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Rising cost of energy is a greater concern for small businesses than the potential impact of Brexit, a new study reveals.
The third annual Powering the UK High Street Report, commissioned by Utilita Energy, finds that SMEs are forced to cut jobs and scale back opening hours to compensate for rising energy bills.
More business owners are worried about the rising cost of energy (50%) than they are about Brexit (44%), according to the independent study.
“The country’s micro-businesses have a lot to contend with in today’s uncertain economy as business rates continue to climb and the power of the pound isn’t what it was – it is concerning that access to energy is such a huge concern for many,” said Bill Bullen, chief executive of Utilita, one of Britain’s largest independent energy suppliers.
Over three-fourth of the small businesses surveyed (77%) said their energy cost rises by at least £100 per year, with one in ten (9%) forking out an additional £500 or more.
Nearly half of micro-businesses (48%) have slashed staff working hours to pay for their energy, and some 39 percent have been forced to make staff redundant to reduce the cost of running their business.
“We commissioned our first annual Powering the High Street report in 2017 as we knew many micro-businesses found it hard and costly to engage with suppliers to find a better deal on energy,” Bullen said.
“We’ve learned 68% of businesses surveyed do believe their provider gives them a fair deal. Let’s hope this is a sign of things to come.”
At the same time, two thirds of micro-businesses (66%) say they are still caught out with unexpected terms and conditions or costs when signing a new energy deal.
Adding to the woes, more than a third (37%) are still asked to make large upfront deposits to secure their supply or are being placed on high tariffs (34%) as they’re seen as a credit risk.
The study surveyed 1,000 micro-businesses in ten regions of the UK, including cafes, pubs, restaurants, hairdressers, convenience stores and other retail outlets.


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Lithuanian service provider Teo is mering its Gala TV and and Zebra internet brands into a new combined Teo-branded service.
On March 5 the operator will also change the user interface of its IPTV service to improve access to channels and recordings. The interface will also include a feature that allows parents to limit the amount of time children spend in front of the TV.
The move comes as a survey of its customers by Teo revealed that a growing number were using smart TV features.
“We intend to offer to our customers more and more added value and exclusive features. We notice that people are using the most advanced TV and Internet services very actively in their every-day lives. We will strive to make it possible for them to use technologies intuitively, simply and easily,“ said General Manager of TEO Kęstutis Šliužas.
OTT Discovery: Expert insights on how to stand out amongst the crowd digitaltveurope.com/intelligence/w…
15 May 2021 @ 15:00:00 UTC
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15 May 2021 @ 12:00:01 UTC
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14 May 2021 @ 20:00:00 UTC

domain: news


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Four Seasons Maui delinquent on mortgage
The Four Seasons Maui has gone delinquent on its $425m of mortgages just as the Four Seasons New York and others have reached compromises with their lenders. MSD Capital LP, the private investment firm of Dell Inc. founder Michael Dell and his family, skipped the February payment on the debt as it seeks to restructure the loan, according to credit-rating company Realpoint LLC. The 380-room hotel's debt is split between two securitized mortgages, one of $250m and one of $175m. The Four Seasons Maui has struggled in the past year along with most luxury hotels in Hawaii. Its occupancy fell to 60% in last year's third quarter from 79% a year earlier, according to Realpoint. Its net cash flow declined from $32.9m in 2007 to $10.9m in the first three quarters of 2009.


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How Bangladeshi Tech-enabled Businesses will emerge after Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic
10 Tech-enabled Businesses will grow after COVID-19 pandemics
07 May, 2020 / Mahmood Ahsan
Coronavirus (COVID-19) has demolished the world's economy. Our beautiful country Bangladesh is also affected by this. Our economy hurts badly as we are manufacture focused country. Around 5 million people work in the garments sector. Everyone's life is being halted.
But as an optimistic person, I can see the light end of a tunnel. This lockdown life will soon remove and people will lead the new normal life.
COVID-19 will bring a lot of changes in our daily life.
It will change the way we work, do our shopping and buy groceries, do meetings, new ways of learning and education, and family hangouts.
How Bangladeshi tech-enabled businesses will emerge after Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic
1. Build the work-from-home culture
2. The e-commerce sector will see a massive lift in business
3. Do virtual video/voice meeting for official purpose
4. Students will adopt in a virtual classroom
5. Face-to-face social video network platform for entertainment purpose will become a part of our daily life
6. Telemedicine and e-Health service industry will see a peak
7. The digital transaction will become much popular than any time and cashless society will establish
8. Video streaming service consumption will rise significantly
9. Online food ordering service and urban traveling using ride-sharing service will become new normal
10. Co-working space or office-space sharing business will grow
1. Work from home
We’re staying home since the lockdown happened on 25 March 2020. I'm with all of my colleagues from 3DEVs IT Ltd. are working from home. Also, many companies following the same process. It’ll help us to build the culture of the home office/ remote office. So when in the future if work from home required by any company, they can easily use the experience of work from home.
2. Expansion of the e-commerce sector (including Agri-tech startups)
Many of us are currently buying our daily groceries, medicines, and other commodities from e-commerce companies. Bangladesh sees e-commerce flourishing amid coronavirus calamity. The article states that currently, Bangladeshi e-commerce companies can manage 50,000 orders every day.
Top 7 List of Bangladeshi E-commerce Company
- Daraz Online Shopping
- Khaas food
- Meena click
3. Virtual video calling for a meeting
Virtual video meeting becomes the new normal of our life. Services like Zoom, Microsoft team, Google hangout, Slack, etc. are few that make our life easy-to-communicate with team members and client meetings.
4. Virtual classroom
Due to lockdown in most countries’ of the world, educational institutes are closed completely. In Bangladesh, we've 40 million students are now lockdown in their homes for this unavoidable situation. They are completely out of their regular schooling and study. So we can see an obvious demand for online learning platforms or LMS (Learning Management System) by educational institutes.
5. Face-to-face video entertainment platform
Apps like Houseparty: a great way to communicate with people or even play games with them. You get to text or video call all your friends at the same time. You can also 'lock the room' which allows you to speak to however many of your friends in private.
So we will see a lot of apps like these are used in regular communication.
6. Telemedicine and e-Health
Coronavirus has spread a fear among people and due to lockdown people can’t visit doctors’ chambers and hospitals. So many telemedicine and e-Health service companies will see the peak of their service. Moreover Bangladesh govt. launched health care service for telemedicine and health-related information call 16263 and 333
7. A cashless society is a matter of time
Many surveys predict that a cashless society in Bangladesh now become a common issue. Digital financial services (DFS) and Mobile financial services (MFS) companies like Nagad, Bkash, Rocket, and Nexus-pay, etc are helping people to send money, receive payment, and do online payment for purchasing goods. Services like these help to spread coronavirus.
8. Consumption of online video streaming platform
More than 80 million people are now connected to the internet in Bangladesh. These huge number of people demands video contents. So platforms like Bongo, iflix, and Bioscope, etc see a rise of consumption of steaming contents.
9. Online food ordering and ride-sharing service
Online food ordering services like Pathao Food, Foodpanda, Shohoz Food, etc already see huge daily order numbers. As people are unable to visit restaurants and eat their desired food, online food ordering will become a normal behavior of people.
Ride-sharing services are currently completely shut down as per government rules. When the lockdown will end, people may avoid public transport services as it might spread the virus more. So ride-hailing businesses will grow.
10. Co-working space / office-space sharing service
As many companies will be out of cash and no business due to COVID-19 pandemic affects, office-space sharing services will grow. Many companies will be preferring to share their unused or free-space to rent other companies to save cash.
We know the economic condition of Bangladesh is not perfect as of the whole worlds’ economy. But we need to be optimistic and hope for the best to recover the situation.
We’ll see a lot of new startups and new businesses that will start to solve the problems we’re facing today.


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Scientists have designed a first-of-its-kind 3D-printed device that can produce electricity from falling snow. The device designed by researchersAdidas Womens Supernova Sequence 9 Boost Running Trainers AQ3548,.
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Adidas Performance Men's F10 Firm-Ground Soccer Cleat,
SiliconeAdidas CrazyTrain Elite Boost Trainer Chalk Pearl Coral White CG3467 Womens 10,. When falling snow contacts the surface of silicone, it produces a charge that the device captures, creating electricity.
Adidas Flashback W PK Womens Running Trainer Ortholites Black White,UCLA postdoctoral researcher. "While snow likes to give up electrons, the performance of the device depends on the efficiency of the other material at extracting these electrons," he added.
After testing a large number of materials including aluminium foils and Teflon, the researchers found that silicone produces more charge than any other material.Adidas Zone Dox 1.9S Women's Field Hockey shoes, New,.
Adidas Womens shoes Black Slip-On Ortholite Float Cloudfoam Lightweight,. The new device could be integrated into solar panels to provide a continuous power supply when it snows, he said.
The deviceAdidas Women's Adizero Ubersonic 3 w Clay Tennis shoes, - Choose SZ color,. It could usher in a new generation of self-powered wearable devices for tracking athletes and their performances, researchers said.
The device can also send signals, indicating whether a person is moving. It can tell when a person is walking, running, jumping or marching, they said. The team used 3D printing to design the device, which has a layer of silicone and an electrode to capture the charge. The researchers believe the deviceAdidas Ultra boost X ATR womens,.
(With inputs from agencies.)


