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Yuga Labs has reached a settlement with Thomas Lehman, who built websites and smart contracts for Ryder Ripp’s copycat project RR/BAYC
The creator of the NFT collection Bored Ape Yacht Club has recently settled a lawsuit with one of the developers behind a copycat collection known as RR/BayC.
On February 6th, Yuga Labs settled a lawsuit that involved Thomas Lehman, the developer of websites and a smart contract selling “misleading” BayC NFTs from digital artist Ryder Ripps. The firm behind the blue-chip collection sued Lehman in January for his involvement and technical support for the collection of mimic monkeys.
According to the lawsuit, Lehman assisted Ripps and Jeremy Cahen to develop and promote the NFTs on social media.
Yuga Labs alleged that the actions of Lehman, Ripps and Cahen constituted a “deliberate effort to harm Yuga Labs at the expense of consumers by sowing confusion” regarding the two collections. In the settlement, Yuga Labs and Lehman agreed on a permanent injunction barring Lehman from using any “confusingly similar” BayC imagery or operating any social media accounts insinuating association with the company.
In a statement, Lehman said, “It was never my intention to harm Yuga Labs’s brand, and I reject all disparaging statements made about Yuga Labs and its founders and appreciate their many positive contributions to the NFT space.” A Yuga spokesperson said the firm was pleased that Lehman “acknowledged his role in assisting former cohorts, Ryder Ripps and Jeremy Cahen, to infringe on Yuga Labs’ trademarks in developing, marketing, and selling counterfeit NFTs.”
However, separate ongoing cases still exist regarding Ripps’ use of imagery from the BayC collection. Jeremy Cahen has also been sued for copying and selling the same products on the same platforms as Yuga. Ripps and Cahen were sued in June, with Yuga alleging that the artists were “trolling Yuga Labs and scamming consumers” into purchasing their copycats. The complaint also claimed that Ripps made more than $5 million by “pumping and dumping fake NFTs.”
On January 30th, investor rights protection law firm Rosen reiterated that investors should be aware of the “risks associated with NFTs and the potential for fraud,” adding that “investors should conduct their own due diligence and carefully consider their investment objectives and risk tolerance before investing in any NFTs.”
- Louis Vuitton Partners With The 93-Year-Old Japanese Contemporary Artist Yayoi Kusama To Launch 10,000 NFTs
- During A Cyberattack On Mailchimp, Yuga Labs’ Account Was Exposed But NFTs Are Safe


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T-Mobile owner Deutsche Telekom, Australian airline Qantas Airways and Spanish train operator Renfe are among the companies using big data in business to make key savings and win new customers
From driving fuel efficiency in airlines to ensuring almost every train arrives on time, using big data in business is now a no-brainer for many of the world’s biggest companies.
T-Mobile owner Deutsche Telekom, Australian airline Qantas Airways and Spanish train operator Renfe are among those that have made key savings and won new customers through the intelligent adoption of analytics.
Their success stories were shared at the Teradata Analytics Universe conference in Las Vegas earlier this month – while visitors also learned how the Equifax data breach last year could have been stopped in its tracks much earlier by spotting data patterns.
Compelo was in the audience to learn about using big data in business.
Using big data in business: Deutsche Telekom
Deutsche Telekom, Europe’s largest telecoms firm with 168 million mobile customers and 74.9bn euros revenue, has developed an analytics tracker that can be attached to any goods customers don’t want to lose during shipping.
Using the Internet of Things, the device is used by logistics companies to identify exactly where the items are located en route from their warehouse to a customer’s site. It is managed by a data intelligence hub.
Dominik Temerowski, head of strategic partners at Deutsche Telekom IT services subsidiary T-Systems, said: “This is important because right now, logistics providers have a huge problem.
“Each link of the shipment chain is covered by a different logistics provider, which isn’t willing to share this logistics data.
“So how can we get precise time of arrival and calculate from end to end if you have your data siloed?”
Mr Temerowski said the data gaps this creates, combined with a lack of trust, means there is untapped revenue potential.
With 54% of all companies still managing their goods with pen and paper, the industry has a long way to go in digitisation.
But Deutsche Telekom believes its data intelligence hub could be transformational as it enables companies to retain ownership of their data while sharing it securely.
Its overarching vision is to create the first cross-industry analytics platform enabling data-driven insights, putting owners in control of their data.
Using big data in business: Qantas Airways
As Quantas Airways has a $3.2bn budget for fuel each year, making a 1% improvement in efficiency is worth $30m for Australia’s largest airline.
The need for savings was highlighted in a report by the International Council on Clean Transportation in January this year, which said Qantas emitted more CO2 per passenger-kilometre than any other airline operating across the Pacific in 2016.
But to achieve this, it needed to make savings at scale, across its fleet of 90,000 flights every year.
That’s when the airline turned to analytics. It creates two million data points per hour, collecting information on everything from weather and airports to operational functions and passenger weight.
After processing its data to find where efficiencies could be made, Qantas is on course to improve fuel efficiency by 1.5% by 2020 - generating almost $50m in savings.
Using big data in business: Renfe
Spanish train operator Renfe found itself competing against airlines for inter-city journeys.
In a bid to win more passengers, the company promised to arrive on time or refund tickets between Madrid and Barcelona for 15-minute delays.
To increase reliability, it installed sensors along the train to feed back data on the condition of parts and ensure they could be repaired or replaced before problems occur – a concept known as predictive maintenance.
Working with Siemens, just one in 2,300 Renfe trains fitted with the sensors were late in 2016 – a 99.8% punctuality rate – and the company recaptured $100m in revenue in its first six months of the programme.
Teradata chief technology officer Stephen Brobst says: “One of the key points to be successful is to get the data in real-time.
“That often meant less than 15 minutes in data warehousing but that timeframe isn’t acceptable in a lot of industries.
“Sub-milliseconds timeframes are needed to drive services to another level because the trains are going to keep moving whether you make a decision or not, but it could be too late to make an intervention if you don’t have the necessary details quickly enough.”
Using big data in business: How Equifax data breach could have been stopped earlier
The Equifax data breach was one of the biggest ever cyber security scandals, with 146.6 million personal records – nearly half the US population – stolen by hackers last year.
It included names, date of births, social security numbers, passport details, email addresses, taxpayer IDs and drivers’ licences.
But Matt Mazzarell, a senior data scientist at Teradata, believes the problem could have been averted by using analytics.
Data collected by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) shows a spike in customer complaints, particularly relating to identity theft, made to the US government agency in the months leading to when the data breach was discovered in September 2017.
Complaints weren’t just filed about Equifax, though, but fellow credit agencies Experian and TransUnion – and the spike began as early as April.
Mr Mazzarell says: “If we look at the data, we could definitely tell there was something going on before the Equifax hack – we just needed analytics to bring it out.
“If you were looking at this data, how couldn’t you have known about the problem around June 2017, when so many people were complaining about their identity being stolen and other types of fraud. The CFPB could have asked questions a lot earlier.”
He adds: “Consumer complaints come in different ways and are often dealt with on a one-to-one basis.
“But we should be looking at all the consumer complaints, collating that information and if something happens to a sizeable number of people, we don’t just deal with them individually but on a macro level.”

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Posted Wed Jan 10, 2018 at 03:50 PM PST by Steven Cohen
Several DTS enabled devices are now on display at CES 2018.
Xperi has announced a wide range of DTS products and technologies for 2018 from a variety of partners. The current and upcoming lineup includes smart speakers, sound bars, receivers, 4K TVs, and more from companies like Amazon, Denon, Hisense, LG, Onkyo, Pioneer, Sony, and SVS.
"We are proud to highlight the latest updates and partner implementation progress across all of our brands and technologies," said Jon Kirchner, CEO, Xperi. "In 2018, Xperi will continue to innovate and expand its reach through DTS, FotoNation, HD Radio and Invensas, and deliver on our promise to enable extraordinary experiences for people around the world."
DTS products at CES incorporate various DTS technologies, including DTS Virtual:X, DTS:X, DTS-HD, and DTS Play-Fi. Here's a full list of new DTS-enabled devices per Xperi:
– Phorus PS10 DTS Play-Fi smart speaker with Amazon Alexa functionality
- Creative Labs X5 sound bar with DTS:X technology
- Denon A/V receivers with DTS:X and DTS Virtual:X technology
- Emotiva RMC-1 A/V processor with DTS:X technology
- Hisense HS512 sound bar with DTS:X technology
- LG 2018 UHD and full HD TVs with DTS-HD codec
- LG SK6Y sound bar with DTS Virtual:X technology
- Marantz A/V receivers with DTS:X and DTS Virtual:X technology
- Nakamichi Shockwafe Ultra 9.2-channel sound bar system with DTS:X technology
- Nakamichi Shockwafe Elite 7.2-channel sound bar with DTS:X technology
- Onkyo 2018 A/V receivers with DTS:X and DTS Play-Fi (Note: DTS Play-Fi technology in select models)
- Pioneer and Pioneer Elite 2018 A/V receivers with DTS:X and DTS Play-Fi (Note: DTS Play-Fi technology in select models)
- Sony 2018 A/V receivers with DTS:X
- Sony HT-ST5000 sound bar with DTS:X
- Soundcast VG10 wireless outdoor speaker with DTS Play-Fi
- SVS Prime Wireless speaker system and Prime Wireless SoundBase with DTS Play-Fi
The latest news on all things 4K Ultra HD, blu-ray and Gear.


