite town Bergen.
Thank you for your attention!


text:
Digital advertising has continued largely unhindered by consumer concerns about the impact of ads on their online experience and how their personal data is used, but this might be about to change.
Consumers are starting to question whether the exchange of free online content for ads driven by user data is really worth it – and many feel that it’s not.
Over the last 12 months, ad blocking increased by 41%, costing the industry an estimated $22 billion. Apple’s recent release of iOS 9 – an operating system that enables users to download ad-blocking apps – brought the issue to boiling point, provoking widespread panic amongst publishers and advertisers alike.
Yet, research shows that it is not necessarily the concept of advertising that consumers object to. In a recent IAB study, the most common reasons respondents gave for blocking ads were that they are too interruptive (73%), poorly designed (55%), and a risk to personal privacy (31%). These figures suggest the rise of ad blocking is due to an insufficient focus on providing a compelling user experience and transparency about how personal data is used in the digital space.
This is also the opinion of World Wide Web founder, Sir Tim Berners-Lee. In a recent interview with Campaign, Berners-Lee called for a more open online environment where consumers have control over data, and the advertising they receive.
In particular, Berners-Lee argued against walled gardens, which threaten net neutrality and the diversity of the industry by limiting opportunities for smaller tech companies. His answer to the data problem is standardisation of the web – the creation of universal guidelines for online activity, covering everything from data access to the formats advertisers should use to best engage consumers.
So could standardisation solve the ad-blocking problem by raising the bar throughout the online ecosystem?
Previous recommendations by organisations such as the World Wide Web consortium (W3C) have succeeded in improving advertising quality and the user experience. For example, the latest HTML5 standard has revolutionised the industry by enabling advertisers to deliver a single campaign across multiple screens, providing consumers with dynamic ads that adapt to the device they are using.
Guidelines that set parameters for producing highly relevant and non-intrusive ads that use consumer data respectfully could therefore be a viable solution. With standards that enshrine a high quality user experience and a robust attitude towards protecting privacy, the need for ad blockers may be significantly diminished.
Whether this vision will become a reality or not is yet to be determined. The only certainty is that as the industry seeks to overcome the ad blocking challenge it must re-evaluate its current approach to data usage. Failure to increase transparency and create a more mutually beneficial online experience could do untold damage to the consumer relationships upon which digital advertising success is founded.


text:
WhiteBULLET Solutions CEO Peter Szyszko tells WIT Strategy Partner Bill Brazell that many brands are inadvertently paying to advertise on sites that host illegal content. Szyszko’s company scours the web for such sites, using AI to enable programmatic bidders to evaluate site legitimacy in real time. Music: “Morning Rays” by Jim Duffy. Used with permission.
By: Amanda Fiore and Lynnsey Rijos Each year there are hundreds of medical conferences, hosted by media associations, which bring together thousands of physicians, researchers, and exhibitors from all over the globe to exchange ideas, theories, and new information relating to the specific medical specialties. Doctors wait all year for these meetings where they can learn… Continue reading »
Link Building may not seem like a top priority some days, and it can even seem tedious; however, through various brand mentioning tools and a focus on social listening, link building is an easier way to identify new opportunities, reach out to consumers, and discover potential issues with your brand. Maintaining a brand in all… Continue reading »
catalyst s+f CEO John Durham tells WIT Strategy Partner Bill Brazell that he’s excited to see brands pushing limits to get their messages out. Durham says that while technology has surged, and mobile is becoming the only screen that matters, wise brands remember that it’s always about people. Music: “Morning Rays” by Jim Duffy. Used… Continue reading »
By Amanda Fiore and Oliver Nelson Competitive paid search campaigns should always be a cornerstone consideration for your SEM campaign. While many industries understand the advantages of bidding against competitive terms we find healthcare and pharmaceuticals, in particular, continue to lag behind in their employment of these campaigns; we’re shocked each time we transition existing… Continue reading »
Insightpool CEO Devon Wijesinghe tells WIT Strategy Partner Bill Brazell that influencer *marketing* is better than influencer *advertising* in a number of ways. Insightpool’s platform nurtures the relationships that promote influencer marketing. Music: “Morning Rays” by Jim Duffy. Used with permission.
20nine President and CEO Greg Ricciardi tells WIT Strategy Partner Bill Brazell that many ad-tech companies focus so intently on their technology that they forget they’re selling to humans. Ricciardi says it’s not about the quality of your technology — it’s about the benefits you can provide for your customers. Music: “Morning Rays” by Jim… Continue reading »
By: Amanda Fiore As the healthcare industry changes year over year, pharmaceutical companies must adapt to the ebb and flow. We have said goodbye to the “Age of the Blockbuster,” when high revenue-generating drugs took priority, bringing in at least $1 billion annually singlehandedly. Pharmaceutical companies typically launched one to two of these blockbuster drugs… Continue reading »
Is there such a thing as too much publicity? In the age of social media, we’re programmed to share information and experiences in real-time – anything from celebrity encounters, to world travels, to baby’s first steps, to DIY projects. Whether it’s good or bad, news travels fast; and it travels even faster on online. For… Continue reading »
By: Amanda Fiore As a client, hiring an agency to plan, negotiate, buy and execute media to support your brand and help achieve its business goals can be a large but rewarding task. So now that you’ve hired an agency, what’s next? Which marketing responsibilities does the agency take on, versus the internal client team?… Continue reading »