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Global Marketing News – 15th August 2017
Advertisers in Europe have created a set of guidelines to improve ad measurement consistency, three Chinese social media giants have been put under investigation, and Google AdWords has rolled out more updates for mobile.
Latest posts by Gemma Houghton (see all)
- Webinar for B2B product marketers – save the date! - June 20, 2019
- International SEO tips from Google’s John Müller for 2019 - June 13, 2019
- International digital marketing: 50 tips in 50 days - August 13, 2018


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Chemical engineers make xylene from biomass
May 2, 2012
By David Manly
May 2, 2012 - Researchers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst have discovered a new method of mass producing the key ingredient used to make plastic bottles from biomass.
May 2, 2012 – Researchers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst
have discovered a new method of mass producing the key ingredient used
to make plastic bottles from biomass.
In an article published on Phys.org, the high-yield and inexpensive process creates the chemical called p-xylene, which the petroleum industry uses to create a wide variety of plastic products, from soda bottles to clothing and car parts. The chemical produced from biomass is identical to that of the petroleum-based product, and the researchers state that the process is significantly cheaper than the current processes available.
"We discovered that the performance of the biomass reaction was strongly
affected by the nanostructure of the catalyst, which we were able to
optimize and achieve 75-percent yield," said Wei Fan, one of the researchers who worked on the project at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
For more information on the process and the potential of the renewable chemical, please see Phys.org.
Print this page


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Google I/O 2016 live blog: Android N, Daydream VR, and Android Wear 2.0
Today at 1pm ET (10am PT), Google's I/O conference kicks off with a two-hour keynote presentation. We'll be live blogging the whole thing, so make sure to check back here when the keynote begins. Alternately, the event itself will be live streamed in full 360 degrees in the video embeded below, so you can watch along in your browser or in VR with Google Cardboard.
Five months in, Android 6.0 Marshmallow is only on 2.3 percent of devices
If you were a developer, would you want to expend a lot of time, energy, and money getting up to speed on the latest Android APIs if you know nearly all potential customers won't be able to access those features?
How to install the Android N developer preview on your device right now
Android N is still a few months away form release, but you can try it now, assuming you have a recent Nexus device.
By Ryan Whitwam


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WACO, Texas (KWTX) Texas-based grocer H-E-B announced Friday morning it is giving all hourly employees a temporary pay increase.
"We are proud to announce that that all hourly store, manufacturing, warehouse and transportation Partners will receive $2/hour Texas Proud Pay effective 3/16-4/12 to recognize their hard work," H-E-B said.
The grocer said it wants to thank its employees for their "commitment as they help serve our customers and communities."
The retailer further stated, "Texans rely on H-E-B and we rely on our great Partners. We understand it is our responsibility to provide essential services to our customers during a time when so many other businesses have not been able to stay open or have had to scale back operations significantly.
"H-E-B Partners come together during times of crisis to take care of each other and our Customers. This is the Spirit of H-E-B."


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With competition within the telecoms sector stiffening, the country’s leading telecom firm by subscriber base MTN Rwanda, is set to launch a two month long cash promotional contest worth Rwf60 million.
This is seen as a way of tightening its grip on the local telecoms market.
The promotion dubbed ‘Faranga Y’ello Y’ello’ will run for five weeks. MTN’s Marketing Operations Manager, Robert Rwakabogo told Business Times that the operator opted for a cash give-away contest as this would transform the lives of lucky customers.
“The promotion targets all the existing subscribers as well as the new ones who will get on board during the promotion period, including our inactive
customers for over 60 days,” Rwakabogo explained.
MTN intends to reward a total of 10 winners who would each walk away with a total of Rwf10 million every week. The final draw for the grand prize of Rwf13
million is scheduled for September 25th.
MTN ran a similar promotion last year which telecoms experts say ended prematurely. However, MTN said that this year’s promotion is very different from the
“The difference with Faranga Y’ello Y’ello is the simplicity for eligibility along with the lower top-up requirements”.
MTN’s sole competitor Tigo Rwanda, was unable to reveal any of its market responses, since Tigo Rwanda launched a similar programme last year.
Tigo Rwanda’s Marketing Manager, Nina-Claudia Ndabaneze said that her firm does not disclose its upcoming offers for obvious competitive reasons.
“In general, we do not react to competitor’s actions, rather, we stick to our own plans by focusing more on what the Rwandan customer tells us everyday,”
According to June statistics from the telecom regulator Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Agency (RURA), Tigo had accumulated 966,065 mobile subscribers while MTN has 2,764,201 million users.


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American pizza chain Papa John's has opened its first full takeaway in Cornwall. The chain, founded in the USA in 1984 and which boasts more than 500 stores across the UK and 5,000 stores in more than 40 countries, opened a new branch in East Street, Newquay this week.
The new Papa John’s was officially opened by Newquay's mayor and councillor Margaret North. The takeaway will create 15 new jobs in the seaside surfing town.
The franchise is run by Dr Renato Raho who also manages stores in Barnstaple and Newton Abbott. He said: "Newquay is a fabulous tourist destination and popular with families and surfers alike. In summer, the town’s population peaks at around 100,000, with visitors from around the world attracted to the stunning coastline and beautiful beaches.
Read more: Cornwall gets its first Go Outdoors
"Now they can also enjoy the treat of Papa John’s. What can be better after a day of sun, sea and surf than the treat of delicious, fresh Papa John’s pizza shared with family and friends, making holidays even more memorable."
Dr Raho said he has plans to open more franchises in the region and hopes to create what he describes as a “Cornish cluster”.
He added: "Barnstaple and Newton Abbott opened in Devon earlier this year and although it’s early days, we are seeing solid sales with positive signs for further growth. Cornwall offers even more opportunities to tempt new customers and our aim is to take a slice of this market."
Papa John's said it is on the lookout for more franchisees to run stores especially in ‘non-traditional’ locations. As a franchisor, Papa John’s supplies all the assistance needed to get your successful Papa John’s up and running.
A containerised Papa John's can also be found at Perran Sands Holiday Park in Perranporth, but the Newquay location marks the first full store to open in the county.
- Cornwall's A39 to be closed for several nights


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New Jobs Announced at Junction One
15 November 2016
Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council welcomes the news that a £30 million redevelopment project at Junction One will create 430 jobs during the construction phase and approximately 475 jobs during the operational phase.
The Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Councillor John Scott commented: “I am delighted with the recent announcement of these new jobs in our Borough. This investment will benefit the retailers in Junction One and it will also give a fantastic boost to employment for the Northern Ireland economy.”
The development will result in an increased wage bill of £8.4million contributing £17.6million to the local economy. Once complete, the shopping complex will include a significant number of new and well-known leisure and retail brands.


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Steve Jobs may not have given us any more clues about iPhone 4.0, other than revealing his side of the story on the iPhone 4.0 leak, but his early morning All Things D interview did throw some light on the future of Apple TV and what he thinks of Google TV. Clue: not much. But while it seems like the Apple supremo is pouring cold water on the idea of super-charging Apple TV, is it just another one of his now infamous sleights of hand?
We predicted yesterday that Steve Jobs would damn Google TV and so he did. He said the problem is that operators like Sky and Virgin Media give out heavily subsidised set top boxes. He says: “Give everybody a set top box for free or for $10 a month and that pretty much squashes any opportunity for innovation.”
He then listed projects that face the problem: “Ask Tivo, ask Replay TV, ask Roku, ask Vudu, ask us, ask Google in a few months.” Looks like that Google TV Sony Internet Box that bounced into view won’t be making it into the Jobs living room any time soon.
But while Steve Jobs pooh-poohed the idea of Google TV, we can’t help but read between the lines. As we recalled yesterday, he told the All Things D audience in 2003: “There are no plans to make a tablet. It turns out people want keyboards…we look at the tablet and we think it is going to fail.”
Now Steve Jobs says: “I’m sure smarter people than us will figure this out, but that’s why we say Apple TV is a hobby.” Somehow we just don’t believe him, particularly that part about “smarter people”.
After denying that Apple was working on the iPhone, then claiming that it wasn’t developing the iPad, suggesting that TV just doesn’t interest him would complete the most recent Steve Jobs trifecta of misdirection.
He made it very clear in the same interview that Apple is going for Google and it’s seriously unlikely that he’ll let the search giant’s upcoming foothold in our living rooms go unchallenged.
The rumours of an updated Apple TV running the iPhone OS ring true and Apple should go even further putting its tech into a fully-fledged TV set to give the Internet-enabled sets from manufacturers like Sony and Toshiba a real run for their money.
Let us know: do you think Steve Jobs is pulling a fast one when he says Apple TV will remain a hobby? Or will we see Apple delivering an uppercut to Google TV and friends in the very near future?
Due TBC | £TBC | Apple ?


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Trusted Reviews has issued an apology to publisher Take-Two following the publication of a story earlier this year leaking gameplay details on Red Dead Redemption 2.
The article in question was published on February 6, and featured info obtained from a ‘confidential corporate document’ that mentions a battle royale mode among other details on the then-upcoming Wild West title.
Trusted Reviews has since removed the article and replaced it with an apology, with a settlement fund of £1 million being directed to three charities of developer Rockstar Games’ choosing.
‘Take-Two takes security seriously and will take legal action against people or publications who leak confidential information,’ developer Rockstar Games told Variety in a statement. ‘Because this situation involved information about ‘Red Dead Redemption 2,’ Rockstar Games directed the settlement funds to these three great charities: the American Indian College Fund, the American Prairie Reserve, and the First Nations Development Institute.’
‘On February 6, 2018, we published an article that was sourced from a confidential corporate document. We should have known this information was confidential and should not have published it. We unreservedly apologise to Take-Two Games and we have undertaken not to repeat such actions again. We have also agreed to donate over £1 million to charities chosen by Take-Two Games,’ said Trusted Reviews.
Red Dead Redemption 2 is out now for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.