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IN the US alone, one estimate suggests 500 million straws are used every day, according to National Geographic.
One study, published earlier this year, estimated as many as 8.3 billion plastic straws pollute the world’s beaches.
In Malaysia, studies show about 30 million straws are used every day.
Plastic straws can be found pretty much anywhere food is served. This is because plastic is not biodegradable — it does not break down into compounds (like carbon dioxide or water) that can be easily reused.
Plastic straws can take up 200 years to disintegrate — a really, really long time.
As plastic doesn’t decompose quickly, when it becomes waste,
it tends to either end up in landfills or wash into the ocean.
According to the World Economic Forum, 150 million metric tons of plastics are found in the ocean, and if this trend continues, scientists predict there will be more plastic than fish in the ocean by 2050.
In a landmark study of ocean plastic, published in Science in 2015, researchers found people generating 275 million metric tons of plastic waste in one year, of which 4.8 million to 12.7 million metric tons get into the oceans, harming aquatic lives.
Say no to plastic straws
In July 2018, the Walt Disney Company announced it would eliminate single-use plastic straws and stirrers in all its locations by mid-2019 as part of its “journey of environmental stewardship.”
Among other green measures, Disney also planned to reduce other plastic products in its hotels and cruiseships as well as plastic shopping bags and styrofoam cups.
Popular Science reported that the European Parliament signed a provisional agreement, banning 10 kinds of single-use plastics — including plastic cutlery and straws — by 2021.
The ban on plastic straws took effect on July 1 this year in all eateries in Selangor to eliminate single-use plastics which pollute the seas and endanger marine life.
At home, the Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) will eliminate the single-use plastic straws at all eateries within its jurisdiction effective Jan 1, 2020, to reduce plastic pollution.
The SMC is the first local authority in East Malaysia to step up such a green initiative.
To show they mean business, SMC Public Health, Environment and Municipal Services Standing Committee chairperson Rhoda Ting cautioned errant operators would be fined RM50 and their plastic straws confiscated.
However, she pointed out that for the first few months, only warnings would be issued, reasoning that the grace period was to enable eatery operators to adjust and clear their old stocks
“After the first warning, the council enforcement team will return to the same outlet and if they find an operator still not complying, then a compound will be issued, including confiscation of their straws.
“This is the same action we took during the implementation of the ban on the use of styrofoam in 2014, Ting noted.
She also warned errant traders could have their licence revoked if the offence were repeated three times.
“The ban is also included in their licensing conditions – like styrofoam. For coffeeshops, if an offence is committed three times, the licence will be revoked.”
Ting noted there are between 700 and 800 coffeeshops in Sibu and the Sibu Coffee Shop & Restaurant Owners Association is helping to distribute posters.
The Sibu Rural District Council (SRDC) is following in SMC’s footsteps to ban single-use plastic straws at all eateries.
SRDC chairman Sempurai Petrus Ngelai said the ruling could be enforced either early or middle of next year, adding that according to the council’s planning, a total ban is expected between that time.
“I will let the Public Health Standing Committee chairman and his members gauge the response and the eatery operators’ readiness to comply.”
Assistant Minister of Local Government and Housing Minister Datu Dr Penguang Manggil is encouraging the local councils to emulate SMC by banning single-use plastic straws.
He described the move as beneficial to environmental conservation, saying: “This is a noble, small step towards our bigger agenda of ‘cleaning’ the environment.”
Sibu Coffee Shop & Restaurant Owners Association chairman Tong Ing Kok said they would cooperate fully with enforcement of the ban and had included the non-usage of plastic straws as their licensing condition.
“The ban also applies to the licensing condition for coffeeshops,” Tong added.
He revealed the association was helping to foster love for the environment.
“We’re printing a few thousand ‘say no to plastic straw’ banners to be given free to about 300 members and non-members. There are between 700 and 800 coffeeshops in Sibu.”
Taman Selera Harmoni Sibu Muslim Traders Association chairman Abdul Taib Rosli said they had no problem in complying with the ban.
“In fact, in this food court, several stalls have already done away with single-use plastic straws. We fully support SMC’s initiative.
“In my opinion, SMC could perhaps intensify awareness not only among the operators but also the patrons,” he suggested.
There are eight stalls selling food, 17 selling drinks and five selling various merchandise at Taman Selera Harmoni.
Shunning plastic straws
The Ministry of Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change has reportedly launched a programme called ‘Roadmap Towards Zero Single-Use Plastic 2018-2030’.
The vision is to take a phased, evidence-based and holistic approach, involving all stakeholders, in addressing single-use plastics pollution in Malaysia.
While the Malaysian government is taking concrete steps to phase out single-use plastic, the latest Ipsos Malaysia study revealed only 44 per cent of Malaysians are aware of Malaysia’s ‘Roadmap Towards Zero Single-Use Plastic’.
Ipsos Malaysia conducted a nationwide study in three waves from October 2018 to June 2019.
Among the key points are 56 per cent of Malaysians are concerned about the issue of single-use plastic while 70 per cent feel it’s the government’s responsibility to find ways to reduce plastic usage.
Ting cautioned that there would be no more excuse for coffeeshop operators to provide plastic straws from Jan 1, 2020 as the council has been carrying out awareness programmes since April.
“I’m positive SMC will be able to control the use of plastic straws because it is in the licensing conditions,” she said.


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In the November 2020 elections, some 67% of New Jersey's adults voted in favor of cannabis legalization.
The new cannabis law, signed by Governor Phil Murphy in February, had a deadline of Aug. 21 for the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission to create its rules and regulations. The commission complied.
However, out of the state's 565 municipalities, some 32 cities and towns have chosen not to allow the creation of recreational cannabis programs in their towns, although they have the right to change their decisions in the future and jump back in.
Cantor Fitzgerald analyst Pablo Zuanic shared his notes from the last week’s New Jersey cannabis conference in his Sunday analyst note.
MSO Incumbents In Advance If The Program Starts On Time
“Multi-state operator incumbents in New Jersey should have a great head start if recreational sales begin on time by …


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Strategically sound, revolutionary and mutually beneficial have all been phrases used to describe the deal between pay-TV provider Foxtel and streaming giant Netflix.
Foxtel last week made a raft of new announcements on its user interface, with one piece of news dominating the conversation.
In a move to grow its presence as Australia's "leading content aggregator," Foxtel CEO Patrick Delany revealed the business would be integrating Netflix capabilities into its platform.
The full extent of the deal has yet to be realised, with Foxtel entertaining the possibility of data sharing and recommendations based on both subscribers' viewing habits.
AdNews spoke to some of Australia's top media agency executives to get their views on what this deal means for the future of both content providers.
Wavemaker national head of investment Philippa Noilea-Tani:
"Over the last 10 years, Australian broadcasters have needed to continually adapt their traditional models to keep up with the rate of change in the market. Of course, the rate of change now has never been greater. The disruption of SVOD to the Video landscape has been significant. This is a powerful and future-fit move from Foxtel. Long gone are the days of Foxtel the subscription TV business. Foxtel today offers a diverse portfolio of content, distributed broadly via multiple touch points, utilising leading technology. Foxtel tomorrow, in partnership with Netflix and with a new user interface, represents an even stronger offering for consumers. This is undoubtedly a strong retention strategy from Foxtel in the War on Attention. Foxtel remains a very viable advertising proposition, with an important role to play as part of any national screen strategy, driving efficient and well-targeted incremental reach."
Publicis Media Exchange commercial director Jodi Fraser:
"It’s a clever and strategically smart move by Foxtel. It’s evolving its business to become a content aggregator, adapting to the way people are now consuming content. This move delivers further innovation, giving people what they want, when they want it – which is what Foxtel has been doing since the advent of the IQ box. Hopefully it will not only retain but also grow its number of subscribers. If this happens, it will have a flow on effect and increase advertiser interest and spend. We know that Netflix doesn’t allow advertising. By keeping people within the Foxtel ecosystem that will now include Netflix – where brands can advertise – it will give media buyers the confidence that they may now be reaching some of the Netflix viewers. The greater impact is likely to be on Foxtel. Assuming that Foxtel subscribers will be encouraged to pick up Netflix after the trial period for some subscribers, this will definitely help Netflix, but it won’t necessarily have a major impact."
IPG Mediabrands' Magna managing director Victor Corones:
"As more players come into the content space, discovering new content will be harder. In this increasingly cluttered space, success for media-owners will be about simplifying navigation for consumers by aggregating and allowing discoverability of the most attractive content eco-system. Having consumers within Foxtel’s eco-system, even watching Netflix, means Foxtel has a better chance to convert eyeballs towards their content. If Foxtel remained siloed, consumers might drift away from them. I view the tie-up as a positive. The two can benefit from each other, creating breadth of content and ensuring there is something for everyone in a household. People are more attracted to content, not so much towards a platform. This is a clear signal by Foxtel that its business model is changing as it further embraces streaming to maximise viewing opportunities across their assets and content. It needs to do this to remain relevant. The ‘watch out’ is how players such as Apple, Amazon and Google build out their capabilities in this space with bundled content in a bid to be the dominate home platform. Smaller global content players are likely to align with one of these global players."
Kaimera founding partner Nick Behr:
I see this as being mutually beneficial for both Foxtel and Netflix as it should reduce churn rates both by keeping people on one platform and making it easier for the consumer to pay once. This will result in more viewing of both brands content as Foxtel viewers have less reason to leave and vice versa for Netflix. Who knows how Foxtel will monetise this, but one thing for sure is that they will find a way - potentially through the interface itself with ads running in a tile or even static positioning. I do, however, believe advertiser funded programs will be negatively impacted as consumers will be more likely to watch ad free programming – aka Netflix. That said, the bigger question will be if Foxtel will have access Netflix viewing data (ie who is watching what) and how will they use this for their own business strategy in the future. It’s unlikely Netflix would agree to giving them access, but maybe it’s out of their control as they are going through the Foxtel platform.
PHD group trading director Sasko Bosilkovski:
"This needed to happen for Foxtel to stay competitive in the changing environment and with Foxtel reporting declines in subscription numbers, becoming frenemies “as people are saying” is a wise move. Its main benefit would be the retention of existing customers and gain new customers in the process (Netflix have 11.5 million subscribers). Everything is in one place and customers can now easily discover, search and watch all their favourite Foxtel and Netflix content on one box. People love simplicity as it becomes tedious swapping between all the different subscriptions. Foxtel's advantage in aggregating content through their new interface is another example of how media is shape shifting into formats preferred by consumers. As consumers push for more simplified viewing experiences it creates the “what to watch” on one platform and content discovery becomes the new norm as channels begin to fade out. Whilst Netflix don’t currently subscribe to the AVOD model, it will be interesting to see, given Foxtel’s heritage how this will play out."
Mediacom head of marketplace Nick Thomas says:
"Foxtel has launched it’s self into the future, taking a leaf out of the SVOD UX I think it will revolutionise the way it’s current customer base experience content and the entire Foxtel platform. Consumers have been begging for a content aggregator to bring together a fragmenting space, by being first to market bringing Netflix and soon SBSI think will make Foxtel a much more sought after destination. Foxtel are giving consumers what they have been asking for, content when and how they want it, whilst ‘live’ viewing probably decreases, under the new pricing and partnership subscriptions will grow and so will total viewing in platform. It is yet to be seen how this will affect the ad model and how brands interact with it, but as an industry we need to look at total viewing and support the fast growing digital consumption of content. I don’t think it will have any significant impact for Netflix, the brands will have a symbiotic relationship for the moment but as it plays out I think Foxtel will be the winner in this not Netflix."
Have something to say on this? Share your views in the comments section below. Or if you have a news story or tip-off, drop us a line at firstname.lastname@example.org