text:
When you're near your phone, your phone is unlocked. When you leave, it locks itself. Automatically.
Chicago, Illinois (PRWEB) September 22, 2014
SALT (http://www.securesalt.com) announced today that they will begin taking pre-orders for the SALT card, the first keyless entry card for Android and iOS. The SALT card pairs with the free SALT app and enables phone locking and unlocking based on the cards proximity. The user places the SALT card in his or her wallet so when they are near their phone, their phone is unlocked. When they’re not, it locks itself. Automatically.
If the SALT card loses connection with the SALT app, the phone will notify the user and show them a map of the last known location of their SALT card. SALT also locks and/or requires a PIN for any user-selected apps if the SALT card cannot be found by the phone. The average person spends almost a full hour every week just entering their PIN. That the average persons can save close to 52 hours every year just by using SALT.
SALT is currently taking pre-orders exclusively on Kickstarter. The 21-day campaign will feature the SALT card at an introductory launch price of $10 in limited quantity. The full retail price will be $15, considerably less than almost all wearable devices. For more details about the Kickstarter campaign, visit http://www.securesalt.com.
“SALT is refining security for smartphones. You don’t have to enter your PIN every time you turn on your phone, yet you’re getting a higher level of security,” said Nikola Zistakis, Founder of SALT. “Our goal is to make your phone more secure and convenient to use on a day to day basis.”
SALT features include:
- Automatic locking and unlocking of a smartphone based on user proximity
- Mapping of last known location of wallet or purse should either be lost
- Locking of user-selected apps based on card proximity
- Ultra high security with 281 trillion combinations, 2,810 times more secure than a standard eight digit PIN
- Custom battery that lasts for over one year without charging
- Latest Bluetooth Smart technology
“Security in the mobile space still isn’t up to par. People think that if they use a four digit PIN they’re safe,” said Joel Paglione. “The reality is, if that’s all you’re relying on, make sure no one looks over your shoulder while you’re unlocking your phone.”
Nikola Zistakis created an initial prototype for SALT when he custom coded an app that unlocked his phone while he was at home. He realized this idea needed to be portable; why would you have to enter your PIN when you’re at the park? The problem was the lack of hardware that could fulfill this vision conveniently. A few years later, with the adoption of Bluetooth Smart, technology had gotten to a point where it could support this vision.
SALT is scheduled to launch in just four months at the end of December 2014. Find out more at http://www.securesalt.com
SALT is changing the way people use their phones. Founded in Chicago, Illinois in 2014, SALT has developed its prototype SALT app and SALT card, allowing keyless entry for your phone. The patent pending SALT system is the first of its kind providing convenience and security for smartphones. SALT is a privately held company.


