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Facebook, MySpace and other social networks have apparently been sending personal and identifiable information about users to advertisers without consent, despite assurances to the contrary. Large advertising companies including Google's DoubleClick and Yahoo's Right Media have received information including usernames and ID numbers that could be traced back to individual profiles as users clicked on ads.
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We know that spending on social advertising is rising, but because it's so new, the industry is still trying to figure out the most effective way to target these ads (thus why there's still a social media monetization problem). There's a new report though that sheds some light on how advertisers are utilizing social networks. The research, published by Borrell Associates (embedded below), provides projections for social networking ad spending in 2009.
When you delete a photo from a site such as Facebook, Bebo or MySpace, is it really deleted immediately, or even at all? According to some interesting research conducted by Light Blue Touchpaper, many sites do not remove photos even 30 days after the user has deleted them. The study was conducted on 16 sites over the period of 30 days, and the results were awful.
Yes, big social networks have learned the Twitter lesson and now they're all trying to enhance conversation between their users. Hi5 is an old, big player that's rarely leading the pack these days, and it's no different this time, as they launch an integrated instant messaging service. hi5 IM does, however, bring some cool features to the table. There's no need to download anything, as it runs entirely within your browser, just like Facebook chat.
Just a few months ago, hi5 introduced virtual gifts and currency with international flair. Now they're making the virtual purchases no brainers. There's no need to enter credit card information anymore. Using Paymo, a mobile payment system that's similar to the one powering MyYearbook's Lunch Money economy, hi5 members in 24 countries can now use just their phone number to cash out quickly in the hi5 Gift Store.
You know what the most popular types of applications are on Facebook? Games. Having that in mind, hi5 has taken one step forward by launching Games as a site-wide feature. The most important aspect of Games, monetization-wise, is the employment of hi5's virtual currency - Coins. Users will be able to spend their Coins to purchase premium content, advanced features and status upgrades.
We’ve shared a lot of numbers recently, from Twitter’s robust growth to Facebook’s chase of MySpace for the title of most popular social network (in the US). Now, we’ve finally got the final numbers from 2008, and with them, a look at the rankings and trends within the top 20 social networks, according to Nielsen Online. Here are the highlights: - Facebook nearly caught MySpace in traffic. MySpace had 58.4 million unique visitors in December, Facebook had 55.2 million.
Popular international social network hi5 has introduced virtual gifts and currency to its users as a new way to spread cheer during the holidays and beyond. Starting today the site is offering an assortment of 36 virtual gifts that represent a cross-section of the world's customs and cultures, as diverse as its user base. hi5 is certainly targeting very specific occasions, unlike other social networks that have more generic gifts for sale.
If you're an avid Facebook user and TV aficionado, you've probably heard of Watercooler's TVLoop. It's a Facebook application that brings full TV episodes of many popular shows directly to your Facebook profile; recently, Watercooler teamed up with Hulu to extend their offering to 40 new shows, including ER, One Tree Hill, and others. Now, the folks at Watercooler have decided to give TVLoop a centralized space of their own: TVLoop.com.
Luckily, I don't play poker. It's one in the long list of addictions I've been lucky not to get infected with over the years. But if I did, I'd be all over Zynga's new game for the iPhone: Live Poker. Zynga creates games for Facebook, MySpace and other social networks. They usually don't waste time reinventing the wheel; they go with good old ever-popular games like Texas Hold’Em, BlackJack, Scramble and Sudoku.
This article is part of the Open Web Awards, an open, international contest for the best websites and services. While social networking applications were all the rage last year, backlash ensued in 2008 as users got inundated with app invites and a seemingly never-ending supply of apps with little utility. To a large extent, Facebook’s re-design was actually an attempt to de-clutter the site from the mess that had been created with the developer platform.
hi5, a social network that already enjoys much of its success abroad, is continuing its international expansion, launching in 10 new languages today. Similar to Facebook, hi5 has been asking its users to translate the site into localized versions around the globe. This approach allows the social network to enter just about any market it desires, without spending major cash on attempting to effectively reach different cultures.
Last week, Web 2.0 Expo NY brought out a lot of different companies and social networking platforms to debut their latest endeavors, and among the big players this year was the very popular site, Hi5. Very popular, that is, internationally. Ever since Hi5 debuted in 2003, it has garnered millions of users in countries like Japan and Mexico, making it the third most popular social networking website worldwide after Facebook and MySpace, but only 83rd in the U.S.
Social network hi5 has launched a language translation tool fully compliant with the OpenSocial 0.8 standard. The tool will make it easy for developers to localize their applications, while the users will be able to communicate in their language of choice not only on hi5, but also when using third-party applications available on the hi5 Platform. Developers who don't have translators of their own can also leverage hi5's community of professional and crowdsourced translators.
Do you see the glass as half full or half empty? It’s an important question to ask yourself in diving into a report from Synovate (republished by eMarketer this morning) showing that 58% of adults worldwide don’t know “what social networking is.” The survey of more than 13,000 people in 17 developed nations also asked if users were losing interest in social networks.
hi5 mobile has arrived. For all of those that have been waiting patiently for this social network to have a dedicated and optimized version of its service on your mobile device, here it is. And for a bit of boasting on hi5's end, the social network's mobile presence spans 26 different languages upon launch, setting out to create a new precedent for a global reach on the mobile front.
Even though social network hi5 has had support for Widgetbox widgets since early July, the ability for developers to fully leverage hi5 as a network in relation to these widgets was limited to the capabilities of, well, a widget. Now, Widgetbox has teamed up with hi5 to allow access to its App Gallery for an integrated solution that allows apps built on Widgetbox to act as stand-alone applications within the hi5 network.
San Francisco-based social network Hi5 is touting some data from comScore today pertaining to its Q1 and Q2 2008 performance. It claims to have grown 79% since the start of the year. Which, on its face, seems like an impressive figure. It charts an increase of unique monthly visitors from 31.4 million, circa December 2008, to 56.4m this past June.
Social network hi5 has just announced its acquisition of application creator PixVerse for an undisclosed amount. PixVerse, the Flash-based virtual world chat platform, has branched out into social networking applications such as Pix Chat and Pix Wall, both of which have gained some traction on hi5's social network platform, among other places across the Web. Founded last year, PixVerse was funded by Venrock for an undisclosed amount.
SocialMedia, an advertising network which purports to deliver marketing services to over 5,000 applications spread throughout Facebook, Bebo, Hi5, and MySpace, is announcing a new option to clients and their users, Social Banners. In effect, these graphics allow SocialMedia and its partners the ability to include registered users of social services within advertisements shown to users’ friends when those contacts use an application associated with SocialMedia and its advertising partners.
Qloud, the music service created by Steve Case that combines search features with sharing and networking, announced today that its My Music application will be available on MySpace. The application, which is popular on Facebook, Friendster, Hi5 and Bebo, allows you to import and play entire songs and videos from your iTunes library for free. Qloud categorizes songs by recently played, most played, top artists, playlist and top rated.
Yesterday we brought you word from the social folk at Sonico that said they had essentially played their cards very right over the past 9 months or so and that they’d effectively claimed the title of Latin America’s largest network, growing faster and larger than regional stalwarts like Hi5 (very big throughout) and Orkut (very big in Brazil particularly). Sonico referenced its data from comScore records circa March 2008.
A few weeks ago, we interviewed Lou Moore and Anil Dharni over at Hi5 to talk about a few of the milestones they've achieved since the launch of the OpenSocial developer platform compliance. One of the recurring topics every time I get the chance to speak with someone from Hi5 is the unusually diverse demographic they serve, and the interesting side benefits that come from that.
Several months have passed since we gave the social gaming developer Bunchball a headline. Now we’re hearing from The Deal of its recent capture of $4 million in investments from return funders Granite Ventures and Adobe Ventures. Over the last two years, the company has expanded its reach in the social networking space to build games for users of MySpace, Facebook, as well as Piczo, Hi5, and Friendster, and even members of the boomer-specific network Eons.
Kevin Marks of the OpenSocial blog is letting it be known that OpenSocial will be throwing an "OpenBar" on Monday in Austin for SXSW. They're inviting anyone looking to develop for or use OpenSocial to come out and talk with the folks behind the API, as well as others third parties looking to work with the code. 'Course, you could also meet up and just be, you know, social and enjoy some Google hospitality.
Social networks are reaching out all across the Web. For some, that means crossing international bounds. MySpace has done so. As has Facebook. Orkut, oddly enough, is larger without the US than within. That said, it is only natural that networks of all stripes gradually work to cater to segments of users that happen to speak primarily in tongues other than English. And maybe even vice versa. So it is in the tradition of Web expansion that Hi5 today announces the start of Russian language support.
The last 7 days have been filled with announcements large and small by the preeminent social networks on the Web. February 4 marked the launch of the MySpace Developer Platform, which the company hopes will repeat the success of Facebook’s own Web application catalogue.
Hi5 is rolling out a healthy list of updates, that all appear to take the network further in the direction of Facebook. That's the thing to do these days: mimic Zuckerberg and you too could be on 60 Minutes one day. Just as MySpace and LinkedIn and countless other networks have done in recent months, hi5 has added features to keep you in the know, at all times. That means status updates and friend updates.
hi5 is getting two new OpenSocial powered music apps courtesy of iLike and Qloud. The iLike app will allow users to add even more music to their profiles via the Universal Artists Dashboard. Artists involved with the service will be able to distribute their music across multiple channels at once, so even those not on hi5 will have their music played there. The Qloud app will give friends the ability to play with each others iTunes libraries.
hi5, the social networking site, has added a widget gallery for additional customization options for your profile. So far, all of the widgets are powered by Slide and RockYou. There are about 20 gazillion photo editors and slide show creators (5, really), and a YouTube video skin creator. There's also a horoscope widget, a countdown widget, and more for guest books, glitter text and games.
hi5 now offers profile skins, adding more customization options for users. Change the theme of your profile with hi5's skin offerings. This lets you choose from a list of preset skins, though it has less variety than would be found with third party services. Preset themes are generally easier to deal with, as opposed to the multi-step process of inserting code. To avoid becoming un-cool with the younger demographic, hi5 has also added the option of creating and submitting your own skins.
hi5, the online social network, announced new partnerships with Portugal Telecom and eType today, to provide media representation in Portugal and the U.K. The main note here is that these partnerships enable hi5 to expand its ad network, and works closely with existing traditional media outlets to do so. These kinds of partnerships are especially important when it comes to having a global marketing strategy.
VideoEgg, the video solution and ad network for several online communities, announces today that it will release nine exclusive webisodes of the online sitcom The Burg, the first of which will premiere in early June. The series will be sponsored by Motorola. The four-minute episodes of The Burg will be available through many of the sites in VideoEgg's network, including Bebo, Hi5, Tagged and Slide. Duly, Motorola's products will be featured in each episode and promoted across VideoEgg's ad network.
Fliptrack, the site that lets you create musical slideshows and videos, has partnered with APM Music, which is the joint venture of EMI and BMG music publishing. The partnership with APM music will greatly increase the number of songs available in Fliptrack's library, offering 225,000 additional songs to choose from for the creation of their slideshows, which can be embedded in your MySpace, Hi5 and Piczo profiles.