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NEW YORK — Ali MacGraw has appealed to her friend Michael Kors to stop using fur.
Traces of her signature style have been seen in the designer’s collections, and Kors even took the actress as his date to the CFDA awards two years ago. But that hasn’t deterred her from sending him a handwritten letter on behalf of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.
A Michael Kors spokeswoman said the company only received the letter Friday. “We’re in a consumer-driven business. We had a fur license in the Eighties, and we discontinued it when people stopped buying fur. When people started buying it again, we started making it again.
“If everyone stopped buying it, we would stop making it,” she added.
During a phone interview Tuesday, MacGraw said she had not heard back from Kors yet, but expected to.
She had only kind words for the designer, aside from the fur issue. “Michael is not just one of the greatest talents, but also one of the nicest people I know.”
He also “does some of the best-looking fur shearlings out there” and that is a point of contention with MacGraw, an animal activist for 40-plus years, who recalled an East Village designer who made coats from the skins of stray cats in the Sixties. While she’s not about to spray paint on fur coats as some protesters do, MacGraw said she’s not above writing a few letters asking other designers to abandon fur as well.
“They trap and maim those animals,” she said. “I get crazy when people say, ‘They’re farmed for that.’”
In her letter to Kors, MacGraw noted the Canadian government has approved the slaughter of one million seals over the next three years — the largest number killed in half a century. “When designers use real fur of any kind, they increase the popularity of all fur among consumers. Even if the fur that you use is only trim, it still makes a difference.”
During the interview from her home in New Mexico, MacGraw at one point paused and said she had to close a door to protect a cat from coyotes. “I love fashion and I love the people in fashion. I don’t think it’s OK to include an element of outrageous cruelty in decoration. It’s possible to look extraordinary without it.”MacGraw said editorial coverage has “lionized” fur again. In turn, the diamonds and fur combo has trickled down to street culture as an emblem of success, she said.
In terms of fashion in general, MacGraw said she is “not nuts about it right now,” and is looking forward to the end to this “aggressive and tough sexuality thing.”
"I was driving back on Saturday afternoon from the beach, and I just saw this sign saying 'Skydiving for $95.' And I was like, I can't not sky dive for $95," says Tom Bateman about a moment in Hawaii while shooting "Snatched." #wwdeye (📷: @vsteves; Interview by @ktauer; Styled by @thealexbadia)


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KUALA LUMPUR (SIN CHEW DAILY/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - The upcoming Lunar New Year is the Year of Dog, and as usual, festive celebrations and accessories will invariably be themed after the canine.
But this year, dog-themed decorations have become a taboo in this country.
A hypermarket was first to come up with a festive T-shirt design of the twelve Chinese zodiac signs minus the pictures of the dog and pig substituted with their respective earthly branch characters in Chinese. The design has since sparked tremendous outcry in our society.
Following that, a number of local businesses also announced that they would not put up dog-themed Chinese New Year (CNY) decorations in a bid to avert religious sensitivity and not to hurt the feelings of the country's Muslims.
While we can understand the rationale behind such a move given the fact we are living in a multicultural country and by right we should learn to be more sensitive towards other races and religions.
However, overzealous self-censorship on the part of business owners may give the public a wrong impression that they are compromising on their own self esteem and rights to practice their customs.
The zodiac signs are a symbol of the Chinese culture and customs. Keeping dogs or other pets is legally permitted in this country while pork and pork-related products can be freely sold in the market.
Despite their religious taboos, Muslims in Malaysia are well aware of the functioning of a democratic society, and how they should handle any unintentional contact with the tabooed animals.
Similarly, non-Muslims must take into consideration the feelings of non-Muslims in the handling of pets and products related to dogs and pigs to avoid any misunderstanding or unpleasant incidents. For example, we should not put our pet dogs in supermarket shopping carts or trifle with the hygiene of pig-rearing farms.
However, it is unnecessary for us to withdraw the pictures of dogs and pigs from public vision. We may have overreacted as Muslims may not necessarily feel disturbed or offended looking at the images.
As a matter of fact, Muslims in this country generally respect the culture of their Chinese compatriots.
Pos Malaysia has recently launched a series of commemorative stamps and first day covers on working dogs in conjunction with the Year of Dog, while the KL Central Market has put up decorative lanterns of twelve Chinese zodiac signs complete with the images of all the represented animals.
Many Muslim shoppers and tourists could feel the festive mood of Chinese New Year celebrations, a harmonious picture we all long to see in our multicultural society.
People living in a multicultural country must learn to respect one another's cultures and refrain from doing anything that could hurt the feelings of others, but that does not mean we must hold back our own cultural manifestations just to please people.
Lest we forget, the country's Constitution has accorded freedom for all Malaysians to practice their own religions and cultures irrespective of race.
What we are concerned about is that irresponsible quarters might exploit the issue to raise a sensitive racial question.
To avoid causing trouble, some may have opted to back off. While such a move may indeed help minimise the incidence of potential conflicts, we should instead promote the unique elements of our own culture so that more people will get to know our culture, since it is totally lawful for us to keep our identities, cultures and religious beliefs.
Sin Chew Daily is a member of The Straits Times media partner Asia News Network, an alliance of 23 news media.


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In today's digital world, most small businesses simply could not survive without basic computer systems, and still more would be lost without the internet. The data businesses collect is essential to profile and understand consumers, manage accounts and provide the most effective services and products in a crowded and competitive market.
However, lurking beneath this essential need is a hidden danger, which many small business owners are largely unaware of. A recent UK survey sponsored by Faronics studied how UK businesses viewed data security, seeking to understand exactly what precautions were being taken and what the results of specific data breaches have been. 544 individuals from organisations with a headcount between 50 and 3000 were surveyed; 54% of these had experienced a data breach in the past 12 months.
This Faronics white paper profiles two small businesses that we studied alongside the wider survey; their habits and the consequences of their data breaches reflect a number of similar stories told by other small businesses uncovered in our survey's research. The eventual failing of both businesses less than a year after the breach should act as a shocking indication of the risks that many small businesses face, and what steps other businesses should take to prevent the same actions and patterns from being repeated in their own firms.