text:
Swedish clothing giant Hennes and Mauritz (H&M) today announced the launch of its eighth fashion brand as tough market conditions in the US and Central Europe hurt profits. H&M's pretax profit fell to 3.2 billion kronor (335 million euros, $360 million) in ... Business Standard, 1 month ago
Almost two years after it entered India, global fashion retailer Gap struggles to keep up with rivals Zara and H&M. IMAGE: Actor Imran and his daughter Imara. Photograph: Kind courtesy www.gap.in. What ails American fashion giant Gap in India? Just four months short of its second anniversary in the country, the brand is still stuck at the sidelines even as rivals race past with better sales numbers and a larger brand footprint. According to some mall developers that had hoped Gap would ...Rediff.com, 1 month ago
By Nita Bhalla NEW DELHI, March 8 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Swedish fashion retailer Hennes & Mauritz (H&M) pledged on Wednesday to encourage its supplier factories across the world to pay workers through mobile money and other digital methods to ensure ...DNA, 1 month ago H&M plans proper pay structures, worker committees in garment factories by 2018 DNA, 2 months ago
Workers demanding better conditions and benefits have destroyed the production line of a Chinese-owned factory making clothes for Swedish fashion retailer Hennes & Mauritz, in one of the most violent labour disputes in Myanmar in years.DNA, 1 month ago
on your WebpageAdd Widget >Get your members hooked!


text:
Originally published March 14, 2013 at 5:00 PM | Page modified March 14, 2013 at 6:21 PM
Starbucks brews following in India where tea is supreme
Starbucks is hoping to capitalize on India’s emerging middle class and its transformation from a rural population to a world economic power.
The Seattle Times
Avani Saglani Davda is CEO of a joint venture between Starbucks and Tata, an Indian conglomerate that owns coffee and tea plantations, steel, chemical and hotel companies as well as Jaguar and Land Rover. The historic Gateway of India monument is the background.


text:
The District Detroit and the Little Caesars Arena have just announced two new restaurants to open on September 12 before the first ticketed event at Little Caesars Arena.
With these two new restaurants opening in Little Caesars Arena there will be an additional 300 new jobs in Detroit.
Mike’s Pizza Bar will be an “artisan style” pizza kitchen. Customers will be able to order handcrafted pizzas, craft beer, custom cocktails and wine. The restaurant will feature an open kitchen and indoor/outdoor dining.
There will be a walk-up counter in the Little Caesars Arena concourse for Mike’s Pizza Bar.
The second restaurant will be a gastro-pub sports bar called Sports & Social Detroit. The goal of the experience is that guests of this restaurant will feel like they are in the arena during the game.
Sports & Social Detroit will also be accessible from inside the arena.
Both restaurants will be located on the Southeast corner of Little Caesars Arena and won’t require an event ticket to dine at either of these restaurants.
The hours for both restaurants have yet to be shared, but according to a release, the hours will be adjusted based on the event calendar at Little Caesars Arena.
I personally think the hours are a bit of a bummer because downtown needs more places that aren’t only geared to special events, even if they are in The District Detroit – especially if it’s supposed to be part of a neighborhood and visible from a main street like Woodward.


text:
If I were a member of Congress and a Democrat, I would be ramming this down Bush’s throat:
The industry research firm Moody’s Economy.com tracked the potential impact of each stimulus dollar, looking at tax rebates, tax incentives for business, food stamps and expanding unemployment benefits.
The report found that “some provide a lot of bang for the buck to the economy. Others … don’t,” said economist Mark Zandi.
In findings echoed by other economists and studies, he said the study shows the fastest way to infuse money into the economy is through expanding the food-stamp program. For every dollar spent on that program $1.73 is generated throughout the economy, he said.
“If someone who is literally living paycheck to paycheck gets an extra dollar, it’s very likely that they will spend that dollar immediately on whatever they need – groceries, to pay the telephone bill, to pay the electric bill,” he said.
Of course, we all know that numbers have a left-wing bias.
And no, this does not change my mind- I still think any stimulus is pointless right now.