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Guinness to Ditch Plastic Packaging
By Jordan Davidson
Guinness is joining the fight against single use plastic. The brewer has seen enough hapless turtles and marine life suffering from the scourge of plastic.
Guinness's parent company, Diageo, announced that the iconic Irish stout will no longer use plastic rings or shrink wrap. Instead, the company will invest $21 million to replace plastic with 100 percent recyclable and biodegradable cardboard, according to CNN Business. The change, which will be introduced in Ireland in August and the rest of the world by August 2020, also applies to Guinness's other products, Harp and Smithwick's.
"Great packaging is essential for our products," said David Cutter, Diageo's chief sustainability officer added, reported the The Telegraph. "Consumers expect our packs to look beautiful, be functional, and sustainable. I am proud to announce this investment, through which we have been able to combine all three. We have been working tirelessly to make our packaging more environmentally friendly."
Diageo estimates that its new initiative will be equivalent to removing 40 million 500 ml plastic bottles, which if laid out end-to-end, would reach from London to Beijing, or New York City to Honolulu, according to The Telegraph.
"We're continuously looking for ways to work with our suppliers, customers and consumers to make our packaging more sustainable and our targets ensure that 100% of plastics used are designed to be widely recyclable, or reusable/compostable," the company said in a statement, The Hill reported.
This piggybacks on Diageo's statement last year when it announced its intention to to ensure all plastics are widely recyclable or reusable by 2025.
"For 260 years Guinness has played a vital role in the communities around us. We already have one of the most sustainable breweries in the world at St. James's Gate and we are now leading the way in sustainable packaging," said Mark Sandys, global head of beer, Baileys and Smirnoff for Diageo, as reported by The Telegraph.
Guinness follows the footsteps of other brewers who have taken steps to reduce ocean plastic. In 2016, Salt Water Brewery announced all their six-packs of Screamin' Reels IPA would be packaged with E6PR (Eco Six Pack Ring), a compostable holder made with some brewing byproducts like spent wheat and barley, according to National Geographic.
"I can't speak to the nutrition of barley to sea turtles, but it does seem a lot more benign if ingested than traditional six-pack plastics," Nick Mallos, director of the Ocean Conservancy's Trash Free Seas program, told National Geographic in 2016
The Danish beer company, Carlsberg, announced last September that it would ditch plastic rings, according to CNN Business. Instead, Carlsberg will be packaged in a special glue that holds the cans together. The Danish brewer estimates that shifting to glue will reduce global waste by the equivalent of 60 million plastic bags.
Guinness and Carlsberg are the latest beverage companies to respond to the backlash against plastic around the world. Starbucks and Alaska Airlines will phase out plastic straws and stirrers. McDonalds will stop using plastic straws in the UK and Ireland. The Chicago White Sox became the first MLB team to ban plastic straws.
- Guinness will stop using plastic in beer multipacks - CNN ›
- Guinness to Remove Plastic Packaging from Beer Packs | Food ... ›
- Guinness brewer Diageo to scrap plastic packaging for its beer ›
EcoWatch Daily Newsletter
Company Safety Data Sheets on New Chemicals Frequently Lack the Worker Protections EPA Claims They Include
By Richard Denison
Readers of this blog know how concerned EDF is over the Trump EPA's approval of many dozens of new chemicals based on its mere "expectation" that workers across supply chains will always employ personal protective equipment (PPE) just because it is recommended in the manufacturer's non-binding safety data sheet (SDS).
By Grant Smith
From 2009 to 2012, Gregory Jaczko was chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, which approves nuclear power plant designs and sets safety standards for plants. But he now says that nuclear power is too dangerous and expensive — and not part of the answer to the climate crisis.
By Brett Walton
When Greg Wetherbee sat in front of the microscope recently, he was looking for fragments of metals or coal, particles that might indicate the source of airborne nitrogen pollution in Rocky Mountain National Park. What caught his eye, though, were the plastics.
In a big victory for animals, Prada has announced that it's ending its use of fur! It joins Coach, Jean Paul Gaultier, Giorgio Armani, Versace, Ralph Lauren, Vivienne Westwood, Michael Kors, Donna Karan and many others PETA has pushed toward a ban.
This is a victory more than a decade in the making. PETA and our international affiliates have crashed Prada's catwalks with anti-fur signs, held eye-catching demonstrations all around the world, and sent the company loads of information about the fur industry. In 2018, actor and animal rights advocate Pamela Anderson sent a letter on PETA's behalf urging Miuccia Prada to commit to leaving fur out of all future collections, and the iconic designer has finally listened.
If people in three European countries want to fight the climate crisis, they need to chill out more.
"The rapid pace of labour-saving technology brings into focus the possibility of a shorter working week for all, if deployed properly," Autonomy Director Will Stronge said, The Guardian reported. "However, while automation shows that less work is technically possible, the urgent pressures on the environment and on our available carbon budget show that reducing the working week is in fact necessary."
The report found that if the economies of Germany, Sweden and the UK maintain their current levels of carbon intensity and productivity, they would need to switch to a six, 12 and nine hour work week respectively if they wanted keep the rise in global temperatures to the below two degrees Celsius promised by the Paris agreement, The Independent reported.
The study based its conclusions on data from the UN and the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) on greenhouse gas emissions per industry in all three countries.
The report comes as the group Momentum called on the UK's Labour Party to endorse a four-day work week.
"We welcome this attempt by Autonomy to grapple with the very real changes society will need to make in order to live within the limits of the planet," Emma Williams of the Four Day Week campaign said in a statement reported by The Independent. "In addition to improved well-being, enhanced gender equality and increased productivity, addressing climate change is another compelling reason we should all be working less."
Supporters of the idea linked it to calls in the U.S. and Europe for a Green New Deal that would decarbonize the economy while promoting equality and well-being.
"This new paper from Autonomy is a thought experiment that should give policymakers, activists and campaigners more ballast to make the case that a Green New Deal is absolutely necessary," Common Wealth think tank Director Mat Lawrence told The Independent. "The link between working time and GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions has been proved by a number of studies. Using OECD data and relating it to our carbon budget, Autonomy have taken the step to show what that link means in terms of our working weeks."
Stronge also linked his report to calls for a Green New Deal.
"Becoming a green, sustainable society will require a number of strategies – a shorter working week being just one of them," he said, according to The Guardian. "This paper and the other nascent research in the field should give us plenty of food for thought when we consider how urgent a Green New Deal is and what it should look like."
- Reduced Work Hours as a Means of Slowing Climate Change ›
- How working less could solve all our problems. Really. | ›
- Needed: A shorter work week – People's World ›

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Outlook of commodity & PKR rate in post-epidemic era
To support enterprises in Pakistan to resume work and production in the post-epidemic era, help them understand the market dynamics and gain insight into the expectation of Pakistan’s rupee exchange rate, the webinar themed the “Outlook of Commodity & PKR Rate in Post-Epidemic Era of Covid” was held by All-Pakistan Chinese Enterprises’ Association (APCEA) and Bank of China Pakistan Operations on Thursday.
On the occasion, Mr. Li Yong, Counselor of Economic Affairs of the Chinese Embassy in Pakistan, highlighted that the construction of China Pakistan Economic Corridor(CPEC) has played a significant role in Pakistan’s economic development by improving people’s livelihood and attracting foreign investment. He also noted that since the beginning of 2020, the five waves of COVID-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc in Pakistan. As a result, some enterprises are facing a series of problems, such as the price hike of raw materials and the devaluation of PKR.
Dr. Qazi Masood Ahmed, Professor & Director, Center for Business and Economic Research (CBER), Institute of Business Administration, introduced the exchange rate dynamics in Pakistan. In March 2020, the exchange rate in Pakistan declined by 6.7 percent to PKR 166/USD partly due to outflow of USD 1.89 million of hot money. He predicted that PKR would depreciate to a proximity of 195 against the USD in 2022. The forecast was based on the regression analysis that takes into account the historical values. “Factors like the current and expected changes in the trade, monetary, and fiscal policies, market-driven exchange rate regime, and the implementation of the IMF program may have downward impact on the estimated exchange rates in Pakistan.”
Mr. Cui Haitao, Assistant General Manager of Global Markets Department, Head Office of Bank of China, explained that commodities would undergo “normalisation” in 2022. “The currency is expected to normalize as the rebound in demand is coming to an end, the demand for environmentally-friendly commodity is expected to shrink to normal, the supply crisis is expected to ease, while we have to remain alert to unexpected risks.” he concluded.