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The first virus check will be at the factory buses taking them to work. The workers’ body temperature will be checked with infra red thermometers, and as is the plan for flights, they will be seated with one seat vacant between them to ensure social distancing. This is one of the suggestions being considered by the Automotive Component Manufacturers Association (ACMA).
CEOs agree that in the post-Covid world, all shop floors will undergo major changes, with more automation and artificial intelligence taking over some functions to ensure social distancing while pushing for productivity.
The new mood is summed up by R C Bhargava, chairman of Maruti Suzuki: “Earlier, the focus was safety so that accidents were minimised, and the aim was to get to zero. Now, it will be health, and to protect workers from the virus, so that you have zero incident of infection. The standard operating procedures (SOPs) will fundamentally change.”
Auto paints company Nippon Paints India has a twelve-point agenda for its factories once the lockdown is lifted. This includes avoiding any overlap or interaction between two shifts and sanitising the plants with the help of professional agencies, rather than in-house. The company also plans to come up with a self-declaration form to be filled by employees every day with details of their state of health. Moreover, it is buying thermal scanners, and also personal protective equipment (PPE) where needed.
Says Sharad Malhotra, president of Nippon Paints India: “Some of them are specific till the coronavirus
is not eradicated. The rest would become part of SOP. We will also see a lot of automation to enhance productivity.”
are also working closely with their associations. Says Ashok Taneja, managing director and chief executive officer of Shriram Pistons and Rings: “ACMA has released a protocol and companies
are also working on their individual protocols. This will include everything from sanitising the shop floor to crowd management. Getting so many masks for everyone on the shop floor is a challenge, but we are working on it.”
ACMA executives say they are working on a detailed protocol for the industry which should be ready in a day or two.
In the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector, noodle maker (Wai Wai brand) CG Corp Global, which has 10 manufacturing
lines, has been forced to run the units at lower capacity to ensure that physical distancing norms can be maintained.
Says Varun Chowdhury, executive director, CG Corp Global: “We have suspended all internal meetings, restricted the entry of outsiders, installed thermal scanners and trained workers to adapt to measures like wearing masks.”
Mobile handset and consumer electronics manufacturers such as Samsung, LG and Foxconn have already apprised the government of the steps they are taking to ensure sanitisation and social distancing on the shop floor. These include shift-wise sanitisation of the factory, mandatory use of gloves and masks, and submitting the screening reports of every worker to the local authorities.
Some are going further. Says Avneet Singh Marwah, CEO of Super Plastronics, the brand licensee for Kodak and Thomson TVs in India: “We are planning to do thermal screening every two hours to minimise any possibility of slippage. This will ensure that if someone has fever, but is taking medication, they will be detected.”
Meanwhile, industry is waiting for protocol guidelines from the government. Says Pradeep Jain, managing director of Jaina Group, which manufactures mobile devices for global brands: “I would like to start giving orders for thermal scanners and other products we need to install at the factory, but the government has to give us the specifications. Until then, what can we do?”
The central government has just cleared the development of fumigation chambers which use hydrogen peroxide to disinfect people.
As for who has the authority to issue these protocols, legal experts say that the Disaster Management Act vests these powers on central and state governments. “Given that these powers are open-ended and general in nature, central and state governments will be within their executive authority to issue SOPs for businesses to resume operations in the event of a partial lifting of the lockdown,” says Vaibhav Kakkar, partner in the law firm L&L.
Strategic shift: Protocols companies are planning to adopt after factories reopen
• To test temperature in factory buses; keep alternate seats vacant
• Use fumigation chambers before factory entry
• Adopt more automation
• Restrict entry of outsiders
• Rework shift duties
• Use personal protective equipment for certain functions
• Sanitise shop floor after every shift


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(Updates with closing share price in seventh paragraph.)
July 5 (Bloomberg) -- Persimmon Plc, the U.K.’s third- largest homebuilder by volume, said it sold 4.7 percent fewer homes in the first six months of the year as the mortgage market remained “constrained.”
Persimmon completed the sale of 4,439 homes compared with 4,657 a year earlier, the York, England-based company said today in a statement. That generated sales of about 715 million pounds ($1.2 billion).
“Conditions in the mortgage market are constrained, but we are seeing gradual improvements,” Chief Executive Officer Mike Farley said in an interview. “The industry is in talks with the Council of Mortgage Lenders about creating a 95 percent loan-to- value product.”
U.K. house prices fell for a second month in June as the growth in the supply of properties for sale outpaced demand, Hometrack Ltd. said last week. Mortgage advances fell 10 percent to 33 billion pounds in the first quarter from the previous three months, the U.K. Financial Services Authority said on June 21.
Persimmon expects a similar number of home sales for the full year. There will be increase in home sales in the second half as the company’s order book at June 30 was ahead of last year at 725 million pounds, the housebuilder said.
The operating profit margin for the period was 9 percent, compared with 8 percent a year earlier, and should reach typical industry levels of profitability about 15 percent in a “couple of years,” Farley said.
Persimmon was little changed at 491.4 pence at the 4:30 p.m. close in London. The stock has gained 18 percent this year, raising the company’s market value to 1.48 billion pounds.
Persimmon’s average selling price was 162,000 pounds in the first half compared with 168,936 a year earlier, as buyers bought smaller homes. That should increase in the second half with the sale of larger properties included in the order book, the company said.
--Editors: Jeffrey St.Onge, Andrew Blackman
To contact the reporter on this story: Tim Barwell in London at email@example.com
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Andrew Blackman at firstname.lastname@example.org


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Engadget: "Well, it looks like the rumors were true. Not only is Microsoft's J Allard now officially leaving the company, but so is Robbie Bach, President of Microsoft's Entertainment & Devices Division, amid what's described as a broader restructuring that will effectively dissolve the division and give CEO Steve Ballmer more direct oversight of Microsoft's consumer initiatives like Xbox and Windows Phone as of July.
Contrary to earlier reports, Allard says that he's not leaving due to the cancellation of the Courier, but instead says that after nineteen years with the company, he simply wants to devote more time to his personal interests, "particularly adventure sports." Allard also insists that he won't be moving on to Apple, Google or any other Microsoft rivals -- in fact, he's staying on as an advisor to Steve Ballmer."
Microsoft is laying off more employees, a new round after they cut thousands last year. It seems like many big tech companies are doing the same.
Amidst the AI frenzy of 2023, major players like Google, Microsoft, and Meta are in the spotlight, launching their own generative AI systems.
Microsoft has made it easy for iPhone users to check their mobile updates on Windows-enabled computers.


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(Originally posted on The Judgment of Paris Forum, June 12, 2004, in response to a reader who discovered the phrase "plus-size chic" in a mainstream fashion magazine, to describe the emerging full-figure fashion industry.)
There is a lot to like about the term "plus-size chic."
Like phrases such as "plus-size model," or "plus-size beauty," it brings together two concepts--"plus size" and "chic"--which the mass media characterizes as mutually exclusive.
For decades, the fashion industry deceived people into believing that a woman could be "plus size" or "chic"--but not both. And the media propagated this notion by offering the public images of women who were chic, but not plus-size, or women who were plus-size, but not chic. Never both.
By refusing to allow the public to see women who are plus-size and chic, the media brainwashed several generations of North Americans into believing that such a combination wasn't even possible--whereas in truth, the two notions are a natural fit.
The size-celebration movement is still grappling with the legacy of this appallingly successful effort at aesthetic indoctrination. In Friday's issue of the Cincinatti Post, a typically backhanded story about the emergent plus-size fashion industry included the following comment:
The plus-size market has historically been underserved, as the industry has focused on customers that look or try to look like models, said Marsha Jong, an analyst with Sanders Morris Harris in Los Angeles.
The trouble with this statement is obvious. It suggests that women who "look or try to look like models" cannot be full-figured, and that women who are full-figured do not "look or try to look like models." Furthermore, it implies than in order to serve the plus-size market, the industry must do away with precisely those "chic" qualities that the notion of a "model" implies.
Only when concepts such as "plus-size chic," "plus-size model," and "plus-size beauty" enter mainstream awareness will we see the end of this artificial and oppressive either/or duality.
Once this happens, the industry will realize that in serving the plus-size market, it can still focus on customers who "try to look like models"--i.e., customers who seek the beauty, poise, and sense of style that the public associates with models--but who try to look like plus-size models, not like androgynous waifs.* * *
Here is a prime example of "plus-size chic"--a new pair of test images from Ford model Donna Simchowitz. We have never cared for this model's expressions, and would much rather see these styles on a fuller-figured girl. But a great test is a great test, and the styling here is truly extraordinary.
The images merge two concepts that we have discussed here before--"twenty-first century opulence," and the "new femininity"--by combining traditional elements with a degree of sensuality that is very contemporary.
The setting is particularly attractive. Note the intriguing wall hanging, which resembles the decor of a European castle. (The couch is rather too modern, but that is a minor quibble.)
If the current "Dangerous Liaisons" exhibit at the Met influences next year's fashions, we may be seeing more images such as this--which is very good news for plus-size models, whose beauty harmonizes with timeless settings and attire in a way that their underweight rivals can never match.
We are on the cusp of a new era in which "plus-size chic" will define the mainstream notion of "chic" in general--as it did throughout human history.