text:
Remy’s transformation since 2007, when a $700 million debt load propelled it into bankruptcy court, could be fodder for business-school case studies of the 21st century.
Pendleton-based manufacturer Remy International Inc., the former General Motors Co. unit that exited bankruptcy in 2007, has filed plans to raise up to $100 million through an initial public stock offering.
Pendleton-based Remy International Inc., the former General Motors Co. unit that exited bankruptcy in 2007, is considering a public offering of its stock this year, CEO John Weber says.
Motor maker Remy International will embark on a major expansion next spring to satisfy growing demand from makers of hybrid and electric vehicles—and Madison County officials think they’re well positioned to land the jobs.
MotoCzysz sees the Remy motor as part of an electric motorcycle-based drive system—tailored to automobiles. The companies
collaborated on the winning electric bike at Isle of Man race.
Pendleton-based company reported both higher profit and revenue, helped by a 20-percent increase in hybrid-motor sales.


text:
Details of private trade discussions between Australia and Indonesia have been inadvertently leaked, exposing the government’s growing concerns about a variety of changes Indonesia will enforce in their meat and livestock trade.
Last month, Indonesia stated they would cap imports of live cattle and boxed meat affecting an Australian industry worth more than $600 million last year. Further regulations banning most types of imported offal due to health concerns would affect trade worth $50 million.
While publicly praising the relationship between Indonesia and Australia, Trade Minister Craig Emerson raised concerns on the clarification of Indonesia’s import restrictions and offal ban at the 9th Trade Ministers Meeting between the two countries on Wednesday.
Dr Emerson suggested restrictions may contravene World Trade Organisation regulations. The suggestion is based on the lack of internal regulation on the sale of offal in Indonesia despite the WTO’s principle to treat imported and locally produced goods equally. Further issues were raised over whether the restrictions were based on science.
The meeting was meant to be private however the comments were inadvertently broadcast to a room next door where the joint media conference was later due to be held.
The Indonesian Trade Minister stated they were in the process of reviewing their offal and other beef import restrictions and Australian concerns would be passed to the Minister for Agriculture for review.
Despite their issues, Dr Emerson said after the meeting that the relationship between Indonesia and Australia has never been stronger and that he is optimistic about future developments.


text:
Great volatility in Chinese hog and pork prices is rippling through the global market. China’s slaughter rates were unexpectedly high in Q2, pushing pork production up 35.9% YOY in 1H, according to official data. The sudden supply increase resulted in a sharp price decline and negative results in both farming and trading in 1H, pointing to low pork imports into China in Q3. While we expect hog and pork prices to rebound in Q3, the estimated high frozen pork inventory will impose a lot of downward pressure on prices. We expect the slowdown of imports in the coming months will reduce full year imports from 2020’s record levels by 10% to 20%. This will lead to a redistribution of pork trade in the global market and could place downward pressure on pork prices in exporting regions.
Download the full report
These are the main highlights:
China: China’s pork production showed strong growth in 1H, due to liquidation and oversized hogs. ASF continues to spread, causing ongoing liquidation in specific regions. Demand growth lags behind supply growth, reflected by the sharp fall in prices. Restocking has slowed, as farmers suffered sizable losses. Due to the liquidation of sows in 1H, we expect slaughter in Q3 to slow and prices to rise. However, the high frozen pork inventory will limit price movements.


text: Newport Yachting Center’s annual tree lighting will take place Friday evening at the Newport Skating Center. Carolers will sing holiday songs and Santa will be present to visit with the little ones. After the ceremony, the rink will be open to the public for ice skating. Those interested can bundle up and enjoy free hot chocolate and cookies as part of the festivities. Friday will also mark the skating center’s grand opening for the winter season.