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Sony was one of the only manufacturers left to announce a new flagship in 2016, until IFA anyway.
The company has now released its latest Xperia flagship smartphone – the Xperia XZ – which is in fact the fifth smartphone to appear from the company this year alone.
Sony scrapped the “Z” series at Mobile World Congress and marked the “X” series as its future, meaning the Xperia XZ is the successor the Xperia Z5, but how do they compare and what are the differences?
Sony Xperia XZ vs Xperia Z5: Design
The Sony Xperia XZ follows the same OmniBalance design Sony smartphones are distinguished by, but it opts for a flatter and squarer top and bottom. The side edges are rounded like the current X series, with the right side featuring the power button and the built-in fingerprint sensor.
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Netflix has expanded its cheaper mobile-only plan's reach and launched the option in the Philippines and Thailand. The streaming giant has been testing the subscription tier in emerging markets since 2018, starting with Malaysia and India. It formally made the option available in both countries last year, giving viewers a way to see its shows without having to pay for the more expensive tiers.
According Filipino publication BusinessWorld, the company announced the plan's rollout during a video teleconference from Los Angeles, California. Patrick Flemming, Netflix Director for Product Innovation, told reporters that Filipinos watch Netflix on their mobile devices over three hours a day and twice as much as the rest of the world.
Budget-friendly smartphones are common in the country, so that doesn't come as a surprise. And while most Filipino users don't have access to postpaid plans with unlimited mobile data, they can easily download episodes and then watch them on the go. In fact, Flemming said two out of three Filipino users download shows on their phone.
Like the mobile-only plans in other countries, the option costs around US$3 per month -- 149 Philippine pesos and 99 Thai baht -- and allows users to watch shows in standard definition.
มาแล้วครับบบ #แพ็กเกจมือถือNetflix สุดคุ้ม 99 บาท/เดือน ที่ไม่ว่าจะหนัง/ซีรีส์อารมณ์ไหน จะหูววว จะหูยยยย จะโหยยยยย ก็ถูกไปซะหมด เพราะดูได้ทุกเรื่อง ทุกแนวเหมือนเดิมมม แต่มาในราคาแค่ 99 บาทเท่านั้น เพราะงั้นแพ็กเกจนี้ #ถูกทุกข้อ แน่นอนนนน#NetflixTH pic.twitter.com/ONBLRgYxCl
— Netflix Thailand (@netflixth) March 12, 2020


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The Confederation of Indian Industries (CII), a non-governmental trade association and legal group, has proposed treating cryptocurrencies as a special class of securities.
The trade association has released a report titled Cryptocurrencies, Crypto Tokens / Assets and Regulation: The Way Forward, in which it calls for regulation of the crypto market, not a ban, Business Line reported. The report highlights important technological innovations that underlying blockchain technology can bring to the payments and remittance sector.
The report suggests developing new rules for the emerging cryptocurrency market rather than being regulated by existing securities legislation.
“A new set of rules should be developed and implemented, appropriate to the context of cryptocurrencies and their decentralized, non-judicial nature. This means that the focus of regulators is on trading and custody rather than issuing (unless the issuance includes an issuer’s first public offering of coins (ICO)). Created in India), ”the official statement says.
The CII report recommends placing cryptocurrencies under a special income tax and goods and services tax clause, under which they can be treated as an asset class for tax purposes, unless they are viewed by the participant as “trading shares”.
RELATED: Smart Crypto Policy Could Keep India’s Technological Supremacy at the Top
The report recommended that you ensure strict knowledge of your customers and anti-money laundering requirements on centralized exchanges to ensure investor protection. In addition, these exchanges must register with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) in order to obtain a financial market broker license. He also recommended setting minimum capital and guarantee requirements for stock exchanges while adhering to disclosure requirements.
The CII report comes at a critical time when a cryptocurrency bill is being debated in parliament. India’s finance minister had previously confirmed that the government would not take a prohibitive approach, but would regulate cryptocurrencies as a resource.


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PokerStars continues its assault on the online poker world, setting its sights now on India. GLaws.in reported that PokerStars’ parent company, The Stars Group (TSG), is teaming up with gaming company Sugal & Damani to bring online poker to India. No launch date has been announced.
Sugal & Damani is owned by Sachar Gaming Private Limited, which operates a rummy site and used to operate a poker site, khelplay. Khelplay was scheduled to shut down as of March 15, in order to pave the way for the PokerStars site. Sugal & Damani is involved in a lot of different businesses, including real estate, lotteries, and financial and technology services.
Moving into India has long been a plan for TSG. It had been scouting a partner with whom to work in the country and had anticipated on being able to open its virtual doors in India by the end of last year. PokerStars will be coming into an industry that generates around $150 million per year in the country, despite the legal roadblocks surrounding online gambling.
Currently, visitors to the website pokerstars.in are presented with a simple “Coming Soon” message on the site. While there has not been an official date for activity to begin, sources indicate that the company could uncover the first virtual felts within the next couple of weeks. Given PokerStar’s marketing history, they’ll certainly let everyone know when it’s up and running.
There’s a convoluted ownership pattern behind Sugal & Damani. The pokerstars.in domain name is registered to Sachiko Gaming Private Limited (SGPL), a company registered in Kolkata. SGPL is part of previously-mentioned Sachar Gaming, which circles back around to being involved with Sugal & Damani through the two companies’ board of directors.
PokerStars is, by far, the largest online poker portal in the world. It controls more than 66% of the market and operates in a number of countries. Its first play-money site was launched in September of 2001, with real-money wagering following three months later. Following the liquidity sharing agreement between Spain, France, Italy and Portugal, PokerStars became the first to offer a site catering to users from the first two countries to launch participation, Spain and France. That site is now the third-largest poker site in the world.


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Canon unleashes innovative challenge to publishers and printers to transform the book
11th November 2016, London – Canon Europe, leader in imaging solutions, has challenged printers and publishers to map an innovative approach to the future of publishing by reinventing the book. More than 300 delegates from across the world were inspired by interactive round tables and discussions at Canon’s annual Future Book Forum – “the only place where publishing meets technology” – (2-4 November) in Poing, Germany.
Starting with an original manuscript of 50 letters written by independent management gurus to the world’s CEOs, over two days the participants were tasked with developing a new book, entitled “Letters to the Future”. This will be launched at the Thinkers50 European Business Forum in Odense, Denmark, next May.
“Publishing is becoming much faster and much more diversified, individual and personalised, so there are many more opportunities to do business,” said Dr Joerg Pfuhl, CEO of Holtzbrinck Buchverlage, Germany. “I am a big fan of the Future Book Forum, having seen a growth over the past couple of years. This is the only place where technology and publishing meet. It is very special, has a global scope and we are working hands-on. All these factors make it a unique event.”
Marianne Bushell, Global Procurement Director of RELX Group, said: “I’ve come away armed with a lot of information that is going to really help me in my role. There’s a lot of networking and what’s different about this forum is the interactivity. You split into groups for discussions, come back with a lot of ideas that can then be shared with the audience together. I was impressed.”
Rupert Smith, Commercial Director of Halstan, UK, said: “This was a really good event that got all the delegates thinking way beyond how to print a book. This was an important ideas forum where expertise was shared right the way across the supply chain, as well as being a good networking experience.”
Books printed at the event included some that will be sent to refugees in Munich as part of Canon’s continued partnership with German children’s book publisher, Goloseo and Room to Read¹ – a non-profit organisation focused on literacy and girls’ education. With the ability, through digital printing, to produce short-runs of books in a number of languages, Goloseo aims to make multi-lingual training easier and help refugees to quickly learn the language of their new home.
Delegates at the Future Book Forum 2016 were provided with inspirational insights that covered case studies including Vodafone and Slyrs. In addition, presentations were given by successful print service providers focusing on how innovation in digital printing can support profitable new publishing models.
Peter Wolff, Head of Commercial Print Group, Canon Europe, said: “For this event, we wanted to get those at the heart of the publishing industry to reimagine how the written word can be delivered. This meant getting into the mindset of the reader and creating new delivery concepts to suit them. It is only by becoming more creative with both offline and online channels that publishers and print service providers alike will thrive and consumers will better engage.”
He added: “Hypothetical scenarios help to steer creative thinking. However, this innovative event was designed to transform and unleash a physical piece of content and build on our three previous events in which the vision, inspiration and roadmap for the future of book publishing were similarly developed. We look forward to showcasing what the industry has created in the coming months.”
¹ Thinkers50 produces the world’s most prestigious ranking of management thinkers. The manuscript is a compilation of 50 letters written to CEOs about the management challenges and future thinking by some of the world’s top thinkers including Tom Peters and Don Tapscott.