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This Is The Perfect Steve Ballmer Quote To Illustrate Exactly What Went Wrong At Microsoft
Steve Ballmer has delivered his final interview as Microsoft CEO, talking to long-time Microsoft reporter Mary Jo Foley.The interview is complimentary, focusing on Ballmer's successes, and cruising past his failures like mobile and tablet computing - the words "iPhone," "iPad," "Android," and "Google" don't appear. Advertisement
But in celebrating Ballmer's success, we see why Microsoft is flailing today. We see why the company wants to hire Alan Mulally, a CEO that is celebrated for his turnaround expertise. It's strange to see a company expected to generate $84 billion in sales for fiscal 2014, a 7.4% annual increase, need a turnaround expert.
Here's the quote from Ballmer that pretty much explains how the company got in the position it's in: "In the last five years, probably Apple has made more money than we have. But in the last 13 years, I bet we've made more money than almost anybody on the planet. And that, frankly, is a great source of pride to me."Ballmer explains that from day one, his job at Microsoft was to think about money.
He says he was "the business guy, whatever that meant," when Microsoft was just starting out. And from that day forward, he thought about, "How do you make money? How do you make money? How do you make money?"He adds, "That doesn't mean nobody else ever thought about it, but 'How do you make money?' was what I got hired to do. I've always thought that way." This is the problem with Ballmer and his run at Microsoft. His starting point for any decision at the company centers on money. He thinks about how Microsoft will make, or lose money on a product. Advertisement
At Google, the product comes first, then the company starts to figure out plans for making money. To be sure, Google has an overarching principle of protecting its lucrative search business, but it also builds products that aren't obvious contributors to the bottom line like Android, self-driving cars, and Google Glass.
At Apple, money is obviously important, but it's not ever going to be a source of great pride. When Tim Cook leaves Apple, and gives his exit interview, he's not going to talk about how much money he made as CEO. His focus is going to be on the products Apple made, and the employees he worked with.Ballmer does spend some time talking about Microsoft's products. He says, "I feel particularly good" about having pushed Microsoft into the enterprise. He also mentions Xbox, saying it "was my decision, my accountability."Advertisement
In each case, though, Ballmer isn't effusive in his enthusiasm about the actual product itself.
Perhaps this is just a matter of the format of Foley's story, or perhaps it's the questions she asked. Maybe he was actually bursting with excitement about Windows 8, and Windows Phone, and Excel, and Sharepoint, and Skype.We doubt it, though. Ballmer has never been a product guy. Advertisement
The success of modern consumer focused technology companies is all about the products. Facebook, Instagram, Google, Apple, and Amazon are all producing products that people love. Those companies are guided by CEOs that dive deep into the details of the product and have an ability to connect with consumer desires.
Ballmer dove deep into the details, but it was always the business details.This is the problem with Ballmer's tenure at Microsoft, and ultimately, this is why the company wants a turnaround expert to fix what Ballmer is leaving behind.Advertisement
For an even better explanation, here's Steve Jobs in one of his last interviews explaining what has happened to Microsoft with Ballmer in charge:I have my own theory about why decline happens at companies like IBM or Microsoft. The company does a great job, innovates and becomes a monopoly or close to it in some field, and then the quality of the product becomes less important. The company starts valuing the great salesmen, because they're the ones who can move the needle on revenues, not the product engineers and designers. So the salespeople end up running the company. John Akers at IBM was a smart, eloquent, fantastic salesperson, but he didn't know anything about product. The same thing happened at Xerox. When the sales guys run the company, the product guys don't matter so much, and a lot of them just turn off. It happened at Apple when Sculley came in, which was my fault, and it happened when Ballmer took over at Microsoft. Apple was lucky and it rebounded, but I don't think anything will change at Microsoft as long as Ballmer is running it.
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The loss of muscle mass as we age has significant consequences for health and well-being. While resistance exercise training is the key to building muscle and strength, diet plays a role as well. Newly published studies further our understanding of the benefits of soy for building muscle. Read more HERE.
Linda Funk, Flavorful Insight • Sep 21, 2021 Twists and turns in global food and shopping trends have revealed shifts that may benefit the demand for U.S.-grown soy. Soyfoods retain their multifaceted appeal in today’s environment of quickly changing dietary


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The Gear VR officially hit store shelves last week, and a few days later the virtual reality headset is already sold out at multiple major retailers. Of course, that didn’t stop Samsung from releasing a new commercial that makes the device look even more appealing.
The Gear VR is listed as “Not Available” on Best Buy’s website and “Temporarily out of stock” from Amazon. You can still order the device straight from Samsung, but it won’t ship for a few days. The headset is also headed to T-Mobile later this week, adding another way for U.S. residents to get their hands on the new gadget.
Speaking to TechCrunch, a Samsung representative called the early response “overwhelmingly positive,” adding that the company is working hard to fulfill all orders as quickly as possible.
As for the new Gear VR commercial, it offers a first-person view of Samsung’s virtual reality experience. We see various hands snap their Galaxy phones into the headset before raising it up to their eyes. Each time the Gear VR fills the screen we see a different app, which ranges from watching a movie to playing a game to exploring outer space.
You can watch the full video below, and head to Samsung’s website to order the Gear VR now if you haven’t already.


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Walmart has emerged as one of the biggest retail players in the coronavirus prep arena, and they're spreading the wealth to their team.
Almost $550,000,000 has been earmarked for staff bonuses, according to a recent Walmart press release. It will be paid out to hourly associates in stores, clubs, supply chain, and offices in their U.S. locations as a one-time bonus.
On April 2, full-time hourly associates will get $300, and part-time hourly associates will get $150. All hourly Walmart employees hired since March 1, 2020, are eligible for the bonuses.
The news was released in a tweet on the official Walmart Twitter account:
Our associates are our heroes. To say thank you, we're providing nearly $550M through special bonuses and advanced quarterly bonus payouts to hourly store, club and supply chain associates. We're also hiring! We plan to add 150,000 jobs. Read more here: https://t.co/Xdw0F8TkwR pic.twitter.com/TCYyibpDDU— Walmart Inc. (@WalmartInc) March 20, 2020
As Americans work to procure supplies to stay at home, they have turned to their big discount stores like Walmart, Costco, Sam's, and BJs to get the biggest bang for their buck. Store employees have had to face incredible waves of shoppers, long lines, and constant restocking every day.
Over the past weeks, Walmart has even had to change their store hours in order to try and keep up with the overwhelming demand.
In addition to the upcoming bonuses, Walmart is actively recruiting new employees to help take the pressure off of the current workforce. Anyone interested in applying for a job with the company can apply online here. Approximately 150,000 additional store associates will be needed to work in stores, clubs, and distribution centers all over the country.
What do you think of Walmart's bonus plan? Sound off in the comments!


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What a year. There were hurricanes and drought. A presidential election and the summer Olympics. This year also marked the 20th anniversary of the United Soybean Board, and the first time a woman served as its chair.
Despite all the changes and milestones, the soy checkoff’s hard work promoting U.S. soy around the world remains constant throughout the years. Here is a look at five things that summarize the year in soy.
These machines have made checking email and talking to business associates a breeze. Now, they’re taking on farming. A quick search will yield thousands of apps you can download and use to help around the farm. The checkoff helped design the Extreme Beans app, which provides farmers with two calculators to help plan for the next year’s crop. Download the app by searching “Extreme Beans” in your smartphone app store or check it out online
A reported bacon shortage took the nation by storm in September 2012. These reports reinforced the importance of the animal ag sector, both for the national economy and for U.S. soybean farmers. Animals eat nearly 98 percent of U.S. soy meal. And according to the 2012 Animal Agriculture Economic Study, the animal ag sector added $333 billion in total economic output in 2011. The reports about a bacon shortage turned out to be exaggerated. According to the October World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates, pigs experienced a small population decline in June-August as farmers decreased farrowings, but the USDA believes the steady increase in the number of pigs born in each litter will compensate for most of the decline.
3. Potato chips
We all love them. We all eat them. And now the checkoff wants to help make them better for you while adding to U.S. soy oil’s market share. USB farmer-leaders recently approved a partnership with Dupont Pioneer and Monsanto to grow the availability of a healthier soy oil by accelerating the market development of high-oleic soybeans. The partnership hopes to make high-oleic soybean varieties available to grow on 80 percent of U.S. soybean acres by 2020. What’s so great about high-oleic soy? Check out this video to find out.
Soy keeps popping up in the most unexpected, exciting places. Paintballs are no exception. Real Action Paintball Inc. (RAP4) recently launched Eco Friendly Field Paintballs, a line of ammunition for the popular pastime that replaces a portion of traditional paintball fill material with U.S. soy oil. Office furniture, insulation and tires are just a few of the new ways soy was used in 2012. New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg also signed a law requiring all heating oil bought in the big apple to contain at least 2 percent biodiesel.
5. Mississippi River
International demand for U.S. soy remains strong, but this year’s drought exposed another weakness in the transportation system farmers use to ship their crop. The drought left water levels along the Mississippi low, and with few water management techniques available, traffic on the critical river route between St. Louis and Cairo, Ill. slowed. The effects of the drought as well as the need to improve the U.S. transportation infrastructure will likely continue into 2013 and beyond.