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Genesee Brewing Co. has selected Ground Zero to handle its advertising, without a review.
The Santa Monica, Calif., agency is currently handling strategic planning and creative development for work that will break in the near future, according to Jim Smith, the agency's managing partner. Billings on the account were undisclosed, but previous ad spending has been in the $3-5 million range.
Genesee and its former agency, Pedone & Co. in New York, parted ways last year.
"We've always said the kind of clients we like are the ones we'd love to have a few beers with at the end of a busy day; and the folks at Genny qualify on all counts," Smith said.
Genesee officials were unavailable for comment at press time.
The Rochester, N.Y.-based brewer is one of the country's largest family-operated regional brewers. It markets Genesee Beer, Cream Ale and Genny Light under its corporate banner and JW Dundee's Honey Brown Lager and Honey Light through HighFalls Brewing Co., its speciality brewing subsidiary. Distribution is mostly on the East Coast and parts of the Midwest.
Smith said the agency targeted Genesee because "we thought we would be a good match."


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LatAm List – Volanty, a Brazilian digital used car platform recently received $17.6M (R$70M) from Japanese tech giant, SoftBank, and Argentine venture capital firm, Kaszek Ventures. Recurring investors Monashees Capital and Canary also participated in this round. It is estimated that the second-hand car market has a turnover of $99B (R$400B) a year.
Founded in 2017, Volanty allows buyers and sellers of used cars to interact online. This funding aims to tap into Brazil’s growing used car industry and expand into other cities, including Sao Paulo where new appraisal centres are to be opened.
Last year, Monashees and Canary invested in $4.7M (R$19M) in Volanty after having already invested $620K (R$2.5M) in the company in 2017.
“We will have hundreds of centers around the country in the coming years,” said Mauricio Feldman, Volanty’s co-founder and CEO.
Read more on LACVA.


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At ESC Chicago, co-located with Sensors Expo, Jim Ziemer of Microchip Technology Inc talks about the company's dsPIC motor control solutions.
Chris Delvizis of National Demonstrates the company's USBTC01 Instant DAQ technology.
Joel Young, CTO of Digi International demonstrates tank monitoring using the company's iDigi Cloud along with Google Apps.
CUI Inc has developed a unique and versatile modular rotary encoder. The AMT utilizes CUI's proprietary capacitive technology.
Marc Dubreuil, Director of Business Development at Farm Design, talks about the collaboration and techniques used by Farm in the design of a MAKO surgical robot device.
A video report from Digi-Key's symposium on lighting, held at the PURE nightclub in Las Vegas, NV.
Bob Ward talks about developing an affinity therapy device that has applications with infectious and inflammatory diseases.
Perpetuum's free-standing vibration energy harvester converts unused mechanical vibration into useable electrical energy to power wireless sensor systems.
Jamie Pederson demonstrates the use of the 11 pin SIP LED driver module from ROHM semiconductor.
LuminAR reinvents the traditional incandescent bulb and desk lamp, evolving them into a new category of robotic, digital information devices.
CUI’s latest release includes 18 W and 40 W desktop adapters. Both meet Level V efficiency standards and exceed the current US EISA 2007 efficiency regulations.
At Sensors Expo 2010, Les Taylor of Texas Instruments demonstrates smart metering using TI's CC430 microcontroller.
Web - http://www.scosche.com -- Twitter -- http://www.twitter.com/scoscheinc -- Facebook -- http://bit.ly/bIDqYd -- Doug Broadhurst and Ted Lopez demonstrate the new dash kit for iPad from Scosche in a Subaru STi.
The Solar Roadways project is working to pave roads with solar panels that you can drive on. Co-founder Scott Brusaw has made some major steps forward since our first visit back in 2007, so we visited him again earlier this year for an exclusive update on the project, including the first...


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We are just under 24 hours away from Google officially presenting the Pixel 7 series and although the manufacturer has not denied many of the leaks that we have seen in recent months, it is true that it has not done much to stop them either. In fact, the company has already revealed some details about its long-awaited new smartphones.
In this way, shortly after knowing everything about the Google Pixel 7, a new rumor suggests that the new generation of smartphones could arrive with a hardware element that, at least in the mid-high and premium ranges, we have seen disappear in the last years.
The information comes from the hand of the renowned laker Evan Blass, who from his Twitter account has echoed the existence of a slot in the Google Pixel 7 Pro that could hint at the possibility of using a microSD card to considerably increase storage internal of the device.
The shared images seem to be part of the smartphone user manual that will be presented tomorrow. In these captures, the location of all the hardware components is shown, where the indication marked with the legend «Microsd Tray» stands out.
This is nothing more than the tray for a microSD card, which although it is still present in the mid and low ranges, has disappeared from most of the high-end mobiles in the Android ecosystem.
As with this type of information, nothing can be taken for granted, although the very idea is interesting.
Google Pixel 7 in sight
Recent leaks indicate that the Google Pixel 7 will be presented with a configuration of 8GB of RAM and UFS 3.1 storage of 128 or 256GB, accompanied by a second generation Google Tensor chip.
If Evans’s leaks come true, the internal storage could rise, perhaps, up to 1 TB, which would give users greater freedom to make use, for example, of all the benefits of Android 13 and an ambitious photographic section of 3 cameras main with a 50 MP sensor.
For now, all that remains is to wait to find out in detail the specifications of the new family of Google smartphones that will seek to deal with the most recent releases from Apple and Samsung.
— Evan Blass (@evleaks) September 29, 2022
#Google #Pixel #arrive #element #rest #smartphones #discarded


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A report released by watchdog Ofcom showed that UK has the greatest proportion of internet-enabled users in Europe who regularly visit social networking sites like Facebook or Myspace.
Nearly forty percent of UK adults with an internet access used social networking sites, which dwarfs other European countries in the survey.
UK even surpasses Japan and the US, although Canada had the largest proportion of social networking adults - 53 percent of Canadian adults with internet visit Social Networking sites.
The report (opens in new tab) also found that 25 percent of UK adults sneak into SN sites at least 23 times per month; showing that it is no longer the exclusive domain of teenagers and trendy yuppies.
Britons spend on average 11 minutes per day on SN sites like Facebook, Bebo and the likes.
The report used data from 2006 with additional figures from 2007 where relevant.


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It has recently come to light that Amazon employs thousands of people around the world to listen to and transcribe recording made by Alexa-enabled device users.
Amazon has been extremely secretive about this, no doubt realizing that many of the millions of Alexa users would be alarmed to know their private moments are being eavesdropped on.
What would happen if oppressive governments were to require Amazon to provide them with access to their Alexa recordings and transcripts? What if malicious hackers acquired this data and used it to harass, intimidate or blackmail Alexa users?
There is too much at risk with the emerging widespread use of Alexa and other similar voice AI assistants like Apple's Siri, Google Assistant, and Microsoft's Cortana.
Add your name below to call on Congress to create legislation that limits Amazon and other tech giants from collecting this kind of data!


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This story is part of , CNET’s guide on everything you need to know and how to make sure you get the best deal.
Get ready, online shoppers.starts tomorrow! The two-day sales event kicks off at midnight on Tuesday, Oct. 13, which means you’re about to see some of the best prices ever on certain Amazon Fire tablets. When the official big day arrives, the Fire HD 10, Amazon’s best tablet, will drop down to just $80 ($70 off), the lowest price we’ve seen for it.
Amazon also announced that theof its entry-level 7-inch Fire will cost $60, which is $40 off its list price of $100. The Fire Kids Edition includes a case and a year of , a $36 value.
It’s not clear whether theor the will also be on sale, but we’ll keep an eye on their prices since Amazon often slips previously unannounced deals on its devices into Prime Day.
This is the Goldilocks in Amazon’s line and our current CNET Editors’ Choice in the category. Here are some things we love about the Kindle Paperwhite:
- It’s 10% thinner and lighter than the previous version.
- It has a “flush-front” design with a back made of a softer, grippy material instead of hard plastic.
- It’s a fully waterproof Kindle, like the high-end Kindle Oasis, and has a plastic screen that Amazon says is shatter- and scratch-resistant.
- It has built-in Bluetooth, so you can download Amazon Audible audiobooks and listen to them with wireless headphones.
Note that Amazon could update the Kindle Paperwhite in 2020 (it was released in Nov. 2018). If and when that happens, it’s unclear how much of an upgrade


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Project Work Leads Shop to $4 Mil. Account
SAN FRANCISCO–Gardner, Geary, Coll & Young has been named agency of record for McKesson’s Retail Pharmacy Services Group, a retail division of healthcare supply management company McKesson Corp. The account is worth over $4 million.
The San Francisco agency won the business after completing a marketing project, which was assigned about five months ago. The shop won the project last October in a review that included crosstown shops Hoffman/Lewis and Saatchi & Saatchi.
“Using account planning, we uncovered some critical insights into the mind-sets of independent pharmacists,” said Matt Hofherr, GGC&Y senior account planner and director of marketing. “We look forward to turning these insights into a successful branding strategy for McKesson’s independent retail business.”
“[GGC&Y’s] strength is strategically driven creative that gets results … [which is] exactly what we need to build our retail brands Valu-Rite and Health Mart,” said Linda Duke, national advertising manager for McKesson, also in San Francisco.
Separately, sources said GGC&Y has picked up $1-2 million in ad duties from online video retailer Reel.com without a review, and will create a campaign for the client to break in the fall. Executives with GGC&Y and Reel.com declined to comment.
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Today's highs and lows of creativity


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Microsoft have purchased Nokia’s Devices and Services business for £4.6billion.
£3.22bn of the fee is for “substantially all” of the company’s phone section, while another £1.42bn is being spent to license it’s patents.
As part of the move, Nokia CEO Stephen Elop will step down from his position to become executive vice president of the division. The purchase will fully complete in the first quarter of 2014 pending approval by Nokia shareholders.
Outgoing Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer commented on the agreement;
“[It is] a win-win for employees, shareholders and consumers of both companies.
“Bringing these great teams together will accelerate Microsoft’s share and profits in phones, and strengthen the overall opportunities for both Microsoft and our partners across our entire family of devices and services.”
Microsoft will gain 32,000 Nokia employees as part of the purchase.