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As one of the world’s largest, most active markets and with a market trade of $750 billion, trading in foreign exchange (forex or FX) is a popular venture due to its high liquidity and constant availability for investors.
Interest in forex trading has been continuously gaining popularity in the last 5 years, with trading volumes peaking by 300% in 2020. In light of this exceptional year, there remains significant global interest in forex trading, with search volume for “how to trade forex” increasing by 127% between February and April 2023.
Seeking to uncover the best countries to be a forex trader, City Index created a points-based index system evaluating the net gross turnover of forex instruments, the cost of living (by analysing metrics such as local purchasing power), broadband internet speeds and forex trading hours in 50 countries to determine the best countries in the world for forex trading.
UK leading in FX trading volume and pip movements
The United Kingdom places eighth in the index, however, the country scores highly for its net-gross turnover of OTC foreign exchange instruments – which was the highest worldwide in 2022 at $3,755 billion. This is 98% higher than in nearby France, where turnover was just $214 billion in the same period. Not only this, but the UK has the most pip movement of the four major markets (Sydney, Tokyo and New York) when looking at currency pairs.
Fawad Razaqzada, forex trading expert from City Index said, “Different pairs will be better to trade at different times of the day. This is because the time of day heavily influences how liquid a market is, and how much price movement it’s likely to see. By looking at the average pip movement of major currency pairs during each forex trading session, we can see that the London session – which runs from 08:00 to 16:00 GMT – has the most movement.
As a general rule, a currency pair will see the most liquidity and price action when two sessions overlap. For example, if you’re trading EUR/JPY, you’d want to trade when both the New York and Sydney session are open – which is between 8:00 to 9:00(GMT).”
Singapore leads in several metrics for forex traders
Amid reports that Singapore retained its position as the third largest FX centre in the world according to daily trading volumes, after the UK and the US, City Index can reveal that Singapore is the most suitable country for forex traders. Singapore has an overall forex suitability score of 8.07/10, largely due to the country’s high turnover of OTC foreign exchange instruments ($929 billion), which is six times higher than China ($153 billion).
Not only this, but Singapore has the fastest average broadband speed of all countries analysed (233.455 Mbps), which is 131% faster than in neighbouring Malaysia (100.84 Mbps) — making it the perfect location for online trading. Based on the assumption that most forex traders will trade between 08:00-18:00 local time, Singapore ranks highly for the number of hours of time overlap with Tokyo and Sydney, despite having little overlap with London which has the highest market activity and the most pip movement.
Fawad Razaqzada, forex trading expert from City Index, comments on why fast broadband speeds are key for traders.
Razaqzada said, “In the fast-paced forex market, even a few seconds can make a significant difference in trade outcomes, so a reliable and speedy internet connection is crucial. Fast broadband is key for forex traders as it allows for faster trade execution, minimises the risk of connection drops or disruptions and allows for multi-platform trading across several devices.”
China outranks Japan and Hong Kong for forex trading suitability
China is in second place with a forex suitability score of 7.97/10, despite being outranked by Japan ($43b) and Hong Kong ($694b) in the turnover of OTC foreign exchange instruments. China ($153b) benefits from a high market overlap score of 9.02/10 for how its time zone aligns with four key markets. In addition, the country has a fast average broadband speed of 156 Mbps which is over double the average speed in Vietnam (74.39 Mbps).
Additionally, China benefits from a low cost of living (83), which ranks 47 places higher than Vietnam (35.7). A low cost of living can be attractive to forex traders as it may indicate a healthy or growing economy which can provide more opportunities to generate returns, as well as greater disposable income allowing investors to increase their trading capital.
Japan has the fourth-highest turnover of foreign exchange instruments
Despite having a 183% higher ($433 billion) net-gross turnover of OTC foreign exchange instruments than China ($153 billion), Japan ranks third in the index with a forex suitability score of 7.64/10. This is partly due to Japan’s lower cost of living which is ranked 22 places higher than Singapore for living affordability.
Not only this, but Japan has a high market overlap score (8.63/10), based on the number of hours of time overlap with the Tokyo and Syndey markets — as well as a moderate average broadband speed (157.71 Mbps), which is 68% faster than the United Kingdom.


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27 January 2009 Business
Industry news, February 2009
Bayer MaterialScience is closing a polycarbonate sheet plant in Darmstadt, Germany, and selling off further plants in Australia and New Zealand in an attempt to streamline its polycarbonate segment and remain competitive. The Darmstadt plant closure will see 90 jobs cut.
The company currently produces polycarbonate sheets at 10 sites worldwide, but says that this position is unsustainable in the face of increased competition and low demand. It has already closed its polycarbonate production plant in Beijing, China, last month, consolidating production in Guangzhou.
16 December 2014 News and Analysis
UK report says resistance will cost global economy $100 trillion
12 December 2014 Research
Ultra-thin plastic skin can bend and flex without affecting the skin's ability to detect stimuli


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April 28, 2022
TonerPartner Group has announced the acquisition of the online retailer Druckerpatronen.de.
Rivean Capital portfolio company TonerPartner Group (TonerPartner), one of Europe’s leading online retailers specialised in ink, toner, and printer cartridges across European markets, announced that it has completed the acquisition of Iserlohn-based Druckerpatronen.de Office GmbH (Druckerpatronen.de), a German online printing supplies webshop from its founder.
TonerPartner Group explained that Druckerpatronen.de is a specialist in the private customer segment with a highly visible domain and a differentiated strategy. It caters to a loyal customer base with a comprehensive product offering of predominantly high-quality compatible products.
Following the strengthening of its market presence in France through the acquisition of SAS Rousselle.com (RousselleCom) in 2021, the acquisition of Druckerpatronen.de represents the next important milestone in TonerPartner’s buy-and-build strategy under ownership of Rivean Capital, the company explained. The transaction will allow TonerPartner to further strengthen its market position in Germany, advance its European multi-shop strategy, and diversify across a broad array of specific customer groups, capturing demand in European ink and toner markets, the company added.
The founder of Druckerpatronen.de as well as key employees will continue to support the combined group on its growth path.
Oliver Ahrens, CEO of TonerPartner, commented: “After add-on acquisitions in Germany and France combined with our organic expansion throughout Europe, the acquisition of Druckerpatronen.de is the logical next step to advance TonerPartner”s multi-shop strategy to build a European market leader. Both companies are highly complementary and have a proven track record, reliably supplying their customers with high-quality products and competitive offerings. Our combined customer base will benefit from a number of advantages, including a further improved logistics organisation and IT set-up, combining the strengths of both companies.”
Andreas Klab, Partner at Rivean Capital, commented: “With Druckerpatronen.de we have been able to win one of the leading and most visible companies in the online printing supplies space in Germany to further strengthen TonerPartner. The transaction marks the second add-on acquisition since Rivean Capital invested in TonerPartner in 2021. TonerPartner’s buy-and-build track record is a good testimony of the success possible in highly specialised online retail markets, which are fragmented and offer attractive M&A opportunities. The strength of Rivean Capital lies in identifying promising companies with strong business models and developing them in partnership with the founders and management.”
Categories : City News


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Germany on Wednesday joined the cannabis legalisation revolution, announcing plans to permit the recreational use of the drug, as well as its production.
Across the Atlantic, Canada, Uruguay, and dozens of US states including California have already changed their laws in the past decade to allow people to light up.
Far more countries — around 30 — have legalised the drug for medicinal purposes, including most European Union members.
Here is an overview:
MALTA: In December 2021, Malta became the first EU member to legalise recreational cannabis, allowing adults to carry up to seven grams and grow up to four plants at home. Users are barred from lighting up a joint in public however or in front of a minor.
LUXEMBOURG: Luxembourg’s government in June unveiled proposals to allow cannabis users to grow up to four plants at home and decriminalise public pot-smoking and possession, with users to face on-the-spot fines rather than charges.
NETHERLANDS: The Netherlands in general, and Amsterdam in particular, have tolerated the sale and use of cannabis in their iconic coffee shops since 1976, but cultivating the plant remains illegal.
SPAIN: Users in Spain are allowed to grow pot for private use at home but selling the drug or smoking it in public is banned.
PORTUGAL: Portugal took the radical step of decriminalising the consumption and possession of all drugs in 2001 but users nonetheless face fines, unless they agree to be treated for addiction.
UNITED STATES: Federal US law prohibits the cultivation, sale and use of cannabis. But 18 states, including California, and the national capital Washington DC have all legalised cannabis for recreational use in a big-bang legislative shift over the past decade.
In October 2022 President Joe Biden pardoned thousands of Americans convicted of cannabis possession.
CANADA: In 2018 Canada became the second country in the world after Uruguay — and the first G7 major economy — to allow the recreational use of cannabis.
The legislation limits personal possession to 30 grams and four plants per household.
URUGUAY: Uruguay became the first country in the world to legalise the production, distribution and consumption of cannabis in 2013. Residents can buy up to 40 grams of weed a month from pharmacies, grow it themselves or join cannabis clubs where members tend the plants together.
MEXICO: Mexico’s Supreme Court decriminalised recreational cannabis use in June 2021.
SOUTH AFRICA: In 2018, South Africa’s top court ruled that private, personal cannabis use by adults was legal.