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BY TESS REMICK ’21
While many college students rush to get ready in the morning, chances are the ingredients in their cosmetic products are the last thing on their minds — they’re concerned about putting it on their faces and making it to class on time. Paying attention to ingredient lists may seem like an unnecessary and tedious task, but ignoring it could have repercussions. Earlier this month, CNN reported that animal waste was one of the many toxins found in counterfeit makeup, or makeup produced to imitate brand name products. The makeup brands that were imitated included Kylie Cosmetics, Urban Decay, MAC and NARS. The toxins found in these counterfeit products were alarming to many consumers, but there are toxins in authentic cosmetic products as well, many of which can cause problems in the liver, kidneys, lungs and reproductive system when used on a daily basis, according to the Environmental Working Group.
“[Parabens and phthalates] are being used in many consumer products because they are inexpensive, and they have desirable properties,” said Alan van Giessen, a professor of chemistry and biochemistry at Mount Holyoke College. “Their toxicity is subtle and long-term, so they appear to be safe to consumers.”
Between 2004 and 2016, there were over 5,000 health-related complaints reported to the FDA due to cosmetics, according to TIME. The ingredients in the products that people use everyday can contribute significantly to adverse health effects, as federal regulations on personal care products have barely changed since the 1930s, according to ABC News.
On average, teens use 17 personal care products each day, while the average adult woman uses just 12 products daily. Due to these disparities, teens, and especially young women, may unknowingly expose themselves to higher levels of cosmetic ingredients linked to these health effects. Ten years ago, the Environmental Working Group tested 20 teens’ blood and urine to find out which toxins from these products were ending up in their bodies. They found 16 chemicals, including parabens and phthalates, which could be linked directly to cosmetic usage.
Parabens are preservatives used to give products a longer shelf life. Unfortunately, parabens are also considered carcinogens and can lead to various types of cancer, according to the Environmental Working Group. This is extremely common and detrimental to consumers’ health. Not only can this chemical be found in many makeup products but also shampoos, conditioners, detergents and moisturizers.
Phthalates are used in beauty products to make the products softer and more flexible, and are dangerous because they can cause damage to the liver, kidneys, lungs and reproductive system. The FDA does not require companies to label each chemical in the product. “I feel as though [not labelling toxins] is morally wrong and completely unjustified, but it will only stop if either the U.S. government enforces stricter regulations or everyone boycotts toxic products,” said Catherine George ’20.
Even products marketed as “natural” or “gentle” are likely filled with the same chemicals. It’s hard to know which to choose because companies do not want to advertise that their products could be harmful to a user’s health. The Environmental Working Group recommends either choosing makeup, skin and body-care products that have smaller, simpler lists of ingredients or making your own products.
“I try to buy ‘all natural’ brands more often than not. I usually go for brands like Schmidt’s and Tom’s because they’re better for the environment, and they don’t test on animals,” said George. “I make my own face-masks, and I’ll make my own soap sometimes ... I have wanted to make my own shampoo and conditioner, which I am going to do this summer, but I haven’t been able to get around to it yet.”
With easy resources and simple steps, consumers can make small changes in their lives to make sure that what they are putting in and on their bodies is truly good for them. Cosmetic product users can take steps to become aware of what they are putting on and in their bodies, and they have the agency to make healthier decisions for themselves. “Funding more research would be extremely helpful,” said van Giessen. “Requiring more clarity from companies about what chemicals are actually present in the products we are exposed to is important. Lifetime studies would be beneficial too — knowing what happens to chemicals after the products have been used for a lifetime would make it easier for consumers to choose safe products.”


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FRANKFURT, Germany — The inflation burdening Europeans fell sharply in September, boosting hopes that consumers will eventually get relief from more expensive groceries, vacations and haircuts — and that the European Central Bank won’t have to tighten the economy any further. limit by raising interest rates from already record highs.
The annual rate this month was 4.3 percent, down from 5.2 percent in August. But recent higher oil prices cast a shadow over the prospects for bringing inflation back to the central bank’s target of 2 percent.
Core inflation, which excludes volatile fuel and food prices, fell more than analysts expected – from 5.3 percent to 4.5 percent, according to data released Friday by the European Union’s statistics agency Eurostat. The ECB is closely monitoring this figure to assess how inflation is falling.
The decline in core inflation “reinforces our view that the ECB is done raising interest rates,” said Jack Allen-Reynolds, deputy chief eurozone economist at Capital Economics. He predicted that headline inflation would fall to 3.5 percent by the end of the year.
Food prices ‘uncomfortably’ high
Energy prices fell by 4.7 percent in September, while food price inflation remained uncomfortably high at 8.8 percent.
The figures in the major economies that use the euro were mixed. Annual inflation in Germany fell to 4.3 percent in September from 6.4 percent a month earlier, while in Spain it rose from 2.4 percent to 3.2 percent.
However, economists warn that the big drop in Germany, the largest economy of the 20 eurozone countries, was exaggerated by a statistical quirk: the end of a subsidized ticket and a fuel subsidy in September 2022, which had caused consumer prices to rise that month .
The latest inflation figures may follow the ECB’s latest rate hike in its rapid series of rate hikes. It took the key deposit rate to a record high of 4 percent this month, compared with minus 0.5 percent in July 2022.
ECB President Christine Lagarde said if interest rates were maintained for a “sufficiently long period” it would make a substantial contribution to bringing inflation back to 2 percent, a target the bank does not expect to reach before 2025.
High prices are holding Europe’s economy back because people’s salaries don’t go as far as they used to in paying their bills, forcing them to cut back on other expenses.
Economic growth has stagnated to just above zero in the first six months of the year, with some indicators pointing to a slowdown in the current quarter from July to September.
This burst of inflation was triggered as the global economy recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to shortages of parts and raw materials. Things got worse when the Russians invaded Ukraine, sending energy prices soaring as Moscow cut off most of the natural gas to Europe.
Bottlenecks in the supply chain
Supply chain bottlenecks and energy prices have eased, but inflation has worked its way through the economy. Prices are higher for services such as haircuts and hotel stays, and workers have demanded wage increases to make up for their lost purchasing power.
The ECB has tried to control inflation by raising interest rates, making it more expensive to borrow for major purchases, such as homes or new factory equipment to expand a business. This reduces the demand for goods and therefore inflation.
But higher interest rates could also weigh on economic growth, leaving the central bank facing a balancing act on how far to go.
Many economists think the ECB is done raising rates unless something drastic happens to prevent inflation from falling further. That could mark a further rise in oil prices, which have risen recently after major producers Saudi Arabia and Russia extended production cuts.


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Douglas overhauls pre-press with CTP and workflow investment
Tuesday, April 22, 2014
Bishop's Stortford-based design and print business Douglas has invested in a new Suprasetter A75 from Heidelberg as well as an upgrade to its pre-press software suite.
Managing director Mark Douglas said that the firm had held off on any major capex during the recession but that the upturn in business conditions in the past nine months meant that now was the right time to start reinvesting.
Top of the list was to replace the firm's aging Prosetter, which Douglas said was around 12 years old and starting to become unreliable; at the same time, the firm decided to invest in an upgrade to its MetaDimension, Signa Station and PDF Toolbox software.
Douglas said: "The Suprasetter can output 16 B1 plates and hour, which isn't a lot faster than the Prosetter, but it's a lot more reliable and we can do a lot more with the software in terms of trapping and manipulating the files.
"Another one of the main reasons was that this has allowed us to get rid of the [plate] processor and do away with the whole messy process of disposing with the processing chemistry."
He added that the firm was currently looking for larger premises to move into, to accomodate an expansion in its six-man design studio, which is actually the firm's core business.
"We took the decision around 10 years ago to change direction and focus more on design and branding. We're actually a design agency with print in-house and we find the design side feeds the print operation," said Douglas.
He added that the business would ultimately look to upgrade its litho setup as well, currently comprised of Heidelberg SM 74-4 and SM 52-2 presses, most likely by investing in a new press with closed-loop colour control, although retrofitting would also be an option.


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Great Wall Motor Co Ltd is aiming to increase annual sales by more than two-fold to 2m vehicles by 2025. The Chinese automaker's head, Wang Fengying, announced the forecast at the 2018 session of the National People's Congress, according to media reports on March 9th.
The company expects electric vehicles (EVs) to make up about a third of its sales target. Great Wall announced plans to invest Rmb20bn (US$3.2bn) on EV research and development (R&D) by 2020. It will also focus on developing electric battery and hydrogen fuel-cell technology.
Great Wall's ambitious plans come despite a lacklustre sales performance last year. The company reported sales of about 1.1m vehicles in 2017, relatively unchanged from 2016. It also expects net attributable profit to have halved to Rmb4.3bn in the year, hurt by promotional and R&D costs. Great Wall expects to end 2018 with an 8% increase in sales to around 1.2m.
The automaker plans to invest Rmb60bn in EVs and related technologies over ten years, opening a research hub in Austria earlier this year to develop EV technology. At the same time, the automaker will continue to expand operations internationally and focus on boosting sales of its sports utility vehicles (SUVs). It expects its SUV sales alone to reach 2m by 2020.
Source: The Economist Intelligence Unit


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Today, Alameda, CA-based Wind River announced a collaboration with Horizon Robotics, a provider of consumer vehicle ADAS (advanced driver assistance systems) in China. The intent is to offer OEMs an integrated hardware/software solution based on Horizon’s Journey series of chips and compute solutions and Wind River’s cloud-to-edge portfolio.
The new offering is expected to reduce time to market and cost by simplifying development and integration for next-generation applications such as automated driving and for software-defined vehicles. It will enable Wind River software—including the VxWorks real-time operating system), Helixtype 1 hypervisor-based multi-tenant platform, and its Linux and Studio offerings—on Horizon’s Journey.
“The auto industry in China is transforming tremendously, and Horizon continues to create the computational foundation for the era of smart vehicles,” said Dr. Kai Yu, Founder and CEO of Horizon, “We are committed to improving the efficiency and enhancement of automated driving by collaborating with upstream and downstream partners.”
With the Wind River addition, Horizon hopes to provide more differentiated solutions for OEMs.
“Our collaboration with Horizon is an important step in building an open, innovative, and collaborative ecosystem, which is paramount to the development of the smart mobility industry,” said Avijit Sinha, Chief Product Officer of Wind River. “The combination of Wind River software and Horizon hardware will allow OEMs to better leverage the advantages of localized development.”
Horizon disclosed at Auto Shanghai 2023 in April that Journey shipments had reached 3 million units in cars, with more than 50 models having launched and reached full mass production from Chinese automotive OEMs including BYD, Geely, and Li Auto.
In February, Li Auto launched its L7 flagship family SUV with Li AD Pro ADAS, which is powered by Horizon’s energy-efficient Journey 5. Horizon forged a partnership with Li Auto in 2019. In 2021, the Li ONE became the first mass-produced vehicle powered by Horizon’s Journey 3 for driving assistance features such as adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and automated parking.
On the highway, the new Journey 5-equipped L7 and L8 with the system can automatically change lanes, overtake other vehicles, adjust speed, and “smoothly’ enter and exit highway ramps, helping to reduce driver fatigue during long-distance trips. The system is engineered to understand the complexity of Chinese roads, which tend to have larger numbers of two-wheeled vehicles and pedestrians.