text:
Jeep weighing Wrangler-based pickup
Jeep is worried that a Wrangler pickup would overlap with the Ram 1500.
Jeep has confirmed that it hasn't ruled out introducing a pickup version of the next-gen Wrangler.
"You know I am a big advocate of a Wrangler pick-up. From my perspective, it fits into the portfolio exactly. Outside of my desire to have it I still have to make sure from an economic perspective it's the right thing to do," explained Jeep CEO Mike Manley on the sidelines of the Detroit Motor Show.
Jeep tested the public's reaction to a Wrangler-based pickup when it introduced a heritage-laced concept called Gladiator (pictured) at the 2005 edition of the Chicago Motor Show and again when it revealed the Wrangler JK-8 concept at the 2012 Moab Easter Safari. The trucks were well received by both the public and the press but executives chose not to build either because they were afraid that a Jeep pickup would steal sales from what was then known as the Dodge Ram.
Manley confirmed that the risk of overlapping with the Ram 1500 is still a major obstacle today. However, building a pickup would allow Jeep to benefit from economies of scale and see a greater return on the investment it is making to build the next Wrangler out of aluminum.
Manley did not reveal when Jeep will decide whether or not to green light the project. If built, it will likely arrive shortly after the next-gen Wrangler makes its debut in 2017.


text:
Times Record Staff
Sebastian County tax statements this year will come with a scannable QR code that will enable taxpayers to go directly online from their smartphones to pay their taxes, Collector-Treasurer Judith Miller said Friday.
People already can pay their taxes online, Miller said, but QR code will make the payment process even more convenient.
The QR code, or quick-response code, is a square image that operates like a bar code. Users can scan the code into their smartphone using any QR scanner application, which many providers offer free of charge.
The Sebastian County tax QR code will immediately take users to the county collector's website, Miller said. It will appear on tax statements set to be mailed out in the next couple of weeks.


text:
March 26, 2012 (Chris Moore)
Weekly existing home sales volume jumped to their highest level since the end of January last week, while home prices saw an improvement for the second consecutive week according to the National Home Sales Snapshot released by DataQuick.
There were 147,458 properties sold over the previous thirty day rolling period ending March 22nd, up 2.1 percent from the previous week’s total of 144,419 properties sold and 2.2 percent higher than the 144,228 properties sold four weeks ago.
Sales volume is down 22.8 percent from the current year’s cycle peak of 190,934 sales during the 30-day rolling period prior to September 1st.
Last week’s home sales volume was 4.3 percent higher than the 141,316 homes sold during the same period a year ago and was 11.2 percent higher than during the same period three years ago when 132,559 homes were sold.
The median price of a home sold over the same thirty day rolling period increased a modest $80 from the previous week to $170,000 and is at the same level that it was at a month ago. It was the second consecutive week the median price has improved following ten weeks of declines.
Home prices were 2.3 percent lower than the same period a year ago when the median price of a home was $173,920 and were 5.6 percent lower than the same period three years ago when the median price was $180,000.
Over the last five years, median home prices nationwide have ranged from a high of $275,000 to a low of $168,500.
Sales volume for a thirty day period within the last five years has ranged from a high of 339,669 properties sold to a low of 124,051.
The National Home Sales Snapshot includes 98 out of the top 100 metropolitan statistical areas covering 66.25 percent of U.S. home sales.
Tags: DataQuick, home sales, median home price, sales volume


text:
New Delhi: Inflation based on wholesale prices fell to a 8-month low of 3.80 per cent in December, 2018, on softening prices of fuel and some food items.
The Wholesale Price Index (WPI)-based inflation stood at 4.64 per cent in November, 2018, and 3.58 per cent in December 2017. According to the government data released on Monday, deflation in food articles stood at 0.07 per cent in December, against 3.31 per cent in November.
Vegetables, too, saw deflation at 17.55 per cent in December, compared to 26.98 per cent in the previous month. Inflation in the 'fuel and power' basket in December slumped to 8.38 per cent, nearly half of 16.28 per cent in November.
This was on account of lowering of prices of petrol and diesel through December. Individually, in petrol and diesel inflation was 1.57 per cent and 8.61 per cent, respectively, and for liquified petroleum gas (LPG) it was 6.87 per cent during December.
Among food articles, potato prices became cheaper substantially with inflation at 48.68 per cent in December, as against 86.45 per cent in November.
Inflation in pulses stood at 2.11 per cent, while in 'egg, meat and fish' it was 4.55 per cent. Onion witnessed deflation of 63.83 per cent in December, compared to 47.60 per cent in November.
The 3.80 per cent inflation is the lowest in 8 months, and a lower inflation than this was last seen in April at 3.62 per cent. Data for retail or consumer price index-based inflation would be released later in the day.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) mainly takes into account retail inflation data while formulating monetary policy. In its fifth monetary policy review for the fiscal, last month, the Reserve Bank kept interest rates unchanged, but held out a promise to cut them if the upside risks to inflation do not materialise.
The central bank lowered retail inflation projection to 2.7-3.2 per cent for the second half of the current fiscal, citing normal monsoon and moderate food prices.