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In this week’s Week in Review: Advertisers allege that Facebook withheld information on its over-reporting of video metrics for a year, six ad exchanges team up to lay out principles for programmatic trading, and UK public service broadcasters call on the government to protect their prominence. To receive an update on the industry’s top stories every Friday, sign up to the weekly Video Round-Up.
Facebook Kept Video Metric Overestimates Secret for Over a Year claim Advertisers
Advertisers filing a lawsuit against Facebook over inflated video viewing metrics have alleged that the social media platform knew about problems with how it measured viewership for over a year before finally disclosing the error. Facebook revealed in 2016 that it had made an error in measuring the average view duration for videos on its platform by only counting views which lasted over three seconds, thereby artificially inflating the state. Facebook said it disclosed the error as soon as it was discovered, and that it probably overestimated average time spent watching videos by 60 to 80 percent.
This week however, a number of small advertisers involved in a lawsuit resulting from the incident disputed both these claims. They say that Facebook knew about the error since January 2015, and that it overestimated average time spent watching videos by between 150 and 900 percent. Facebook has described the case as “without merit”.
The Guardian Settles Legal Dispute with The Rubicon Project
The Guardian has now settled its legal dispute with The Rubicon Project over the ad tech vendor allegedly charging hidden fees to advertisers, the Wall Street Journal reported this week. The Guardian filed a lawsuit against Rubicon in March last year, claiming that hidden fees charged by the Rubicon Project constituted a breach of contract. The Rubicon Project then filed a counter-suit in May, denying the Guardian’s claims and saying the Guardian had harmed its business through its own practices. The pair however have now reached a financial settlement, which does not assign liability to either party, according to Rubicon Project CEO Michael Barrett.
UK PSBs Seek Government Protection from Tech Threat
UK public service broadcasters (PSBs) this week penned an open letter asking the government to guarantee the prominence of their linear services and associated on-demand services. The heads of ITV, the BBC, Channel 4, Viacom UK, STV and S4C said that PSBs play a vital role in providing trusted news and shaping UK culture, but that global tech players are becoming “gatekeepers” of what audiences watch, and promoting their own and their partners’ content at the expense of PSBs. The letter’s signatories asked that the government would revise and modernise its rules on prominence, as media regulator Ofcom runs a review on the existing rules.
The Week in Tech
Ooyala Bought Out by Management
Video distribution business Ooyala announced today that its management has completed a buyout of the company from previous owner Australian telecoms company Telstra. After a disappointing few years under following Telstra’s buyout, Ooyala’s management team believes they will fare better under a new owner, with CEO Jonathan Huberman saying his team is “actively exploring acquisition opportunities to further accelerate Ooyala’s growth”. Read the full story on VAN.
Ad Exchanges Band Together to Clean Up Programmatic Trading
Six top ad exchanges this week released a joint statement outlining core principles for programmatic trading which they promise to adhere to, in an effort to introduce more transparency to programmatic auctions. The CEOs of OpenX, Rubicon Project, SpotX, PubMatic, Telaria and Sovrn all agreed to a number of specific actions based around the principles of efficiency, transparency and a fair market, in part as a response to recent concerns around auction gaming. The Trustworthy Accountability Group (TAG) has been bought in to create a new compliance and accountability certification based around these principles.
“Together, we are committed to unleashing the full potential of programmatic advertising. Advertisers, publishers, and their representatives need and deserve transparent marketplace principles, which clearly explain how the market operates, reduce friction, ensure quality, and increase value for buyers and sellers,” the letter said.
Sorenson Media Files for Chapter 11 Protection
Advanced TV specialists Sorenson Media filed for chapter 11 protection this week, according to the Wall Street Journal’s CMO Today. While Sorenson has recently announced new partnerships with AMC and Sinclair Broadcast Group, there have been hints of trouble from the apparent collapse of the company’s deal with ITV to create an addressable TV advertising solution.
“While broad market adoption and technical implementation has taken longer than anticipated, the company is committed to seeing its vision for addressable advertising realized,” Sorenson told the WSJ. “The company expects that operations will continue uninterrupted,” it said
DataXu Explores $300 Million Sale
Ad tech company DataXu is reportedly seeking a $300 million sale, and has taken on investment bank GCA Advisors to oversee the process, according to the WSJ. DataXu is one of the few remaining large independent demand-side platform (DSP) operators, and has raised $87.5 million in funding since its founding back in 2009. Neither DataXu nor GCA confirmed the reports.
Facebook Shareholders Back Proposal to Out Zuckerberg as Chairman
Several public funds holding shares in Facebook are backing a shareholder proposal filed by Trillium Asset Management to remove CEO and founder Mark Zuckerberg as chairman of the board, according to a Wall Street Journal report. While the proposal is somewhat futile given Zuckerberg reportedly holding 59.9 percent of voting power among Facebook investors, support for the proposal is significant in demonstrating falling trust in Zuckerberg’s ability to lead the company, following a number of scandals over the past few years.
TVSquared Launches ADeffect Product
TV measurement company TVSquared announced this week it has added ADeffect, which it says will model the longer-term effect of TV campaigns, to its ADvantage platform. “Traditionally, advertisers had to build and maintain time-intensive, expensive models to understand the true ROI of TV,” said CEO and co-founder Calum Smeaton. “We designed ADeffect to eliminate this reliance altogether. Taking into account Adstock and seasonality, ADeffect models the indirect, extended impact of advertising. Marketers now have an easy, fast way to get the results they need, when they need them – not months after the fact.”
Lotame Launches Lotame Strategic Services in EMEA
Lotame, a data solutions company, on Thursday announced the launch of Lotame Strategic Services (LSS) in EMEA. Under the new offering, Lotame says it can now support clients with the development and execution of their data strategy as part of a hands-on managed service. “Providing clients with direct access to the resources, experience and technology needed to drive success in their data strategies has always been a priority for Lotame,” said Andy Monfried, CEO & founder of Lotame. “We’ve launched a brand-new way to work with Lotame — as a managed service that supports EMEA businesses from data strategy development to execution and beyond.”
The Week in TV
Netflix Adds Seven Million Subscribers in Strong Q3
Netflix recorded a strong quarter in its latest financial results, adding nearly seven million new subscribers to its service, bringing total subscriptions up to 137 million. This beat Wall Street expectations of around 5.07 million new subscribers, and saw share prices soar over nine-percent in the aftermath (though they have since returned to roughly the pre-results price). “Our broad slate of original programming helped drive a solid quarter of growth with streaming revenue increasing 36 per cent year over year and global membership surpassing 130 million paid and 137 million total,” the company said in a statement. “We’re thrilled to be growing internet entertainment across the globe.”
Google and Sky Join HbbTV Association
The HbbTV Association this week announced that seven new companies including Google, Sky and RAI have joined the industry body, which seeks to provide an open standard for the delivery of broadcast and broadband services through connected TVs and set-top boxes. “We are excited about these high-profile companies joining HbbTV Association. The continuing strong interest by major market players in our open specifications confirms our approach towards establishing HbbTV as a universal standard for hybrid broadcast and broadband services across all screens,” said Vincent Grivet, chair of the HbbTV Association.
ITV Plans SVOD Service Launch for 2019
ITV released fresh information about its plans for its upcoming subscription video on-demand (SVOD) service, with CEO Carolyn McCall telling MIPCOM the service will be launched next year. McCall said the service will be separate from ITV’s existing digital streaming platform ITV Hub, and will be aimed specifically at the UK market.
The Week in Publishing
LADbible Acquires Unilad
LADbible confirmed this week it has acquired Bentley Harrington, the company which owns rival social publisher Unilad, following the news that Unilad had entered administration earlier this month. “As of today, LADbible Group and Unilad Group are now united under the same roof. This transforms the media landscape worldwide,” said LADbible in a statement. “Bringing these brands together makes us the largest social video publisher ever, and a youth media brand to be reckoned with, having over 120 million followers across our social channels. In August alone, our combined videos were viewed 4.5 billion times.”
Facebook Video Views Falling says Ampere Analysis
The proportion of Facebook users who watch video on the platform is falling according to research from Ampere Analysis. A study from Ampere found that the proportion of US Facebook users who had watched video on Facebook over the past month had fallen to 23.7 percent, from 35.5 percent in Q3 2016. A number of European countries also saw a similar, though smaller, decline. The trend might be seen as particularly worrying given Facebook’s efforts to push further into video via Facebook Watch, with these figures suggesting Facebook’s efforts aren’t necessarily bearing fruit.
YouTube Adds TV Screen Device Category
YouTube introduced new capabilities this week which will allow advertisers to tailor campaigns for connected-TV’s by adding TV screens as a device category. The change will mean that advertisers can adjust which creative is shown and how they bid when an impression is offered on a connected-TV.
The Week for Agencies
Publicis Reutrns to Growth, Proceeds with Plans to Sell Health Services Business
After a slump in last quarter’s financial results, Publicis Groupe returned to growth in its Q3 results, with net revenue rising 1.3 percent to €2.2 billion. Publicis CEO Arthur Sardoun attributed the return to growth in part to having gained new global clients in the first quarter including Merceds-Benz, Carrefour and Marriott International. Sardoun also said the group will proceed with plans to sell Publicis Health Solutions, which was largely blamed for Publicis’ struggles in Q2.
ANA Study Finds “Explosive Growth” of In-House Agencies
Seventy-eight percent of the Association of National Advertisers’ (ANA) members have in-house agencies, according to a study released by the trade-group this week, up from 58 percent in 2013. On average, around 60 percent of advertising assignments are now handled by in-house agencies. However the report also examined the factors which encourage brands to continue working with external agencies, finding that where work is particularly complex or requires specific skills, brands are more likely to work with an external agency.
Brexit Uncertainty is Restricting Marketing Budgets says IPA
Uncertainty around the UK’s departure from the EU is putting pressure on marketing budgets according to the Institute of Practitioners in Advertising’s (IPA) latest Bellwether Report. Marketing budgets overall increased in Q3, but by the lowest proportion in nearly three years. “With ongoing Brexit uncertainty, it is perhaps no wonder that companies are having to be more cautious with their marketing spend and are inevitably increasingly downcast about their financial prospects,” said Paul Bainsfair, director general of the IPA.
Omnicom Stocks Surge Despite Q3 Revenue Drop
Omnicom’s Q3 results released this week saw net income increase 13.4 percent year-on-year to $298.9 million, and organic revenue growth of 2.9 percent, resulting in Omnicom shares rising over nine percent in the wake of the announcement. Overall global revenues for the company dropped 0.1 percent to $3,714 million, but the company blamed this in part on a negative foreign exchange rate impact, and on a disposition of some of its assets as it looks to increase its focus on digital marketing.
Hires of the Week
NBCUniversal Shakes Up Ad Sales Team
NBCUniversal this week appointed Laura Molen and Mark Marshall as presidents of NBCU’s ad sales division. The two will supervise national sales efforts for different sections of NBCUniversal’s portfolio, and will report to NBCU’s chair of advertising sales and partnerships Linda Yaccarino.
Unruly Appoints Betteridge as UK Commercial Director
Unruly announced this week it has appointed Saint Betteridge as UK commercial director. Betteridge will be responsible for heading up the UK sales teams of Unruly, and building relationships with agency partners, and will report to EMEA MD Jason Trout.
Tremor Video DSP Names Edward Shannon Head of Client Success
Tremor Video DSP announced on Wednesday it has appointed Edward Shannon as its new head of client success. Tremor says the appointment marks a solidifying of its commitment to client service, and that Shannon will be responsible for expanding and leading Tremor Video DSP’s client success teams across the country.
This Week on VAN
Many Publishers are Falling Short on GDPR with Inadequate Consent Tools says IAB’s Hartsuiker, read more on VAN
How Shared Devices Cause Problems for Targeting on YouTube, read more on VAN
Taking Risks is the Safest Option for Competing with Tech Giants says Paddy Power Betfair’s Mäki, read more on VAN
Ooyala Bought Out by Management, read more on VAN
Why Voice Search Could be a Game Changer for OTT, read more on VAN
We Need to Address Concerns About Data Leakage says SpotX’s Siotis, read more on VAN
Attribution Modelling is No Longer a Black Box Science says GroupM’s Simon Thomas, read more on VAN
Agencies Must Communicate for P&G’s Multi-Agency Model to Work says Havas’ Houssaini, read more on VAN
Video Viewability Standards Aren’t Fit for Purpose for OTT says IAS’ Astbury, read more on VAN
We’ll See GDPR-Like Legislation in the US Within Next Two Years says Simulmedia’s Dave Morgan, read more on VAN
Ad of the Week
TV Licensing, Needn’t Be a Drama, Red Bee