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Bitmanu Crypto Miners an Investment Opportunity
NEW YORK, Nov. 21, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bitmanu, a technology startup run by a team of crypto experts, is now the most preferred choice
The high hash rates of Bitmanu miners allow them to process transactions and earn rewards
much faster compared to other mining rigs. It is also worth mentioning that BM 1, BM 2, and
BM Pro are extremely energy efficient, with power consumptions of 650W, 850W, and 2200W
respectively. Owing to these two key factors, many Bitmanu users have been able to recover
their entire investment within just one month.
In spite of their technical superiority and efficiency, Bitmanu miners are surprisingly easy to use.
While designing these products, the company’s motto was to create miners that can be used by
all. While most of the companies only cater to technology experts, Bitmanu delivers products
that don’t require any industry knowledge or experience. Refreshingly, many of the company’s
delighted customers are first time miners.
To find out more about Bitmanu, please visit https://bitmanu.com/
About Bitmanu: Bitmanu is a manufacturing company created, owned, and managed by a team
of investors and noted crypto industry experts dedicated to bringing the benefits of latest
technological innovations to the public. The company offers a stunning range of crypto miners
that offer superfast return on investment, and can be set up and used by all regardless of their
experience and knowledge.
Alex Tabak PR Specialist BITMANU S.A. media at bitmanu.com
How IT Can Keep Pace, Part 1 â€“ Data Networks and SD-WAN


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Lee Jae-yong heads for Panama, first importer of Samsung's color TV
Sept. 14, 2022
Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong has visited Panama to hold talks with Panamanian President Laurentino Cortizo and meet Samsung executives there, the tech giant said Wednesday. The isthmus country, which connects Central and South America, was the first importer of Samsung Electronics' color TVs in 1977, and is home to Samsung's oldest overseas office. Lee, heir to South Korea's largest conglomerate dedicated to electronics, construction and finance, met President Cortizo at Heron'


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As far as charter funders go, The Louis Calder Foundation has remained mostly under the radar. But that doesn’t mean the Connecticut-based foundation isn’t giving to charter and parochial schools in a major way. In the last year, Calder’s grants have consistently ranked in the top in terms of size.
Scalability. When the late Donald Fisher focused on education philanthropy, that was his goal. To help expand a small network of high-performing schools into a nationwide brand. It makes sense too; Fisher started The Gap from a single store in 1969 and grew it into a global retail empire.


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Barnes & Noble Inc Chairman Leonard Riggio, joining a growing list of executives lining up to buy the fading companies they founded, Monday offered to buy the bookseller’s declining retail business, leaving it to focus on its more promising Nook e-reader and college bookstores.
Barnes & Noble’s shares rose as much as 11 per cent to $15.00 (U.S.) in morning trading, valuing it at about $900 million (U.S.).
The New York-based company’s retail business has struggled in recent years as book buyers switched to digital formats, underscored by a 10.9 per cent fall in sales at its bookstores and website in the critical year-end holiday period.
The bookseller, which saw a short-lived rise in sales after the September 2011 liquidation of rival Borders Group, has said it expects to shut down as many as a third of its retail stores over the next decade.
“Riggio loves the (retail) business too much to let it go,” Morningstar analyst Peter Wahlstrom said, adding that as a slow-growing business it did not need a lot of capital to keep going.
Barnes & Noble created a separate unit in October combining its Nook e-reader and college bookstore businesses. Riggio, who owns 30 per cent of the company and is its biggest shareholder, said he would not buy that business, Nook Media.
The company said in January 2012 that it might spin off its e-reader business.
The combined college book and Nook business, which includes the e-reader, digital content and accessories, contributed about 50 per cent of the company’s total sales of $1.88 billion in the second quarter ended Oct. 27.
The Nook business had an operating loss of $58.2 million in the quarter, largely because of heavy investments, while the college business had an operating profit of $75.9 million.


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Yahoo shares jumped more than 7 percent today on expectations that the Sunnyvale Internet company was nearing a deal to sell itself to Microsoft.
Neither company would comment.
At this point, the major issue is price. Microsoft’s offer has been $31 a share, or more than $40 billion. Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer reportedly is willing to go as high as $33 a share, while Yahoo is resisting any deal for less than $35 to $37 a share.
Ballmer set a Saturday deadline for Yahoo to make a deal or Microsoft would either walk away or launch a battle to take over Yahoo’s board of directors.
That deadline is now five days old, and nothing has happened, leading observers to speculate that negotiations are well under way, even intensifying.
Ballmer told Microsoft employees Thursday that he knew Yahoo’s worth and wouldn’t pay “a dime” more than that. But the Wall Street Journal reported that the company is willing to up its offer to $33 a share. The New York Times reported today that Microsoft had upped its bid by “several dollars” a share.
A number of stock analysts have predicted a deal at $34 a share.
Contact Pete Carey at (408) 920-5419 or email@example.com.


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The report outlined four areas as a guide to help startups to sell into these systemsRead more...
Creator of enterprise collaboration software and social marketing tools files to go public
Jive Software, a provider of social business software, on Wednesday filed an S-1 form signalling that it intends to go public and raise $100 million in the offering. The company will be listed on Nasdaq under the symbol “JIVE.”
The number of shares to be sold and their price range has not yet been determined by Jive.
Social--from the company’s internals to its public face--is what Jive does. The company offers collaboration software for employees, social marketing management, intelligent sales enabling, customer support solutions and more.
Current clients include Nike, Cisco, SAP and several other prominent businesses and brands.
Jive’s revenues for the six months ending June 30th total just nearly $34.0 million, according to today’s published SEC filing. In the same period last year, Jive made $19.2 million in revenues.
Earnings, however, are not so hot. For the six months ending June 30th, Jive reports a net loss of about $30.6 million. The company reported a net loss of about $13.3 million in those same six months last year.
Listed as the number one risk factor, Jive does not expect to be profitable “for the foreseeable future.” This is because the company still has ambitious plans to improve its infrastructure and to continue developing its solutions. And, as Jive notes, the social media landscape in regard to businesses is still “in its early stages of development,” meaning there’s no telling how many more customers the company can sign up in the coming months and years.
Plus, competition is fierce: a short list of social media marketing and/or enterprise software companies might include BrightIdea, Hearsay Social, Ignite Social Media, Shoutlet, Spigit and Zuberance. There are uncountable more.
Headquartered in Palo Alto, Calif., with offices across North America, South America and Europe, Jive is an international force with tons of fuel for its cause. Over the last four years, the company had raised over $50 million in venture capital primarily from Sequoia Capital and Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers
Book-running Jive’s IPO will be Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs, with help from Citigroup Global Markets and UBS Securities. BMO Capital Markets and Wells Fargo Securities will act as co-managers.
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Read more from our "Trends and news" series
Flyte delivers mechanotherapy transvaginally to the pelvic floorRead more...
The country will need an additional 203,200 RNs each year until 2031 to fill staffing shortagesRead more...


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Apple faces a lawsuit over an iMessage bug barring texts from arriving on Android owners' handsets after they've disavowed iOS.
Connecticut police say the FAA is investigating a drone equipped with a camera that appeared over the scene of a car crash. Was it being used for commercial or even journalistic purposes?
Using $100 worth of off-the-shelf electronics and sprays of alcohol, scientists sent the message 'O, Canada' a few meters across open space before it was decoded by a receiver.
Google was not expecting Apple to produce its own version of a maps application so quickly, a new report claims.
Have you ever opened Apple's iMessage service only to receive a few spam alerts? If so, then Apple has a quick solution for that.
Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig says that has never sent an e-mail and never will. Perhaps he's merely showing his wiliness.
"I want to brand eternity as an art piece," says a Danish artist who's sending human blood and hair to the bottom of the sea.
If you're receiving a lot of spam on your iCloud e-mail address, report it as spam with just a few clicks.
The latest Apple fake in China has nothing to do with storefronts or faux hardware. Consumers are paying to have "Sent from my iPhone" tagged onto instant messages.
Twitter said today it has adopted a new technology that makes it much harder for phishing e-mails supposedly sent from the company to make it into users' in-boxes.


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Synthesia Recognized on Forbes AI 50 List
Synthesia has been recognized as one of the top 50 AI companies by Forbes.
The AI 50 List, now in its fifth year, is produced in partnership with Sequoia and Meritech Capital, and recognizes the most promising privately-held companies building businesses out of artificial intelligence.
This year marks the first time Forbes opened AI 50 up beyond North American companies to be a global list, and they received nearly 800 submissions. Applicants do not pay a fee to be considered and are judged for their business promise and technical usage of AI through a quantitative algorithm and qualitative judging panels.