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For many of the Apple faithful, the keynote addresses at WWDC are like Christmas Day -- there's always something new and shiny under the Apple tree, even if we in the blogging profession have already peeked inside some of the packages. Join a cast of TUAW bloggers in a "metaliveblog" of today's ...
In anticipation of a new iPhone coming out soon, I visited my online AT&T account information last week to see when I'd be available for an upgrade. As of last Wednesday, the upgrade page showed that I'd be available for a new phone upgrade on 9/21/2010. This morning we received a tip from ...
Pursuitist claimed to have photos from a "European insider at TBWA/Chiat/Day," the advertising agency for Apple worldwide. We'll send you to Pursuitist to view the photos in deference to their find, but we are showing you a photo (above) snapped inside of Moscone Center that displays the iPhone HD. ...
Deals of the Daymore deals
Software Updatesmore updates
- Evernote introduces reminders to Mac, iOS apps
- Poser 10 and Poser Pro 2014 available, bringing new characters, physics and more
- Agile Partners releases Lick of the Day 2.0
- Google announces new Hangout app to hit iOS today
- Microsoft Office for Mac 2011 Update 14.3.4
- Pixelmator 2.2 available with over 100 new features and improvements


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Android Overtakes Microsoft and beats iPhone According to Gartner
Android is being quite the success for Google with Android grabbing 4th pace in the first quarter in quantity of handsets sold that feature the Android platform, and apparently overtook Microsoft’s Windows Mobile according to Gartner.
Tarmo Vieki of Reuters posted an article which says that Google’s Android was in 10% of smartphones sold during the quarter lags behind Nokia’s Symbian, Research In Motion’s BlackBerry and Apple’s iconic iPhone.
However, the report did say that Android beat Apple in North America and would likely catch the iPhone on a global scale soon. Research vice president for Gartner, Caroline Milanesi said, “You have one vendor with one model and eight to nine vendors with many models — of course you get bigger volumes.”
With the exception of Nokia, all top phone vendors have either launched or are going to launch a smartphone that sports the Android platform, and Gartner stated that the growth of Android helped smartphone sales rise 49% in the January to March quarter with the global mobile phone market growing 17% year on year in the quarter.


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Lúlli, a white and auburn Cavalier King Charles Spaniel dog was abducted from outside a shopping mall in Reykjavík, but has now been returned to its owner.
The dog was stolen from outside the shopping mall in Gerduberg, Reykjavík, last Friday night, reported Fréttabladid.
Lúlli’s owner had tied him to a fence while shopping. In the meantime, according to eyewitnesses, two kidnappers abducted the dog.
About 24 hours later, the kidnappers called the police, claiming to have found a lost dog. They asked the police to inform the owner and to tell him to meet them at a certain time and place.
When the owner arrived he encountered a little girl, who handed Lúlli over to him. According to Fréttabladid, the owner did not want to question the girl.


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Fans of "Breaking Bad" just got great news: Now that the series is coming to a close, vehicles from the show are going to be on the market. If you've ever dreamed of riding around in the same car as Bryan Cranston, Anna Gunn or other cast members of the hit TV series, you'll have the chance starting Sept. 29, the same day as the series finale. Some of the cars are in relatively rough condition, though, so they may require an auto repair or tune up.
According to Complex magazine, Screenbid is auctioning off a variety of vehicles, including Jesse Pinkman's 1986 Toyota Tercel TDX, Walter White's 1977 Cadillac Sedan de Ville, Marie Schrader's 2008 Volkswagen Beetle and Skyler White's 1991 Jeep Grand Wagoneer. The source noted that fan favorites like the Los Pollos Hermanos trucks was likely too large to add to the auction and "The RV" has already been compacted.
A multitude of options
The Pontiac Aztek that's up for auction might draw the most bids, as the car was driven by Walter White during the first four seasons. However, as it was used in a car crash scene, it suffered broken glass and a smashed rear end and is no longer in running condition. According to New York Daily News, Screenbid states that the vehicle will "need a whole lot of work."
Still, the car's starting price is $1,000. There were three other Azteks used in shooting the show. However, Auto World News reported that another will be used for spare parts, and the one in the best condition will be on display at Sony Pictures Studios in California.
If you're interested in purchasing a piece of pop culture history but want a working vehicle, the wood-sided 1991 Jeep Grand Wagoneer driven by the character Skyler is also up for auction. The starting bid is considerably higher than the Aztek - $7,125 - as the jeep still runs, the news source reported. While the Wagoneer is in working condition, some of the paint is reportedly bubbling and it occasionally leaks oil.
There are other choices for fans seeking a recognizable car from the show. Actor Aaron Paul's 1982 Chevrolet Monte Carlo is starting at $2,500. Also, the 1986 Toyota Tercel TDX that he drove later in the series will be included at an opening bid of $5,000, according to Auto World News. New York Daily News reported that the 1977 Cadillac Sedan de Ville that Walter White was driving in the final season will be up for a starting bid of $5,000.


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The OnePlus 6 launch is getting closer, the marketing campaign has started and it promised to give you the speed you need. OnePlus 6 will be powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 845 chipset and I’m guessing that’s where the speed will come from.
From earlier leaks, OnePlus 6 will be coming with a notched display, and will give its users with more screen space. Compared to all the predecessor OnePlus phones, the OnePlus 6 will be offering the highest screen-to-body ratio of 90 percent.
Rumors also claims that that the notch on the OnePlus 6 will be packed with a selfie camera, an earpiece, notification LED, proximity and ambient sensors.
Evan blast had earlier leaked an image of OnePlus 6 and it revealed that the handset would be arriving with a 3.5mm audio jack, USB-C port and an external speaker grille. The back panel of the phone would be featuring a vertically stacked dual camera setup and a fingerprint reader.
Today, the Chinese manufacturer, OnePlus CEO Pete Lau has released a poster that reveals that the OnePlus 6 will be coming with Snapdragon 845, 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage. This is the highest configuration so far in the OnePlus family. The launch of this device was earlier hinted by Pete Lau to happen ending of June but the way the marketing campaign is going, it may likely be launch sooner than expected.
Name: OnePlus 6
8GB + 256GB onboard storage
Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 845.
What do you think?


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This is not a drill, Bath & Body Works Canada is creating a new website so that you can shop for candles, fragrances, soap and more online.
Currently, if you want to buy something from this retailer you have to go to an actual store, which has been complicated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Restrictions, including ones about which stores can stay open, mean that not everyone can go out to a location and do in-person shopping.
Bath & Body Works Canada posted about their resolutions on social media on January 7 and one of them is making a Canadian online store.
Narcity Quebec has confirmed that this is happening.
The retailer is working on creating an e-commerce site just for Canadians so that you can buy everything you would in-store at home.
There are no details about when this will happen because no launch date has been confirmed yet.
There are Bath & Body Works locations in every province except P.E.I.


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The British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) is one of the best-loved, most illustrious and famous motor racing championships in the world. Since its inception in 1958 (when it was known as the British Saloon Car Championship), it has attracted and captivated millions of fans around the world.
To celebrate 60 years of the BTCC, BMW and FCB Inferno have released a collection of five posters celebrating each decade of BMW’s involvement in the series. From the 1960s right up to the 2000s, each poster is crafted to celebrate a decade using an iconic art style from that era, and includes pop art and tech noir. The vehicles featured in the posters are representative of each decade of racing, carrying the livery of that era. The nostalgic creatives not only celebrate 60 years of Britain’s premier motorsport series, but also BMW’s passion for motorsport.
The individuals who are lucky enough to collect one of these exclusive posters from BMW’s stand at Snetterton on the 29th July will be taking home a piece of motorsport history.
Hannah Bevan, experiential and sports marketing executive at BMW, said: “We are really proud to be celebrating the 60th anniversary of British Touring Cars. We have such a rich history within the motorsport series and we are thrilled to be showcasing this with these iconic posters.”
Becky McOwen-Banks, creative director at FCB Inferno, added: “What better way to bring BMW’s passion for motorsport through the decades to life than the ever-changing language of art. The individuality of each era and the cars within them are perfectly matched to their style – from the joy of a Peter Blake-esque rendition of the ’70s, to the fun of the MTV-styling ’90s, to the strong, Banksy-esque statement for the noughties. The craft, attention to detail and sheer exuberance of the championships cannot be missed. We know the fans will love them as much as we do.”