text:
Forgot your password?
Subscribe today to gain access to every Research Intelligencer article we publish as well as the exclusive daily newsletter, full access to The MediaPost Cases, first-look research and daily insights from Joe Mandese, Editor in Chief.
If you're already a paid subscriber, please sign-in.
Yesmail, the email marketing software arm of Yes Lifecycle Marketing, this week announced the launch of "Trigger Intelligence," a new technology that lets marketers … Read the whole story
Google has released an update to its search app for Android and iOS that searches the phone's Gmail account for dates of bills due. … Read the whole story


text:
1. U.S. Markets Move Back Up after Friday Fall
Stocks in the U.S. market gained back with good momentum, as stability returned after last week’s all. Last week, the Federal Reserve’s comments had pulled global markets down.
S&P 500 is in the green after 4 consecutive days of fall. New York Fed President John Williams and Boston Fed Eric Rosengren’s speeches are being watched this week to get more information on the interest rates plans.
Stoxx Europe is up 0.55%
Dow Jones is up by 1.57%
NASDAQ is up by 1.46%
2. Volvo Car Ties Up With Northvolt For Batteries
Volvo Car Group on Monday announced a joint venture partnership with Swedish battery maker Northvolt. The tie-up is aiming to develop and produce sustainable batteries for its electric cars and set up a Gigafactory in Europe to produce up to 50-gigawatt hours (GWh) per year in 2026.
3. IKEA and Rockefeller to set up Rs 7,400 crore funds for renewable energy
IKEA Foundation and Rockefeller Foundation are planning to set up Rs 7,400 crores to support renewable energy-related programs in developing nations. It aims to reduce 100 crore tons of greenhouse gas emissions and empower one billion people with distributed renewable energy.
4. China becomes tougher on Crypto
The Central Bank of China said on Monday, it had asked many banks and payment firms like China Construction Bank, Alipay, etc to be harder on cryptocurrency trading. Last month, China announced many restrictions on coins, and the crypto world was affected adversely. At the time of writing Bitcoin(-4%) and Ethereum(-6%) are in the red, dragging down many other smaller coins down.
5. Full Recovery From Next Year: Wizz Air Of Europe
CEO of Wizz Air said on Monday, the company expects to recover fully from the pandemic hit from next year. Wizz Air is considered as the budget airline of Europe, will be benefited as travel volumes come back to normal levels.
6. Germany’s Antitrust Watchdog announces an investigation on Apple
Antitrust watchdog of Germany announced an investigation on Apple, to find whether the company is exploiting its market position. Apple is the fourth company on the list after Google, Facebook, and Amazon.
7. China Trucking Startup Said to Raise $1.6 Billion in U.S. IPO
Full Truck Alliance Co. has raised about $1.6 Billion(~Rs 11,860 crores) from offering Depository Receipts in the U.S. The company operates a truck-sharing app that connects merchants that need shipping with truck drivers. Full Track is backed by top investors including SoftBank Group and Tencent Holdings.
8. Global Vaccinations Cross 2.62 Billion Doses: Bloomberg
According to data from Bloomberg, more than 262 crore doses have been administered across 180 countries. The latest vaccination rate is roughly 3.9 crore doses a day. Enough vaccines to fully vaccinate 17.1% of the global population have been given but countries with higher income are seeing much faster vaccination rates.
Interestingly, India has given 75 lakh vaccine doses today after the revised vaccination guidelines kick in. This is more than 0.5% of the country’s total population in a day.
9. Taiwan’s Exports Slowing; May Be Sign of Stabilising Chip Shortage
Demand for Taiwan’s semiconductors and other electronic chips showed signs of a slowdown in May. Export orders went up 34.5% from a year earlier to $52.3 Billion in May but was still below expectations. Manufacturers around the world have been struggling to obtain electronic chips for their different products from smartphones to cars.
This is a good sign for all such manufacturers, including India’s automakers – Maruti and M&M.
10. Morgan Stanley says Nifty bull run is only getting started
According to a report by global financial firm Morgan Stanley, the Indian market’s bull run still has a long way to go. “The ongoing bull market compares well with history. If this bull market is reminiscent of that in 2003-08, as we think given a likely fresh earnings cycle, it has more legs to it,” the report said.
For the coming year, Morgan Stanley’s top picks are consumer discretionary, industrials and financials.