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Little Rock, Ark.-based Acxiom was founded in 1969, and grew to become one of the largest consumer data management companies, primarily serving direct-response marketers like credit card issuers. In recent years, the company made a number of key moves into the online space--starting with the acquisition of Digital Impact, an interactive marketing firm, in 2005.
Two years later, Acxiom followed up with a behaviorally targeted mobile marketing deal with Acuity Mobile, as well as the acquisition of the EchoTarget ad network--but by the end of 2007, the data giant faced tanking stock and two failed buyout attempts.
But Meyer--formerly president, global services group of telecom tech giant Alcatel-Lucent--says the days of Acxiom's stock underperforming are over. "The quote-unquote rocky waters were not indicative of the normal business," Meyer said. "There were external influences. We had some private equity relationships and proxy discussions that didn't pan out, but Acxiom is moving forward."
Meyer, who will have a seat on Acxiom's board of directors, succeeds former Chairman and CEO Charles Morgan, who held both positions since 1975.
Under his watch, Acxiom will focus on streamlining operations for efficiency, improvements in responding to and satisfying customer issues, and making sure that employees are happy. "If we can improve those three things, then the share price will follow accordingly," Meyer said. He added that the company would continue its push into digital data management and targeting, with a particularly strong focus on mobile solutions.
"The digital world has always been defined as a broadband, PC-oriented space, and it's clear that the next frontier will be mobility and location-based services," Meyer said. "And Acxiom's role is to help our clients make sure that the right information gets delivered to the right consumer, wherever they are when they're about to make that purchase decision."
Meyer acknowledges that there are privacy issues when it comes to mobile data collection and usage, and the issue will require sensitivity throughout the entire infrastructure--including handset manufacturers, service carriers, the advertisers--and of course, the data management firms.
Despite the spate of recent scrutiny and possible regulation around the issues of behavioral targeting and online privacy, Meyer has no plans for Acxiom to launch a formal lobbying push or informational marketing campaign.
"It would never be a disservice to make sure that the government bodies and consumers understand what we do, how we do it, and the steps we take to protect consumer and corporate info," Meyer said. "But you need to do that on an ongoing basis. Not just launch a one-off push when you have a problem."


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Pool (NASDAQ:POOL) announced its earnings results on Thursday. The specialty retailer reported $0.21 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the Zacks’ consensus estimate of $0.17 by $0.04, Bloomberg Earnings reports. Pool had a net margin of 6.19% and a return on equity of 69.28%. The firm had revenue of $510.20 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $479.31 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $0.06 EPS. The business’s revenue was up 14.6% compared to the same quarter last year. Pool updated its FY18 guidance to $5.36-5.61 EPS.
Shares of Pool (NASDAQ:POOL) opened at $134.27 on Thursday. The company has a current ratio of 2.61, a quick ratio of 1.03 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.64. The stock has a market cap of $5,238.96, a P/E ratio of 33.99 and a beta of 0.91. Pool has a 52-week low of $97.25 and a 52-week high of $138.46.
In related news, Director Robert C. Sledd sold 7,200 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, December 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $131.02, for a total transaction of $943,344.00. Following the sale, the director now owns 23,814 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,120,110.28. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Company insiders own 7.00% of the company’s stock.
Pool Company Profile
Pool Corporation is a distributor of swimming pool supplies, equipment and related leisure products. The Company is a distributor of irrigation and landscape products in the United States. As of December 31, 2016, the Company operated 344 sales centers in North America, Europe, South America and Australia, through its four distribution networks, including SCP Distributors (SCP), Superior Pool Products (Superior), Horizon Distributors (Horizon) and National Pool Tile (NPT).
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Airdri, a leading designer and manufacturer of hand dryers, is starting 2020 on a high with the addition of two new senior hires to bolster its team.
The firm, which last year marked 45-years in the hand dryer industry, has appointed Simon Green as Head of Value Engineering, Sourcing and Quality, and Luis Orozco as Senior Electronics Engineer.
Simon joins Airdri from iPRO Solutions Ltd, bringing with him over 20 years’ experience in product design and engineering. He will be responsible for R&D, production process, component sourcing, supply chain and quality across Airdri’s UK and China operations. Simon says: “It’s fantastic to be working across Airdri’s global facilities, helping the firm to deliver on its exciting new product development plans. Airdri has an outstanding reputation for creating beautifully designed products and I’m very much looking forward to being a part of a business that puts sustainability at the heart of its operations.”
Luis, who has worked as a design engineer in the automotive industry for over a decade, will take on the role of designing new electronic boards for Airdri’s next generation of hand dryers. He adds: “I am delighted to join the team at Airdri. The firm has an excellent reputation for creating reliable, cutting-edge products and I’m really looking forward to applying my experience to a new sector, helping the company achieve its product development vision.”
Airdri CEO, Tony Wall, says: “I am thrilled to welcome Simon and Luis to the Airdri team. They are joining us at a very exciting time, as we look to expand into new markets and stay ahead of the curve with new product development. We are poised for strong growth in 2020 and their appointments will significantly bolster our team of experts, helping us to deliver our vision for the next generation of cutting-edge washroom solutions.”
Airdri has been at the forefront of hand dryer innovation and technology for almost five decades and today, its philosophy remains the same; to design and manufacture highly reliable, energy efficient and beautifully designed hand dryers to suit every washroom. Each unit in the range has unique attributes ensuring that, regardless of where a dryer is to be placed, Airdri will have an appropriate solution to suit the environment it is intended for.
The view or information contained within these unedited press releases, are that of the company producing it and not necessary the views of kpm.


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An iTunes subscription service has been rumored for what seems like forever – and while the upcoming move may have nothing to do with the ‘Music’ aspect of Apple’s business model, Daring Fireball’s John Gruber notes that Apple’s key role in the development of News Corp’s tablet-only publication may have been the creation of APIs which allow recurring subscription-based billing to iTunes accounts.
As regards Apple’s role, my understanding, based on information from sources not at Apple, is that this is not something like iBooks — there is no central “iNews” or “Newsstand” app from Apple. Rather, it’s a new subscription billing option for apps — true recurring subscriptions — paid through your iTunes account. News Corp’s “Daily”, then, would be just an app in the App Store, using subscription billing routines built-into iOS. My understanding is that the developers at News Corp building the app already have preliminary documentation on the new subscription billing APIs from Apple. I presume this would require a new version of iOS, but perhaps the Daily will launch as soon as it can, free of charge until the billing support ships from Apple.
[via Daring Fireball]
It would be nice if there were also a way for content to be delivered periodically in the background, so that when you launch it in the morning, you don’t have to wait for it to download today’s news. That’s just a “wouldn’t it be nice?” idea from me, though, not something I’ve heard is coming from Apple.


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Johnson Controls has developed a new type of foam pad used in automotive seats that is comprised of 5% soy-based products and 95% polyurethane.
Soy-based seat systems from the company will be fitted on “numerous” US 2008 model year production vehicles, the supplier said.
“We are strongly committed to developing and using ‘eco-friendly’ materials that come from renewable sources,” said Charlie Baker, engineering chief of the supplier’s automotive interior business. “Using greater quantities of bio-materials, such as soy, also can help cut the industry’s reliance on petroleum-based products.”
Conventional foam pads in automotive seats are made from 100% petroleum-based polyurethane but the new type replaces 5% of the total pad weight with soy oil, a byproduct of livestock feed. The new seat foam pads were thoroughly evaluated, and their total performance – in durability, shape and comfort – is claimed to match the performance of conventional foam.
“Switching to a 5% soy composition in seat foam will be transparent to consumers in terms of product performance,” added Baker. “But when automakers and suppliers make environmental improvements in their products, those efforts can ultimately deliver strong benefits to the general public.”
“In contrast to petroleum, soy and other plant-based products are abundant, renewable, and tend to have more stable market pricing,” said Baker.
Johnson Controls currently moulds more than 100m pounds of urethane foam annually for automotive seats supplied to automakers in North America. If soy foam pads were used in all of these seats, instead of conventional urethane foam, the company would reduce its use of non-renewable, petroleum-based products by several million pounds.
It is a bigger challenge to engineer soy-based foam for seat cushions and seat backs because of higher performance requirements when compared to foam required for headrests and armrests.
Engineers targeted the use of soy foam for seat cushions and seat backs because the potential environmental benefits are more significant. Typically, a complete set of seats for a vehicle is comprised of 25 to 30 pounds of urethane material for seat cushions and seatbacks compared with two to five pounds of urethane for headrests and armrests combined. Using soy-based foam for seat cushions and seatbacks offers a larger overall opportunity for reducing the use of petroleum-based materials when compared to using a higher percentage of soy for smaller parts.
Baker said his company eventually wants to develop a viable foam product with even higher soy composition.
“We have the processes already in place to move toward this goal,” he said.