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Even before CeBIT 2001 kicked off, industry giants were gearing up with pre-announcements of some of the innovative technologies that will be on show this year. Follow ZDNet's full coverage here.
CeBIT: Industry pressed to deliver mobile Web
Fri, 16 Mar 2001 Mobile Internet technology to be unveiled at CeBIT could be what the phone industry needs to improve on a disastrous start to the year Transmeta unveils mobile Linux
Wed, 14 Mar 2001 The company that employs Linux creator Linus Torvalds releases Midori -- the 'green' operating system Philips has rewritable DVD disks
Sat, 10 Mar 2001 Philips to showcase its latest innovations at CeBIT Palm OS 4.0 to appear in new handhelds at CeBIT
Fri, 09 Mar 2001 The new operating system will appear in two new models -- the m500 and m505 AMD cuts prices, preps first notebook Athlon
Wed, 07 Mar 2001 Intel's main competitor follows with price cuts of its own on desktop processors, to be followed by a notebook Athlon in time for CeBIT Take me to ZDNet Enterprise Have your say instantly, and see what others have said. Click on the TalkBack button and go to the ZDNet News forum. Let the editors know what you think in the Mailroom. And read what others have said.


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Fire-Dex celebrated the groundbreaking of its 29,000 square-foot expansion on September 25, 2017.
Fire-Dex is a leading manufacturer of protection apparel for first responders. Their selection includes fire hoods and helmets, gear bags, suspenders and structural turnout gear. First responders do the jobs many people are too afraid to do. Firefighters, for example, head into flames when others run away. They need reliable equipment to keep them safe and to carry out their duty. That’s where Fire-Dex comes in.
Having outgrown its Medina headquarters, Fire-Dex sought to expand the facility, allowing for start-to-finish design and production of its new TECGEN equipment. Fire-Dex has invested over $2.4 million to expand the building and train 30 new employees. The added personnel will represent a nearly 25 percent increase in workforce.
One of the company’s biggest challenges outside of space is manufacturing from start to finish at the Medina location. They have tremendously rigorous quality control expectations and standard operating procedures. JobsOhio has offered training support to supply Fire-Dex with the talent to handle expansion of a new operation line in Medina rather than outsourcing the sewing operations to a partner in Mexico. Training the workforce will allow Fire-Dex to expand the TECGEN line while also ensuring the nation’s firefighters and paramedics remain safe with top quality gear.
Since 1997, Fire-Dex has been headquartered in Medina. The company has undergone tremendous growth, including acquisitions, staffing increases, equipment investments, lab construction and building/infrastructure improvements. In 2002 the company invested heavily in lean manufacturing techniques.


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Six months after UBS launched their new Price Improvement Network (PIN) for trading Credit Default Swaps (CDS), they are reporting average monthly volumes have risen to $11 billion in July and August, compared with an average $7.5 billion in the four months ended June.
The platform lets customers directly post prices onto the order book where bids and offers are shown before the trade. My coverage on the platform back in February can be found in this post here
According to Paul Hamill, MD Global Credit Trading, UBS said
“We’ve taken a view of what regulation’s likely to lead to”….. PIN is a “platform that’s a safe sandbox for ourselves and our clients for how the market might look and feel,”……
UBS doesn’t have immediate plans to register PIN as a SEF, under Dodd-Frank, and plans to collect customer orders to send to a regulated SEF also offering live prices Hamill said. PIN’s future may be an “integrated partnership” with a SEF or designated contract market, he said.
The above is an extract from a Bloomberg article here


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In less than 2 weeks, one of the most gruelling security challenges returns to the Middle East! As part of Hack in the Box’s (HITB) return to Dubai after an 8-year gap, the HITB Security Conference will be bringing back a wide range of free to the public hacking games and ch to allenges,
EnGenius introduces industry’s first 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6) 2×2 access point EWS357AP. The new device fulfills the Wi-Fi connectivity demands of small and midsize organizations. Equipped with Qualcomm Technologies’ newest chipset, the EWS357AP features 11ax technology,
HMD Global, today announced that the Nokia 3.1 Plus will be available at all the leading stores in UAE from tomorrow. Nokia 3.1 Plus is a affordable smartphone with dual-camera and belong to the Android One family that boosts a 6-inch HD+ display and is powered by two-day battery life.
ZOTAC launched the world’s first VR Backpack PC, VR GO 2.0 that is capable to improves the untethered VR experience with high-end performance repackaged into a more compact, ergonomic chassis. The VR GO 2.0 is designed for unlocking the potential of VR across industries and businesses in entertainment, product development, medical practice, design, education, customer service, eSports, and m...
Alissa Johnson, the Chief Information Security Officer at Xerox explains how to stay away from being hacked easily by challenging the challenge question. Challenge questions are those questions that you set up with your own personal answers to help web sites know that it’s you – not a hacker. This only works if you are the only one who knows the answers. Most of the time we answer our challenge qu...
Samsung during its developer conference in San Francisco on Wednesday unveiled its much-anticipated foldable phone that folds out into a tablet and back up into a candybar-like form factor. The device includes a cover display that acts as a phone, and a main 7.3-inch tablet display.
The fusion of fashion and technology is a reminder of the rising influence of technology on design, and in order to literally showcase the connection between art and technology, Kaspersky Lab has partnered with Emirati designer Ayten Al-Khayat,
For those still treasure the retro appeal of viewing and sharing printed photos, LG’s launches a new PC389 Pocket Photo Snap, a hybrid instant camera cum portable printer, which the company feel will change how people capture memories through photos.


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Zipline, an ambitious drone delivery enterprise, has earned the 25th spot on CNBC's prestigious Disruptor 50 list this year. With operations spanning seven countries — Rwanda, Ghana, the US, Nigeria, Japan, Kenya, and Côte D'Ivoire — the firm has made its mark in the global drone industry.
Zipline's journey began with a crucial mission: medical deliveries in Rwanda. Initiated in 2016, it significantly improved the national blood delivery network, slashing blood waste by as much as 67%, according to a Lancet study.
Today, the company's collaboration with Rwanda has broadened. Under a new $61 million contract, it aims to deliver nearly two million packages of medicine, medical supplies, nutrition, and animal health products by 2029.
The unveiling of Zipline's latest drone, the P2 Zip, in March, marked a leap beyond the medical sector. This new drone is designed to deliver up to eight pounds within a ten-mile radius, completing missions in approximately ten minutes, and precision landing on a space as small as a table or doorstep.
“The reason that number is important is that when you look at e-commerce in the U.S., a vast majority of packages weigh five pounds or less,” Keller Rinaudo Cliffton, Zipline's CEO and co-founder, told CNBC recently.
The company's expansion into retail and its broader reach across the US didn't happen overnight. As early as 2020, Zipline began testing drone deliveries with retail giant Walmart in Arkansas. This year, with help from Zipline and other partners, such as DroneUP, Walmart announced that it expanded its drone delivery network to 36 hubs across seven states, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, North Carolina, Texas, Utah and Virginia, recording 6,000 flights.
In addition to the retail segment, Zipline has forged partnerships with medical providers in the US, conducting long-range medical drone flights in challenging areas like North Carolina's Appalachian regions. In 2022, Zipline emerged as the first company to obtain Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Part 135 approval for long-range drone delivery in the US, paving the way for further expansion. The company's North Carolina distribution center services a sprawling 7,800-square-mile area, and it also designs, tests, and manufactures Zips in California.
Zipline's retail segment, once seen as a niche within a niche, has now turned into a significant growth driver. The company's capability to handle peak order times — from delivering lunch orders for Sweetgreen to dispensing Walmart prescriptions — sets it apart in the industry. It has so far made 540,000 deliveries, outperforming the combined delivery counts of Alphabet and Amazon.
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Insights from Cone
As we enter the biggest charitable giving time of the year, companies are embracing the holiday spirit with an eye toward the greater good. But, even during this time of generosity, cutting a check alone isn’t going to cut it. According to the 2013 Cone Communications/Echo Global CSR Study,only 7 percent of global citizens believe donating cash or products is the priority way companies should address pressing, complex social and environmental issues.read more
Corporate cause marketing around the breast cancer issue seems to be fading for the first time in 20 years.
Although shoppers have been inundated with pink products recently, this year marks a turning point, with fewer breast cancer cause marketing programs in the market versus last year. As a pioneer in developing cause marketing programs for companies, we believe this is a result of a variety of factors, from increased scrutiny of campaigns and nonprofit partners to consumer desensitization to the cause. But with no cure on the horizon, there's still room for authentic and effective support of breast cancer awareness and research.read more
Companies have long embraced corporate support of social and environmental issues to build brand relevance and consumer support; but today, marketers must evaluate new audiences as part of their efforts to create meaningful social impact. Among those new audiences are multicultural consumers – particularly Hispanics and African Americans, who, according to the 2013 Cone Communications Social Impact Study, are the driving forces behind the evolution of cause to more robust social impact.read more
Ever since cause marketing broke onto the scene in the early 1980s, corporations have realized and embraced the brand-building power of supporting social and environmental issues, from breast cancer research to recycling.read more
As we head down the home stretch of the 2013 hurricane season (remember last year’s late-season surprise, Sandy?), and with California wildfires and Colorado flooding still impacting communities, there’s no better time than now for companies to assess their disaster response strategies.
From Hurricane Sandy to the Ya’an Earthquake, it doesn’t take much when disaster strikes to change a person’s world forever.
The need for companies to address social and environmental issues is real and urgent, yet in the face of unexpected destruction, the mandate for company involvement becomes especially important.read more
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is seemingly everywhere these days — in the media, on store shelves, in classrooms, even on Wall Street, where impact investing continues to gather interest and momentum. Formerly the niche passion of a few crunchy companies and the hardcore wonks and activists who loved them, CSR has now become, indisputably, a mainstream must-do. As companies increasingly get involved in tackling societal issues, bringing more and more resources and assets to the table, the need to focus on tangible results is more important than ever. It’s time for a new, impact-driven approach.
Rising economies such as those in Brazil, China and India are undeniably growing global powerhouses with combined GDPs (plus Russia) expected to exceed those represented by the G7 by 2050.
As business booms, the spotlight on pressing issues, including human rights, education and wealth gaps, shines ever brighter. With societal and environmental needs both poignant and urgent, all eyes are on multinational corporations to play a role in addressing critical issues where government cannot or has not.read more