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Google Fiber users may soon have access to a new set-top box. A recently spotted FCC filing shows a “GFHD200” box, likely replacing the GFHD100 box Fiber owners are currently using. New specs are incoming, too, along with a rumor regarding the remote.
Chromecast, the tiny dongle that was supposed to do big things, may not be on track for dominance. According to a new report, usage of the Chromecast has declined overall. Though 6% of households in the US have one, less and less are using it, instead turning to other mediums.
A new exploit in Smart TVs has been discovered, which affects various smart TVs and allows a would-be hacker to potentially exploit your entire system. The threat lasts as long as you use an affected app, but once the malware is placed, the app itself is compromised. Called a “Red Button Attack”, the vulnerability is already widespread in Europe, and could be working its way to the US and other territories.
The guy who writes the killer books that HBO turned into a killer show? He wants to kill you. He also wants you to fork over $20,000 to be murderized. He won’t keep the money, of course — he’s not a bad guy. He’s raising money for charity, and is offering up a spot in his next book for those willing to be generous.
Online TV is growing rapidly in popularity, according to a new study. The findings suggest our mobile video viewing habits are up 57% over this time last year. Overall online video is up 43%, while our TV intake in general is up a staggering 246%.
Samsung’s Tizen operating system was a long time coming, but now that it has — it’s taking over much of Samsung’s lineup. Their recent Galaxy Gear update usurped Android for the new linux-based OS, and now the’ve branched into the living room. A new Tizen-powered TV is being shown off by Samsung, using motion controls for navigating the menus.


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Amul invokes nostalgia by bringing back 90s ads during Ramayan & Mahabharat DD retelecast
The dairy brand shared some of its classic ads through its social media handles
On popular demand, Amul brought back a few of its old, popular ads from the 90s during the Ramayan & Mahabharat retelecast on Doordarshan. The move invoked a wave of nostalgia among Indian viewers who are currently observing a 21-day lockdown in the light of the coronavirus pandemic.
The dairy brand had earlier tweeted that it’s going into ‘retro mode’ by bringing back some of its classic ads from the bygone era. These include ads for Amul Ice Creams, Amulya Premium Dairy Whitener and Amul Butter among others.
— Amul.coop (@Amul_Coop) April 5, 2020
Amul’s social media handles shared some of these iconic ads, reviving nostalgia with its familiar and catchy jingles.
After India went into lockdown, Prasar Bharati announced that it will retelecast two of India’s iconic TV shows – Ramanand Sagar’s Ramayan and BR Chopra’s Mahabharata. The BARC ratings for the former were the highest for any GEC show since 2015.For more updates, be socially connected with us on
WhatsApp, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook & Youtube


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In Bangalore, 250 new startups have sprung up since January. TiE’s (The Indus Entrepreneurs’) Bangalore and Mumbai chapters have seen a spurt in attendance at their events. “Suddenly, we’re running out of seats. Six months ago, it was difficult to fill even 20,” says Sridhar Mitta, who heads TiE Bangalore. IIM Bangalore’s entrepreneur club has had similar experiences. “Membership has jumped significantly in the last 12 months,” says Kalyani Gandhi, head of the Nadathur S. Raghavan Centre for Entrepreneurial Learning (NSRCEL). IIT Madras is incubating six new startups. And back in Mumbai, SINE is incubating 16, the highest it has seen since 1999-2000.
...This brings up the first big difference from the dotcom era. While that phase saw innovation mostly around one opportunity, the Internet, this time it is spread across six — consumer Internet, semiconductors, gaming and animation, wireless communication, SaaS (software-as-a-service), and telecom and software products. The diversity helps in a couple of ways. One, each segment is at a different stage of maturity and the business models are still being defined. That gives entrepreneurs more space to innovate. Take semiconductors — much of the work centres around back-end chip design. Example: the chip that runs Apple’s iPod was fine-tuned by Hyderabad-based Pinexe Systems. The chip itself was manufactured in Taiwan because India does not have a manufacturing base yet. Companies like inSilica and MosChip are betting on this space. Second, since some segments are more nascent than others, it lengthens the period of innovation, making this resurgence more sustainable. The odds for throwing up world-class technology leaders are, therefore, that much higher.
We picked three areas that already have the potential to produce winners — consumer Internet, wireless communications and SaaS. Over the past couple of years, these segments have experienced one big change — the emergence of a large and growing domestic market. Take the consumer Internet space. In the past six years, India’s Internet user base has jumped from 1 million to over 35 million on the back of increased broadband penetration and PC usage. In the near future, most Indians may access the Internet from their mobile phones. This implies a combined Internet user base of over 150 million. Service providers like Airtel and Hutch have started offering subscribers value-added services that enable even banking transactions on mobiles using the Internet.
The Businesworld website has an accompanying article profiling a few of the new techology start-ups mentioned in the cover story.
Arun Natarajan is the Founder of Venture Intelligence, which tracks private equity and venture capital in India and Indian-founded companies worldwide. View sample issues of Venture Intelligence India newsletters and reports.


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This is a roundup of industry news and links for the week of October 2nd that have informed, entertained, and inspired us.
Here’s our weekly roundup of industry news:
Everything you’ve always wanted to know about fintech – The financial technology (fintech) industry is thriving globally and received $17.4 billion in investment last year alone.
According to EY’s Fintech Adoption Index, a third of consumers worldwide are using two or more fintech services, with 84 percent of customers saying they are aware of fintech (up 22 percent from the previous year).
But users are often unaware that the financial services applications they use count as “fintech”, or may not know what exactly fintech and its accompanying jargon means.
The Rise Of Machines That Think – This week’s milestones in the history of technology include the end of life of one of the first examples of artificial intelligence or “giant brains” and its 50th anniversary, patents for the transistor, xerography, and carbon paper, and the first solar-powered mobile phone.
Frank Abagnale Jr. on Equifax, Check Fraud, and Cybercrime – The Wall Street Journal’s Henry Williams and security consultant Frank Abagnale Jr., known for inspiring the film ‘Catch Me If You Can,’ join MoneyBeat to talk about the prevalence of check fraud today and where financial security ultimately stands in a new digital landscape.
PayNearMe Announces the PayNearMe Channel Partner Program for U.S. Partners – PayNearMe, the leading provider of cash payment processing solutions for government and enterprises, today announced the creation of the PayNearMe Channel Partner Program for partner deployments in the U.S. A brand of Handle Financial, PayNearMe created the Channel Partner Program to ensure that partners are fully equipped to take advantage of PayNearMe technology and resources and thereby accelerate the implementation and adoption of PayNearMe offerings by partner affiliates.
Payday Lending Faces Tough New Restrictions by Consumer Agency – A federal agency on Thursday imposed tough new restrictions on so-called payday lending, dealing a potentially crushing blow to an industry that churns out billions of dollars a year in high-interest loans to working-class and poor Americans.


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The Greater Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau has a new logo and marketing campaign it hopes will help promote the region’s assets and bring more tourists to Clark County.
The visitors bureau has made gains in drawing more residents to Clark County, and an Oxford Economics report released earlier this year showed tourism contributes about $368 million a year to Clark County’s economy. That is a roughly 13 percent increase compared to two years ago.
The visitor’s bureau is hoping the new marketing campaign will help make potential visitors more aware of what the region has to offer. The new logo features Springfield as the focal point on a map of Ohio, with the phrase, “Find Your Unwind.”
“We are trying to expand to become a regional tourism hub,” said Chris Schutte, director of the Greater Springfield Convention and Visitor’s Bureau.
The new logo and tagline will be used in local promotions initially, including an LED billboard located on Interstate 70, Schutte said. It will also be used in social media promotions, which Schutte said is a factor that is becoming increasingly important into attracting potential visitors. The digital billboard, near I-70 and Ohio 41, could be operational by as early as next week.
The visitor’s bureau is also launching a new tourism web site, which will be specifically designed to work well with mobile devices and tablets as well as it does with laptops and other devices. Some tourism sites the consultants reviewed did not work as well on mobile devices, Schutte said.
The majority of travelers research potential destinations online now, as opposed to a travel brochure at a rest stop, Schutte said.
The visitor’s bureau worked with Hucklebuck Design Studio, of Springfield, and Knowble Media to develop the logo and social media campaign. The firms researched similar campaigns across the region, including areas comparable to Clark County like Lorain County in northern Ohio and Oshkosh, Wis.
Representatives from several local tourist attractions attended an event to unveil the new logo this week. The logo will likely be used to help promote regional attractions ranging from Frank Lloyd Wright’s Westcott House to events in Yellow Springs.
“I think people can relate to it,” said Marta Wojcik, executive director of the Westcott House, when discussing the new logo.
Most local businesses will likely get on board with the promotional material once it becomes clear the visitors bureau is helping drive new visitors toward area attractions, Schutte said. The goal is to encourage visitors to travel to sites across the region, from Bellefontaine to Yellow Springs, with Clark County as the starting point, he said.
“Clearly, visitors don’t see county lines,” Schutte said.
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18 October 2021
Francis Tsang of the ChromeFree Leather Alliance writes that The Chinese leather industry has no problem with competitive materials as long as they are correctly named. Calling a vegan material leather is a deliberate act to mislead the Chinese consumer and has to be condemned. That is why it is expressly illegal in so many countries and why leather has always won consumer court cases even where the legislation is not precise. It is improper to mislead the consumer.
Leather articles have features such as durability, repairability, reuse, patina, touch, smell and feel which are specific which a consumer is deprived of by being tricked into plastics or bio-based materials.


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To celebrate that coolers will still be welcome at Schlitterbahn in 2020, the parks are kicking off National Bring Your Cooler Week on August 12th. The park unveiled a video specially designed to pay homage to cooler love (and free parking).
In addition, both Galveston and New Braunfels Parks will be giving away four coolers, four $50 HEB gift cards, and eight season passes (good for the rest of this year and summer 2020) and a limited edition t-shirt to four lucky winners. With the launch of the new Bahn Saver Summer Season Pass Payment plan, more families than ever will be able to make Schlitterbahn their headquarters of summer.
Saving the historic family-friendly policies in place at Schlitterbahn like free coolers and free parking were the #1 concern of fans when the sale of the two parks was announced in June. Parent company Cedar Fair decided not to change the policy for 2020.
To enter to win, visit Schlitterbahn’s Facebook page.