text:
LG has revealed it is in talks with the Rupert Murdoch-helmed media conglomerate 21st Century Fox in a bid to secure content for its smart TV platform, webOS TV, as senior executives at both Samsung and LG discussed their uncertainty at the global economy.
According to a report in the Korea Times, a key official at the world’s second largest television manufacturer says the company is planning a major promotional assault based on content providers in the second half of this year.
“We are negotiating terms with Fox TV to put its content and other services on our webOS TV.
“webOS TVs will account for over 65% of total TV shipments we expect this year. This is a survival issue. We remain bullish over the outlook for WebOS TVs
Get business news first
Sign up to SmartCompany’s daily newsletter
“Fox isn’t the only target. We are also in talks with major sports channels such as ESPN. Simply put, Google’s Android and Apple’s iOS platforms are dominating the mobile industry. But there are no dominant software platforms for televisions. We are ready to spend more money on that.”
The webOS TV platform, used on smart TVs, was unveiled by the consumer electronics giant at the recent International CES consumer electronics shows.
webOS is set to compete against Samsung’s rival Tizen platform, as well as Firefox OS-based smart TVs from Panasonic and Google TVs from other rival manufacturers.
The content rights negotiations come as both LG and rival Samsung held meetings of its high level executives over the state of the global economy.
According to ZDNet Korea, LG Group chief executive Bon-moo Koo held a two-day meeting with senior executives that discussed growing anxieties over the global financial market and the need to respond to rapid technological shifts.
In a separate report, ZDNet Korea reports Samsung Electronics vice chairman Jaeyong Lee held six days of talks with 331 senior employees at the Shilla Hotel in Seoul.
The talks also focused on a similar theme – global financial uncertainty – and were concluded with a banquet for 700 staff.


text:
NEW YORK (MainStreet) — Strap on the tool belt and grab a power drill. More than half (57%) of homeowners have a home improvement project on their to-do list this year. And we’re not talking minor touchups or a quick coat of paint. More than one-third (36%) of homeowners plan to spend $5,000 or more this year on renovations. And 18% are stepping up and knocking more than $10,000 out of the park to dust off the old home plate, according to a Harris Poll conducted for SunTrust.
The planned projects are near evenly split between home updates (52%) and repairs (49%), with the most popular improvements including:
- Decks, patios and landscaping (43%)
- Bathroom remodels (29%)
- Kitchen updates (26%)
And while in past years tapping a home equity loan was the go-to method to fund such improvements, most consumers (59%) say they’ll raid their savings accounts instead. Other homeowners, buoyed with growing confidence in the economy, will pull out their credit cards (30%). Home equity lines of credit are favored by just 9% of those surveyed, while unsecured home improvement loans will fund the projects for 7% of the respondents.
A recent study by the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University says we’re entering boom times in home remodeling, with sales approaching $300 billion – the highest level since 2007.
“While homebuilding is many years away from a full recovery, the home improvement industry could easily post record-level spending in 2015,” the report says. Baby Boomers accounted for almost half of all remodeling dollars spent in 2013 but the nation’s largest generation is poised to make an even greater impact, according to the Harvard experts. “The key to future market growth is the Millennial generation," the report said. "While currently lagging previous generations in forming households and buying homes, the Millennials will eventually give a dramatic lift to home improvement spending. More immediately, the growing presence of Millennials in the rental market is encouraging property owners to invest in updates to their units.”