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Hy-Vee To Install Automated Cart Cleaners in Stores
The system will clean and sanitize the whole cart.
Target Offering Holiday Shopping Reservations to Avoid Big Crowds
Target just released new safety guidelines that include you getting your holiday shopping done with minimal crowds.
Iowa Sets New Highs For COVID Deaths & Hospitalizations
The return of cooler weather seems to have helped cause a big spike in coronavirus cases and deaths in Iowa.
Stephen King Feels ‘Terrible’ After Visiting a Movie Theater
The horror author was worried by what he saw.
AMC Theatres Could Run Out of Money By the End of the Year
The country’s biggest theater chain says it needs more funds.
Disney Says Its ‘Primary Focus’ Is Now Streaming Content
Movies for theaters are no longer the priority.
Eastern Iowa Outlet Center Getting Creative To Fill Vacancies
One of Eastern Iowa's most popular shopping centers is getting creative ahead of an uncertain holiday shopping season.


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Tag: Mixed Reality
At IFA 2017 company introduces "ASUS Windows Mixed Reality headset". 3D Polygon shell design distributes headset's 400 gram weight across forehead.
Dell announced Dell Visor their first Windows Mixed Reality headset. Dell visor is Priced at $349 and would be available from October 2017.
Microsoft just announced their plans for the Windows Mixed Reality ecosystem. Along with the new Mixed Reality hardware Microsoft reveal that they are working...
Microsoft released Windows 10 cumulative update build 16232.1004 for Insider in Fast Ring to test their new servicing pipeline.


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6 Jul: Rival do Twitter ‘Threads prepara lançamento
July 4, 2023 -
A Meta está a lançar uma nova app para concorrer com o Twitter.
Dita “Mata Twitter”, a Threads aparece quando muitos utilizadores do
Twitter deixam o serviço após as mudanças impopulares do proprietário Elon Musk.
Facebook owner Meta is launching a new app to rival struggling Twitter, saying it will go live on July 6.
The app, called “Threads” will be linked to Instagram, allowing users to keep their Instagram username to log-in. Some techies are referring to the new app as a “Twitter killer”.
Screenshots show an interface that looks similar to Twitter’s, with Meta describing Threads as a “text based conversation app”.
Twitter has been slashing jobs as its advertising revenue plummets following a range of unpopular changes to Twitter made by billionaire Elon Musk, such as throwing out content moderation rules.
On July 1, Musk restricted the number of tweets people could see, garnering even more ire from users.
Meta’s new app will be a free service with no restrictions on how many posts a user can see.


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Ceylon Cinnamon is now in the register of Protected Designations of Origin and Protected Geographical Indications (PGI) and it was published in the Official Journal of the European Union. Can we similarly market and protect distinctive Sri Lankan products such as Ceylon Tea, Ceylon Blue Sapphire, Ruhunu Curd, Dumbara Mats, Ambalangoda Masks and so on? Yes, marketing and protecting geographically unique products are possible by implementing a robust GI system with local registration to support obtaining international registration and protection.
The ongoing Bangladesh-Sri Lanka discussions on a preferential trade agreement (PTA) will benefit from knowing the potential gains from reducing bilateral trade costs. Ex-ante estimates predict modest gains for Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in absolute terms, even after completely removing the sensitive list. Given that the estimated modest economic gains of a Bangladesh-Sri Lanka PTA do not justify a trade deal that requires substantial resources for negotiations, the PTA should have fewer regulatory measures and tariff concessions for the products on the offensive lists to maximise the economic benefits of a PTA.
Unprecedented declines in merchandise trade, foreign direct investment (FDI) flows, tourism and cross-border migration have all been hallmarks of the economic fallout of COVID-19. As a result, growth expectations for countries worldwide dimmed. Nonetheless, thanks in part to substantial expansionary monetary and fiscal policies being rolled out to achieve pre-COVID economic recovery levels and the development of vaccines, the contraction in global trade and economic output are less than what was anticipated. The Sri Lankan economy too has been impacted by these external developments, witnessing fluctuating fortunes in its external sector performance. This blog discusses the impacts of global economic developments on Sri Lanka’s external sector and suggests ways to cushion them.
Sri Lanka’s edible oil market has garnered considerable attention in recent weeks due to a series of events including the banning of palm oil imports in a bid to promote the local coconut industry and the detection of aflatoxins in imported coconut oil. The edible oil industry is important for Sri Lanka with oils and fats being a major constituent of the typical Sri Lankan diet and a raw material in manufacturing, the food manufacturing industry in particular. According to the latest available data, there are around 5,057 establishments employing 332,828 workers in the formal food manufacturing sector which generate an annual output of approximately LKR 1.4 billion. This blog assesses the local edible oil market and its potential for import substitution.
Experts at CPD-IPS-SV international webinar on the ‘Recovery of the Apparel Sectors of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka: Is a Value-chain Based Solution Possible?’ call for suppliers, buyers, governments and international organisations to work closely together for speedy and sustainable recovery of the apparel sectors from the COVID-19 shock.


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USDA Data Reveal: Cattle Sale Revenues Grew 16% in 2021
Following two Congressional hearings on the beef and cattle markets largely focused on prices producers receive for their cattle, the North American Meat Institute (Meat Institute) today said the latest USDA annual report on livestock income clears up misconceptions about the state of cattle markets and shows cash receipts for the sale of cattle and calves increased 16 percent, from $63.1 billion in 2020 to $72.9 billion in 2021.
“As our members said in their testimony, prices are improving for cattle producers due to supply and demand reflecting..."
Meat Institute to House Ag: More to Beef & Cattle Markets than Packers & Producers
The North American Meat Institute (Meat Institute) today said the beef and cattle markets are complex, driven by supply and demand and have more participants than packers and producers who add value at each step in production.
“Too often, the policy debate around the cattle and beef industry is an overly-simplified discussion limited to cattle producers versus beef packers. It is imperative policy makers remember: packers don’t buy fed cattle from cow-calf producers; nor do packers sell beef to consumers,” said Julie Anna Potts, President...
“Too often, the policy debate around the cattle and beef industry is an overly-simplified discussion limited to cattle producers versus beef packers. It is imperative policy makers remember: packers don’t buy fed cattle from cow-calf producers; nor do packers sell beef to consumers,” said Julie Anna Potts...
North American Meat Institute: Grassley-Fischer Bill is Still a Government Mandate on Producers
The North American Meat Institute today said the latest version of the Grassley-Fischer government mandate bill is now more onerous and more irrelevant as market driven prices for cattle producers have steadily risen to seven-year highs.
“Supply and demand has already driven the cattle markets back into balance without the radical government interference and convoluted mandates called for in the latest draft of the Grassley-Fischer bill,” said Meat Institute President and CEO Julie Anna Potts. “Make no mistake, the bill still contains government..."
North American Meat Institute to House Agriculture Committee: Asked and Answered
The North American Meat Institute (Meat Institute) today issued the following statement regarding House Agriculture Committee Chairman David Scott’s announcement of an upcoming hearing on the beef industry and food prices:
“The Meat Institute and its members have already made themselves available to Chairman Scott and all Members of Congress on several occasions to help improve the understanding of the beef markets,” said Julie Anna Potts, President and CEO of the Meat Institute. “This hearing will be no different. The questions have been asked and answered...”
NAMI Witness to House Ag Committee: Beef & Cattle Markets Driven by Supply & Demand
Following warnings about government intervention in beef and cattle markets from leading agricultural economists from around the country, François Léger, Owner and CEO of FPL Food, on behalf of the North American Meat Institute (Meat Institute) offered his perspective on the market as a beef packer and processor during the House Agriculture Committee’s hearing to “Review the State of the Livestock Industry.”
“The cattle and beef industry are driven by the supply and demand fundamentals of the free market, and the cattle industry is cyclical,” Léger said...
ANALYSIS: Shell Egg Prices Crack New Record Highs Amid Strong Demand, Depleted Inventories
This Week in Retail: Seasonal Trends Start to Shift
Urner Barry Releases September Soy & Wheat Report
Urner Barry Releases September Pulse Protein Report
Urner Barry Releases August Emerging Plant Protein Report


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Nintendo hasn’t always been on the forefront of gaming, and sometimes they miss some very BIG and OBVIOUS advances that should’ve been on their systems. But more often than not, they make up for it in the next generation in a big way. Case and point, indie games. Despite Xbox and PlayStation having indie games on their systems for some time, the Nintendo platforms haven’t always kept up, and it was only with the Nintendo Switch that they went all in on them, and it’s paid off. Especially for developers like Motion Twin, the team behind the game Dead Cells.
Since release, Dead Cells has been getting tons of praise (including from us! Read our review!), and the sales numbers seem to be doing well too. But on Switch, they’re apparently doing exceptionally well. This comes from a marketing team member of Motion Twin, who talked with Destructoid at PAX West and noted that the game on Switch is outselling the PS4 version at about 4-to-1. That’s insane.
However, that’s not out of the ordinary, in fact, the Nintendo Switch has been DOMINATING the indie market since launch. Likely because of the consoles portability, which gives gamers the reason to buy more indie titles, but whatever the reason, it’s working. And the Switch’s versions of indie games like Dead Cells aren’t limited to beating one console, at times they’re drastically outselling Steam. Which if you recall was THE home for indie games not so long ago.
So between console sales (at 20 million currently in about 18 months), software sales (nearly 100 million) and all of these indie sales (too many variables to count), the Nintendo Switch is dominating the market right now.