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Category Archives: Wine
Hugh Reimers, president of Jackson Family Wines until a management reorganization earlier this year, was named chief administrative officer of Foley Family Wines this month and has been placed on a track to become president of the company, which owns … Continue reading
Wine Institute surveyed more than 2,000 U.S. adults who recently visited California wine country, and found the average age of visitors to California wine country is 43.9 years old, with Baby Boomers accounting for 39.5%, Gen Xers 21.9% and Millennials … Continue reading
Family-owned distributors employ more than 74,000 workers nationwide who earn a collective $6.5 billion in annual wages as part of an industry that generates more than $50 billion in tax revenue each year. This data is part of a new … Continue reading
90+ Cellars introduced a limited release wine to mark the brand’s 150th Lot — a significant milestone for a company that has never owned a vineyard, grown a single grape or taken on any major investment.
The money is going to Sonoma County charities focused on literacy, education, health and human services, the environment, and arts and culture. The auction tent buzzed with excitement with two lots that tied for the top lots of the day: … Continue reading


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- In Quebec, RONA opens 17th Reno-Depot store
- Fifty winning retailers, state by state
- RONA prowling for U.S. lumberyards
- Sears taps former Lehman Brothers VP to lead Craftsman
- Jeld-Wen sells stake to Canadian investors
- Ace addresses 2011 strategy, supply chain
- Economic signals still mixed at HIRI conference
RONA, one of Canada’s largest retailers of building materials and home improvement items, announced C$1.38 billion in sales for the third quarter of 2008, a 2.3 percent increase over sales of C$1.35 billion in the same period last year. Operating income was C$115.5 million in the third quarter of 2008, down 5 percent from the corresponding quarter of 2007.
Same-store sales dropped 2.3 percent.
In a prepared statement, RONA president and CEO Robert Dutton said the company’s results were affected by “[low] consumer confidence levels in Canada as well as from the decline in construction and renovation activities, especially in Alberta and Ontario.” He added, however, that renovation activity was still healthy in Quebec and the Atlantic Provinces.
Based in Boucherville, Quebec, RONA operates a network of 700 franchise, affiliate and corporate stores generating more than C$6.3 billion in annual retail sales.


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Police force needs new direction in legalized cannabis industry
Police bust 23 year-old cannabis compassion club in Victoria
Is this a good use of our police force, enforcing licensing violations?
Now that cannabis is legal, Canada needs to re-examine the use of our police force. Police need to focus on real crime, not licensing violations. And there is more than enough crime in the country to shift their focus away from cannabis activities.
Cannabis Compassion Clubs cater to the sick and need a Medical Cannabis Retail Licence
A way we can solve the issue of compassion clubs is to provide them with a licence. Accordingly, Canada needs to grant compassion clubs and other similar dispensaries that cater to people who need cannabis for medical purposes with a Medical Cannabis Retail Licence, because recreational stores do not provide medical patients enough quality and quantity at reasonable prices.
Health Canada currently licences those individuals and corporations who desire to sell medical cannabis with a Medical Sale Licence, it just does not regulate brick and mortar stores. Because the provinces are in charge of distribution, the provinces must work with the federal government to create a medical retail licence that allows the original cannabis market to continue helping its patients/clients with legitimate medical need.
Legalization needs to honour the original market
A major hurdle with this new licence is the conceptual framework of Canada’s chosen method of legalization. The federal government decided to create a legal framework by ignoring the current reality of the cannabis industry, and all of its growers, distributors and customers. This was, simply put, rude, because it was those very people who made legalization possible. Without compassion clubs, the growers who supply them, and the medical patients who rely on them, there would be no legalization.
The federal and provincial governments have a collective responsibility to honour all of these brave people who decided to help sick people in the face of going to jail under the previous Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. Granting them a licence merely allows their safe and responsible activities to continue. In fact, these clubs are shining examples of how cannabis and a local community promotes healing.
Canada can show the world how to heal instead of bust
Canada can also be a shining example to the world of how we protect the weak and sick, how we stop using the criminal justice system to take away people’s medicine, and how we instead promote healing. It is time, Canada. License the compassion clubs and their growers, and direct the police force onto busting the creators, distributors and sellers of opioids and other life-threatening drugs, and away from providers of plants that heal.


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Evokes huge response from tour operators, public
CHENNAI: The Department of Tourism, J&K in collaboration with the Travel Agents Society of Kashmir (TASK) organised a grand promotional evening and road show in Chennai in which more than 160 prominent travel agents including heads of main travel bodies participated.
The highlight of the event was a detailed presentation of J&K tourism by Addl. Secretary Tourism JK, Waseem Raja about the known and lesser-known tourist destinations, art and craft, pilgrim and adventure tourism besides the upcoming festivals.
The Addl. Secretary Tourism appraised the jam-packed gathering about the rigorous promotional campaign launched by the department to attract tourists from across the country and the positive outcome of the events in terms of increasing tourist footfall during the winter season in the UT.
While highlighting the potential of Chennai as an emerging market for J&K tourism, the Addl. Secretary Tourism sought support from the local travel trade fraternity and the head of the associations for promoting J&K’s tourism potential.
The presentation was followed by an interactive session with the local travel trade, who put forth their suggestions to further improve the tourism services in the UT.
The Addl. Secretary tourism assured the travel trade of all necessary support from J&K tourism in making the traveler’s stay in JK memorable.
Besides, the Addl. Secretary Tourism, the team of J&K tourism was represented by DGM Jammu and Kashmir Tourist Development Corporation Ashwani Gupta, Tourist officer Chennai T.P Singh, President TASK Mir Anwar, General Secretary TASK Athar Yamen Narwari and other office bearers and members of TASK.
The roadshow was attended by various prominent personalities of Chennai including Director Information and PR Tamil Nadu Bhaskaran,
Joint Director Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation P. Pushparaj, travel trade representatives of Chennai including President Tamil Nadu Tour, Travel and Hospitality Association VK T Balan, Chairman TAAI Southern Region K Shah ul Hamid, President Tamil Nadu Tourist Vehicle Operators Association A. Afzal, Secretary ADTOI Tamil Nadu Chapter Ashok Kumar, Director Tollywood John Vijay and other tour operators.
The dignitaries who addressed the audience praised J&K tourism for the grand road show and reiterated their unflinching support for tourism in J&K.


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By Christen Smith | The Center Square
Pennsylvania lawmakers approved a measure Wednesday to allow restaurants, bars and taverns to sell mixed drinks to go.
Yardley-based Democratic State Rep. Perry Warren’s House Bill 327 passed the lower chamber on a vote of 193-9 less than a day after Rep. Kurt Masser, R-Northumberland, introduced an amendment that provided for alcohol takeout sales as a way to soften the financial blow many establishments are weathering during the pandemic.
The amendment related to COVID-19 would grant restaurants and hotels that have seen more than 25 percent of their average monthly sales sell pre-made beverages and mixed drinks for off-premise consumption. The mixes can be sold in quantities of 4 ounces to 64 ounces during the disaster emergency and mitigation period.
Warren’s bill was design to alter the state liquor code to clarify the process on a referendum for the sale of liquor in a municipality in a primary, municipal, or general election.
The bill was drafted as efforts are underway to end Lower Makefield’s 70-year-old policy outlawing the sale of alcohol within its borders. The community is the only dry town in Bucks County.
Newtown-area state representative Wendy Thomas voted in favor of the bill.
The bill next heads to the state Senate.
Chuck Moran, executive director of the Pennsylvania Licensed Beverage and Tavern Association, said the bill “makes it a little easier” for restaurants, bars and other r-licensed businesses to survive. A National Restaurant Association study estimates that the state’s food service industry will lose more than $1.8 billion in sales in April, and 96 percent of operators have laid off or furloughed their staff since Gov. Tom Wolf issued shut down orders last month.
“The governor’s reopening plan suggests it could be many more months until all Pennsylvania counties reach a ‘green phase,’ which is why finding additional revenue streams for small business taverns and licensed restaurants is so important for their survival,” Moran said.
David Wojnar, vice president of state government relations at the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, said the bill also eases the burden on the state’s strained liquor stores, which have struggled to meet demand in recent weeks.
“Sporadic e-commerce and limited curbside pickup of distilled spirits are measures that will help alleviate some of the problems caused by Governor Wolf’s decision to close all spirits stores in March, but it won’t solve them,” he said. “Allowing r-licensees to sell to-go cocktails will provide consumers additional convenience they want and deserve. This is a commonsense solution that will help small business owners struggling to cope with the impacts of COVID-19.”
Alcohol sales have skyrocketed since Wolf rescinded – albeit partially – his order to shutter roughly 600 state-run liquor stores on March 17. The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board said online and curbside sales combined have exceed $7.1 million in the first three weeks of April alone, outpacing the prior sales year by 42 percent.