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Food wholesalers Plea for help over meat and veg mountain
Food wholesalers are calling on the government for help as they struggle to cope with tens of thousands of tonnes of fruit and vegetables, fresh meat and dairy products no longer required by restaurants, hotels and schools.
As much as £20m of food with a shelf life of less than three months is lying in warehouses, according to one trade group, after the government ordered the closure of millions of hospitality businesses around the country to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
James Bielby, chief executive of the Federation of Wholesale Distributors, which has 600 members including Booker, Bestway, Brakes and Costco, said much of the food could not be sold by retailers because it was in large packs without the correct labelling
about ingredients or country of origin required when selling to shoppers.
He added that retail demand was starting to tail off as shoppers had stocked up and were now staying at home as much as possible, in line with government guidelines.
Bielby said most wholesalers’ stock was also not appropriate for food banks and that the vast majority of care homes and hospitals were already being supplied by food wholesalers and they did not need more.
Two food wholesalers, Bidfood and Brakes, are working with the government on providing emergency food parcels for up to 400,000 of the UK’s most vulnerable people who are isolated at home. But these parcels are understood to contain only packaged foods such as soup, pasta and milk rather than fresh produce.
It is hoped that some food can be used to supply the network of temporary hospitals being set up to deal with the surge in coronavirus patients.
John Vincent, founder of the Leon restaurant chain, is also understood to be developing an online scheme
Value of food with a shelf life of less than three months that is lying in warehouses, according to trade body
through which food from restaurants and their suppliers can be sold to members of the public.
Some food wholesalers, including Brakes, have begun selling direct to shoppers via home delivery but most are not set up for trading in this way.
“Nobody wants this stuff to be thrown away,” said Andrew Kuyk, director general of the Provision Trade Federation trade body, “but there is no magic bullet.” He said suppliers and wholesalers were looking at a variety of solutions depending on the type of food they worked with and their location.
The FWD is calling for some form of tax relief on stocks it says cannot be sold.


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On the iPad, anyone can download the app and use it to read and present Office documents. But only people with an Office 365 subscription can create and edit documents. There are differences in how Office works on the iPad compared to the iPhone. On the iPad, the suite is split into separate apps for Word, PowerPoint and Excel, while on the iPhone, all of the suite is in one app. Also, on the iPhone, people don’t need an Office 365 subscription to create and edit docs.
Office is one of Microsoft’s cornerstone products. Bringing the productivity suite to different operating systems, screen sizes and form factors is a part of Microsoft’s overall strategy of getting its software onto any device. “You can expect us to make sure we drive Office 365 everywhere — Web, all phones, all tablets, PCs,” he said. “That’s our real commitment to Office 365.”
Documents will be saved on Microsoft’s OneDrive cloud-storage system, and the app allows for multiple editors on a document. “This is not the Windows app ported to the iPad, and this certainly isn’t the iPhone app running in 2x,” Julia White, Microsoft’s Office general manager, said at the press event in San Francisco. “It’s a unique experience.”
White said the Office apps for iPad will appear in the iOS app store around 2 p.m. ET today.


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According to a report in the Wall Street Journal, Apple has entered into talks with both NTT DoCoMo and Softbank for an iPhone deal in Japan. Apple CEO Steve Jobs recently met with DoCoMo's president Masao Nakamura and executives from both Japanese carriers have visited Apple's Cupertino offices in recent weeks. Apple is considered to be more interested in partnering with DoCoMo since its preference is generally for the carrier with the most subscribers in a given country, however, Softbank has been bullish on a deal. As always, the sticky wicket for the iPhone maker is the revenue share agreement, which some claim to be around 10 percent of revenues from the phone's users.
For more on the imminent deal:
- read this article from the WSJ (sub. req.)


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Following the announcement that Burberry and Raf Simons would be cancelling their SS23 shows as a mark of respect for the Queen, the British Fashion Council (BFC) has announced major changes to its plans for London Fashion Week.
Originally scheduled to run from 15-19 September 2022, the death of Queen Elizabeth II on 8 September means the event falls squarely into the 10-day period of national mourning and clashes with Her Majesty’s funeral, which is taking place in London on 19 September. However, the BFC had confirmed prior to the Queen’s death that the event would still take place regardless of developments with her health and said in a statement released on 12 September that it is working to ensure London Fashion Week showcases and supports designers while remaining respectful to the Queen’s memory.
“As a business-to-business event, London Fashion Week will continue while observing Royal Protocol and the event will be dedicated to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II with our own moments of respect. Having spoken to designers and industry members, we as an industry want to unite as a creative and business community to celebrate her legacy and commitment to creativity and design.”
This, however, does not mean London Fashion Week will be going ahead as planned. In addition to Burberry and Raf Simons, Roksanda has also announced the cancellation of its SS23 show, which was due to be held in one of London’s Royal Parks. All shows taking place on 19 September have been rescheduled in respect of the Queen’s funeral, which has been designated a national Bank Holiday.
Among those affected are Christopher Kane, which has been moved to an 8pm slot on 18 September, and Emilia Wickstead, which will now take place at 10.30 on 20 September. The national one-minute silence will also be held at the beginning of the Christopher Kane show.
The addition of an extra day to the schedule will likely cause headaches for the international fashion community, who will now have to choose between missing the last day of London Fashion Week and the first day of Milan Fashion Week. However, with the major Milan shows not beginning until 21 September it is likely many will remain in London to view collections by Richard Quinn and rising star Chet Lo.
In line with advice issued by the BFC on 9 September, brands have been asked to scale back or postpone any planned openings, parties and non-catwalk events. This includes the BFC’s own City Wide Celebration, which was due to see events take place in over 200 stores, bars and restaurants across the capital. The City Wide Celebration will now take place in October and is suggested by the BFC as the perfect time for brands to reschedule any postponed or cancelled events. The BFC is also offering both online and physical spaces at the Newgen venue at Selfridges Hotel for visitors to pay their respects to the Queen.
Despite the fact London Fashion Week is still going ahead there is, understandably, consternation from small brands – for whom a fashion week show represents a huge marketing outlay – that coverage of this year’s show may not be what they had hoped for. With regards to this, the BFC has asked that media outlets cover the shows as normal wherever possible but refrain from posting street style content until after the Queen’s funeral.
For its part, the BFC has confirmed that it plans to update its own website and the London Fashion Week website with imagery and information about the new collections as usual but will not promote London Fashion Week on its BFC social channels until 21 September. The London Fashion Week social channels will, however, be offering new content from the shows throughout the week.


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New models - Nissan - Murano - range
Nissan beefs up Murano specs, prices
Price hikes herald a richer equipment list, but only for Nissan’s high-end Murano
18 Feb 2014
By BARRY PARK
NISSAN has bumped up prices for its Murano soft-roader, adding a little bit of pain for the entry-level model but a big equipment gain for high-end buyers.
The base Murano ST increases from $48,790 to $48,990 before adding on-road costs, an increase of just $200 over the old price.
However, the price of the high-end Ti variant, which formerly cost from $58,390, has now jumped to $60,240, a rise of $1850.
As consolation for high-end buyers, Nissan said the Murano Ti now adds features including blind spot and lane departure warning systems, as well as a detection system that can spot moving objects behind the Murano as it is reversing.
As well, buyers of the Ti gain live traffic updates for the in-car satellite navigation system, including the ability to divert around traffic jams, and a big step up from 18-inch to 20-inch alloy wheels.
Both versions send drive to all four wheels via a 3.5-litre V6 mated to a continuously variable transmission with six pre-set ratios.
Nissan will pull the wraps off its third-generation US-built Murano at the New York motor show in April this year which go on sale either late this year or early 2015, replacing the current model that went on sale locally in 2009.
The high-end five-seat hatchback is a struggling to keep up with newer and fresher rivals, with Murano sales falling by almost half last year to just 1125 units.
By comparison, Mazda’s equally premium seven-seat CX-9 pegged more than 4000 sales, while even the recently arrived Fiat Freemont, essentially a rebadged Dodge Journey but featuring a diesel engine, almost matched Murano for the number of units moved in the year.
The Road to Recovery podcast series
16th of January 2013
Detroit show: Nissan pumps up ‘Murano’
Muscular Nissan Resonance concept aims to shake cobwebs from crossover design
All new models
Motor industry news


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Four UK mobile operators have reportedly teamed up to stop banking frauds conducted through text messages, which costs banking customers hundreds of millions of pounds annually.
Currently, mobile operators EE, O2, Three and Vodafone are trialling a new system called SMS Phishguard, reported The Financial Times. It is designed to filter text message-based phishing scams.
The initiative aims to prevent fraudsters from sending texts appearing in the same thread as messages from genuine bank appear.
Such push payment frauds are on increase in the UK where the customers, believing the scam message as legitimate, click on the message link thereby compromising with their personal financial details and even losing money.
What the new system promises?
The new SMS Phishguard system will allow all interested banks to register their text message headers with the telecom operator.
The process will prevent the fraudsters from sending the messages with the same text header.
SMS Phishguard initiative will enable the customers to determine genuine messages and reduce push payment frauds in the UK. The service is expected to be launched early next year.
The effort is led by the trade association for mobile network operators Mobile UK. Messaging trade body Mobile Ecosystem Forum (MEF) and trade association for the banking sector UK Finance are also part of the initiate.
Mobile UK head of policy and communications Gareth Elliott told the FT that the register of banks was ‘currently live and being populated’ and will ‘root out those that are fraudulent’.
In the first six months of this year, there were around 35,000 incidents of push payment frauds in the UK costing around £145m to the customers.


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A new report suggests that the Micromax Canvas 4 might actually be a rebranded Wiko Heaven Stairway. This goes against the previous reports that the Canvas 4 is nothing but a rebranded Blue Life One.
Intel’s presence in the Smartphone field is still too small to make an impact on ARM, but the company hopes to change that by speeding up development for future mobile Atom chips.
G00d news folks, prices for chipsets used in powering tablets and Smartphones might decline between 10-20% in the 2H of 2013 owing to strong competition from rival chip makers. This in turn should drive the retail price of final products down.