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The New York Department of Financial Services (NYDFS) is revisiting its controversial virtual currency license, the regulator's head said Tuesday.
Speaking at Georgetown University's Institute of International Economic Law during DC Fintech Week, NYDFS Superintendent Linda Lacewell said the agency was looking into the BitLicense, which requires any companies conducting cryptocurrency transactions with New York residents to be licensed to operate within the state – even if the companies are based elsewhere.
The license, considered the toughest such state regulation in the country, has long been unpopular with blockchain startups, who complain of onerous paperwork and long approval times. Kraken, an exchange headquartered in San Francisco, chose to leave New York rather than comply. The Seattle-based Bittrex exchange was forced out of New York earlier this year after failing to secure a BitLicense.
Lacewell told Georgetown's Chis Brummer:
But she warned the audience not to "get too excited" about what the review might result in.
Speaking to the media after her talk, Lacewell said the regulator is comparing the cryptocurrency industry when the BitLicense was first implemented in 2015 and how it has evolved since then.
"How has the industry grown? Has it matured in any way? And I don't want to get too specific, but you know, it's a good time for a second look," Lacewell said.
The current regulatory regime is "working well," and the existing regulation will be retained during this review. But Lacewell said NYDFS wants to hear from industry participants to see what improvements, if any, the agency could implement.
She cited the 22 companies which already have virtual currency licenses, adding that NYDFS continues to receive applications for the license.
Since first being introduced by previous NYDFS Superintendent Benjamin Lawsky, the state financial regulator has issued more than 20 licenses and a few trust charters, allowing exchanges, bitcoin mining firms, bitcoin teller machine startups and custodians the ability to store and transact cryptocurrencies in the Empire State. NYDFS awarded only six licenses between June 2015 and June 2018, but has since added 16 in the 20 months since.
Lacewell did not say when the regulator's review of the license would be completed, or what specifically industry participants can expect to see at the close.
"Maybe there's some things that could be within a license's discretion, maybe there could be all kinds of permutations and our mind is open," Lacewell said Tuesday, concluding:
Linda Lacewell image via CoinDesk's Flickr archives
The leader in news and information on cryptocurrency, digital assets and the future of money, CoinDesk is a media outlet that strives for the highest journalistic standards and abides by a strict set of editorial policies. CoinDesk is an independent operating subsidiary of Digital Currency Group, which invests in cryptocurrencies and blockchain startups. As part of their compensation, certain CoinDesk employees, including editorial employees, may receive exposure to DCG equity in the form of stock appreciation rights, which vest over a multi-year period. CoinDesk journalists are not allowed to purchase stock outright in DCG.


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14 May Cat Footwear Appoints Chip Coe As President
Chip Coe has been named the new global brand president of Cat Footwear, a division of Wolverine World Wide Inc.
Coe has more than two decades of global brand-building experience and has held several leadership positions within Wolverine Worldwide since joining the company in 2010. Most recently, he served as senior vice president of strategy leading business development initiatives and the company’s consumer insights and market intelligence functions. Before that, he was president of EMEA leading all of the company’s brands in that critical region and served as president of Chaco, the outdoor lifestyle footwear brand.
In his new role, Coe will report to Chris Hufnagel, a member of Wolverine’s executive leadership team and global brand president of Merrell.
“Chip has a demonstrated track record of leading high-performing teams to create deep consumer connections while driving profitable growth,” said Hufnagel. “Having previously led Wolverine’s EMEA operations for several years before leading Chaco, Chip is well-positioned to accelerate the many global growth opportunities for Cat Footwear around the world.”
Before joining Wolverine Worldwide, Coe served as president and chief executive officer of Smartwool, a premium sock company. Coe holds a Doctor of the Science of Law degree from the University of Michigan and a bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Colorado at Boulder, and currently serves as a benefactor and mentor for the Leeds Professional Mentorship Program at the University of Colorado’s Leeds School of Business.


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Even as major restaurant chains across the country launch loyalty programs or improve their existing programs with increasingly personalized deals and offers, there remains a huge amount of untapped demand. In fact, PYMNTS research has found that about four in 10 consumers say they would be encouraged to make more purchases if the restaurants from which they were ordering offered loyalty rewards programs.
While this pent-up demand is noteworthy in and of itself, it doesn’t tell us much about how best to engage those consumers. After all, a single twentysomething is likely looking for different features and rewards from the loyalty program of a table-service restaurant than what a married couple of bridge millennials (those between their early thirties and early forties) looking to feed their family would want from their favorite quick-service restaurant (QSR) loyalty program, for instance.
Now, new PYMNTS research from this month’s edition of Delivering on Restaurant Rewards, created in collaboration with Paytronix, shows us how the demand for increased loyalty options breaks down across demographics. Most notably, 56 percent of married couples without kids, 55 percent of married couples with kids and 53 percent of singles are not using loyalty programs at table-service restaurants due to a lack of availability.
These numbers are well above the previously cited four in 10 consumers who would be encouraged to spend more with loyalty options in general. This means table-service restaurants have an opportunity to boost spending for more than half of their married customers and their single-without-kids customers: One study from researchers at Northwestern University found that loyalty programs increase purchasing by 20 percent and that instantly redeemable rewards increase spending by 68 percent.
While the desire for increased loyalty options at table-service restaurants is the highest, the demand is significant across the board. At QSRs, 37 percent of singles (with or without children), 42 percent of married couples without children and 43 percent of those with children are not using rewards programs simply because they do not have access to them. By adding loyalty programs or by better promoting their existing programs, QSRs may be able to turn their occasional customers into regulars.
These data are also key to getting a sense of which consumers are already adopting loyalty programs — for instance, over half of married couples with children are using loyalty programs both at QSRs and at table-service restaurants. Meanwhile, only about one-quarter of single consumers are using these programs at either type of restaurant. This indicates, for one thing, that restaurants may be able to get the most from their current rewards members by offering deals targeted to these married parents, such as bundled family meals or limited-time child-friendly menu items.
Additionally, if restaurants want to target consumers who are already amenable, they may want to focus on those in their early forties and younger. PYMNTS research indicates that almost half of all bridge millennials are restaurant enthusiasts, “restaurant customers who order from sit-down restaurants or from both sit-down restaurants and QSRs twice a week or more,” as are 41 percent of millennials and 42 percent of Generation Z consumers. This is good news for restaurants, as these enthusiasts have also been the quickest to adopt loyalty programs — more than 60 percent of restaurant enthusiasts are already using loyalty programs. Of course, knowing the demographics of these loyalty-hungry consumers is only the first step. Next comes making the programs as appealing to these consumers as possible, with the help of data and artificial intelligence (AI).
“Guest expectations have changed forever. Exceeding them requires not only improving the loyalty offering, but also using program data to improve the guest experience,” Michelle Tempesta, head of product for Paytronix, told PYMNTS in an interview for January’s Order to Eat Tracker. “Brands like Panera Bread and Jimmy John’s positioned themselves well by being early adopters of Apple Pay and Google Pay. They enabled diners to not only pay, but to pass their loyalty identifier via a contactless tap at the point of sale. Guests feel safe, and the brands deliver an exceptional experience.”
Read More On Restaurants:
- Restaurants Race To Top Of Mobile Ordering Experience
- With Text-To-Order, Jet’s Pizza Predicts The AI Future Of Mobile Ordering
- Deep Dive: How The Pandemic Has Driven Reduced Cash Use In The QSR Space
- Cocktails To Go Could Be One Of Many Changes To Survive Beyond Pandemic
Selected by EFXA


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Sonoma Pharmaceuticals reports jump in Q1 revenue, profit
Petaluma-based specialty pharmaceutical company Sonoma Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq: SNOA) showed an increase in revenue in the latest quarter ending in June, pulling back into the black from a year before.
The drug maker reported fiscal first-quarter net income of $782,000 at the end of June, up from a net loss of $3.4 million at the end of June 2018. During the three months ending in June, the company reported total revenues of $4.71 million, up 7.8% over 12 months, and total gross profit of $2.4 million, or 50% of total revenue. That's compared with a gross profit of $1.7 million, or 40% of total revenue, in the same period last year.
“We have significantly slowed our cash burn and continue to build a sustainable business,” said Bubba Sandford, CEO of Sonoma Pharmaceuticals. “Our performance in dermatology has improved substantially, resulting in gross margins of 50% of total revenues compared to 40% a year ago, and our efforts to grow revenues while containing expenses resulted in one of our strongest quarters to date.”
He added that while the company’s most recent results were impacted by the sale of its animal-products rights in Asia, revenue growth in core U.S. dermatology business year-over-year out-paced total revenue growth.
In May, the company sold animal health product rights and assets for the Asian and European markets to Petagon, Limited, an international importer and distributor of quality pet food and products, for $2.7 million. The sale involved certain Asian patents and trademarks and the exclusive right to distribute animal health care products in Asia and Europe.
The company also said in a statement that total operating expenses during the first quarter of fiscal year 2020 were $4.1 million, down $1.2 million, or 23%, as compared to the same period in the prior year.
“This decrease in operating expenses was primarily due to lower employee costs resulting from a reduction in headcount combined with cost-cutting across all divisions,” Sandford said.
Last year the Business Journal reported the company announced cost-cutting measures, including reductions to the company’s workforce and management. The company did not state how many people were being laid off, only that “the primary reductions were in the company’s consulting expenses, manufacturing force and manufacturing expenses.”
The company’s stock closed at just over $5 a share Wednesday, down from $5.40 per share Tuesday afternoon.


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A few weeks ago, we reported that WildStar, the MMO from Korean publisher NCSOFT, could be going free-to-play. This fall, this will become a reality, as the development team announced a plan to transition the game to a subscription-free model that has quickly become the standard for the massively multiplayer online genre.
While no exact date has been given yet for the move to free-to-play, not only will the subscription be dropped, but the base game will also be available for free instead of the current $20. In place of these revenue streams, WildStar will offer microtransactions in the form of “player services, convenience options, and cosmetic offerings.”
Those who already have recurring payment set up on their accounts or have a pre-paid Game Time Card will be grandfathered into the WildStar “Signature service.” Signature service payments will function similarly to the current mandatory subscription, but paying players will receive extra bonuses, including extra Auction House bids, a higher currency earning rate, and extra XP.
Longtime subscribers — those who have continued to pay from the game’s launch until its move to free-to-play — will also receive a special set of rewards, including four free months of Signature service, a new decor item, a new pet, and the titles “Living Legend” and “Nexus Loyalist.”
Even if you don’t plan to subscribe to the game, anyone who purchases WildStar before the transition will receive special benefits designed to “retain an experience that most closely matches that of the launch game.” While free players will only receive two character slots, purchasers will receive 12, for example.
Although WildStar will now be completely playable without paying a dime, NCSOFT is stressing that this could change in the future with the inclusion of possible paid expansion packs. However, all updates for the core game will be offered free to all players going forward.