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Farmers in the upper Midwest euthanize their baby pigs because the slaughterhouses are backing up or closing, while dairy owners in the region dump thousands of gallons of milk a day. In Salinas, Calif., rows of ripe iceberg, romaine and red-leaf lettuce shrivel in the spring sun, waiting to be plowed back into the earth.
Drone footage shows a 1.5-mile-long line of cars waiting their turn at a drive-through food bank in Miami. In Dallas, schools serve well north of 500,000 meals on each service day, cars rolling slowly past stations of ice chests and insulated bags as food service employees, volunteers and substitute teachers hand milk and meal packets through the windows.
Across the country, an unprecedented disconnect is emerging between where food is produced and the food banks and low-income neighborhoods that desperately need it. American farmers, ranchers, other food producers and poverty advocates have been asking the federal government to help overcome breakdowns in a food distribution system that have led to producers dumping food while Americans go hungry.
Late last week, the Trump administration stepped in, announcing a $19 billion program to help the struggling agriculture sector and distribute food to families in need. The aid package includes the government purchase of $3 billion in dairy, produce and meat products that will go to food banks and those in need. (About $16 billion is going to direct payments to farmers and ranchers.)
But the effort must overcome the challenges that led to the disconnect in the first place: Fresh produce and dairy must be transported from farms to food banks in refrigerated trucks. Refrigerator and freezer storage space must be available on the receiving end to accommodate a surge of frozen meat. Food that originally was slated for restaurant supply must be repackaged for home use. And all of this must occur while maintaining social distancing and without increasing the demand for labor because food banks, while running low on supplies, are running even lower on volunteers.
“Over the last 30 to 40 years, the distance from field to plate has grown, putting extreme reliance on a national and global food-supply chain,” she said. “As these food-supply chains shut down or become stressed, the food prices will rise, leading to increased food-insecurity rates. There is going to continue to be an astronomical increase of those who need to access emergency food.”
This article provides a broad overview of the various ways the food supply chain has broken down during the COVID-19 Pandemic and what this means for food access. The article touches on what happened in the produce, dairy, beef and pork industries highlighting the fragility of current systems and their impact on food insecurity when the system fragments.
Additionally, the article evaluates a plan proposed by the federal government to address these issues. Through this, the author highlights important logistical concerns such as mobile freezer space, stationary freezer space, repackaging, and labor issues that need to be addressed in the process.
Overall, this article serves as a good stepping point for understanding what happened during the pandemic, why we were seeing food being dumped in the fields, animals being euthanized, and crops going unharvested while many went hungry. Now moving forward, I intend to use this article to identify which points to dive deeper into in order to understand how to redesign these aspects of systems, products, or services and adapt for the future.
Author: Laura Reiley


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– ‘Who’ Really Runs Your State? (ZeroHedge, June 11, 2015):
A state’s economy is nothing without the businesses that call it home. However, these companies are not created equally – bigger businesses naturally have outsized influence, generating more revenue, employing more people and (at least theoretically) paying more taxes. So given that corporations are now ‘people’, who really runs your state in this crony-capitalist land of the free?
Some may be surprising: Chevron (not Apple) runs California, Costco (not Microsoft) runs Washington, and Sands run Nevada.
Some are less so: Berkshire Hathaway runs Nebraska, GM runs Michigan, and ExxonMobil runs Texas.
Using Hoover’s, a D&B Company, we searched through each state’s list of companies to find which had the largest revenue in the last fiscal year. It was interesting to see how each company’s revenues have changed over the year (for better or worse) and to see if a new largest company had emerged.
At first glance, you may ask, “Where are Apple and Microsoft?”Yes, these are huge companies but this map is specifically looking at total revenue from the last fiscal year. If we look at California with Apple vs. Chevron, there is a large discrepancy between market value and total revenues. Apple’s market value as of March 31, 2015 was $724 billion while Chevron’s was only (and we use “only” lightly) $197 billion. In terms of revenue, Chevron comes out on top with $203 billion in the last fiscal year while Apple had revenues of $182 billion.


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Apple today quietly opened the free beta of iWork for iCloud to everyone with iCloud log-on credentials.
The suite -- Web-based versions of Pages, Numbers and Keynote, which collectively make up iWork -- debuted in June at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference.
Registered developers immediately received access to the beta. Since then, Apple slowly added some of the public to the beta test through emailed invitations.
Apple did not reply to a request for confirmation today that the iWork for iCloud preview was available to all, but Computerworld was able to access the apps using several different non-developer iCloud accounts which had not previously received invitations from Apple.
The beta supports three browsers: Apple's own Safari, Google's Chrome and Microsoft's Internet Explorer (IE). Apple has promised to expand the list, presumably to Mozilla's Firefox and Opera Software's Opera, both of which run on Windows and OS X.
Most analysts believe Apple will give away iWork for iCloud to iPhone, iPad and Mac owners, just as it does iCloud itself, as another way to entice customers into buying the Cupertino, Calif. company's hardware. Another reason they've cited: The competition, including Google Docs and Microsoft's Office Web Apps, is also free.
Not everyone has agreed.
Some have suggested Apple may tie the Web apps to the existing iWork on iOS and OS X. On those platforms the three apps are sold for $9.99 (iOS) or $19.99 (OS X) each. Apple's plan to upgrade OS X's iWork this fall has also lent credence to the tie-in theory.
If those pundits are correct, iWork for iCloud would be available only to those who own the iOS or OS X software. That model would be similar to Microsoft's, which offers select Office apps on the iPhone and Android smartphones only to customers with an active Office 365 subscription.
Although today's timing was a bit surprising -- previously, Apple said that the beta would go public "this fall" -- the company has yet to schedule a final release date or clarify whether it will charge for the apps, and if so how much.
iCloud account holders -- anyone who owns an iOS device or OS X-powered Mac -- can access the betas of Pages, Numbers and Keynote by logging into icloud.com with their username and password.
Anyone with an iCloud account may now try the beta of iWork for iCloud. The three apps -- Pages, Numbers and Keynote -- are flagged with 'beta' labels.
Gregg Keizer covers Microsoft, security issues, Apple, Web browsers and general technology breaking news for Computerworld. Follow Gregg on Twitter at @gkeizer, on Google+ or subscribe to Gregg's RSS feed. His email address is [email protected].
Read more about web apps in Computerworld's Web Apps Topic Center.


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Motorola Could Get Back Into the Windows Mobile Game
Feb 19, 2010, 5:33 PM by Philip Berne
In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Motorola co-CEO Sanjay Jha said that Motorola is open to the idea of developing phones for Microsoft's just-announced Windows Phone 7 Series mobile OS. The company had stopped producing Windows Mobile smartphones in favor of devices that run Google's Android OS.
|Nexus One Syndrome||bluecoyote||
|heheh changed their tune...||trojandrew||
This forum is closed.


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Can Gap Inc. Stock Keep Going After Last Week's 18% Pop?
Image source: Gap Inc.
Shares of GapInc. (NYSE: GPS) soared 15.2% on Friday -- and 18% for all of last week -- after announcing encouraging financial results for the five weeks ending Oct. 1. The numbers don't sound impressive at first glance. Net sales for the month clocked in at $1.43 billion, 2% below last year's comparable five-week period. Comps fell 3% across all of its brands, and that's pitted against a 1% dip a year earlier. In other words, the average store is ringing up 4% less in sales than it did two years earlier.
However, there was a fire at one of its distribution centers in late August that disrupted operations. Gap claims that the fire at its Fishkill center which destroyed 12 million units of mostly Gap-branded merchandise negatively impacted comparable sales by 3%. These estimates will always be open to debate, but if accepted it would've transformed Gap's negative comps into a flat showing. That's not ideal, but it's not too shabby at a time when many shoppers are turning away from bricks-and-mortar chains for the convenience and often price savings of online apparel specialists.
There was a wide disparity in the performance across Gap's three major brands. Its namesake stores suffered a 10% decline in comps, or a 5% drop if adjusted for the distribution center fire. Banana Republic -- the weakest link at Gap Inc. lately -- followed up last year's 10% slide in September with a 9% decline this time around (or 6% adjusted for the fire's impact). The shining star here is Old Navy, up 4% or 6% growth if we back out the negative fire impact.
Dealing in denim
The market sees this as a relative victory for Gap Inc., and analysts also see it that way. Deutsche Bank analyst Paul Trussell upgraded the stock from Sell to Hold, encouraged by easier sales comparisons that will benefit the retailer in the next few months. Jefferies analyst Randal Konik bumped his price target from $30 to $32, sensing that the downside is fairly limited here as Old Navy continues to improve and Gap's namesake stores are showing signs of bottoming out.
The retailer also points out that margins improved despite the dip in overall comps. It's also warning that the negative impact of the fire will carry into October as well as the seasonally potent holiday quarter.
Not every Wall Street pro is convinced that Gap's on the right track. UBS analystMichael Binetti stuck to his bearish call and bleak $16 price target, concerned in part by the lingering impact of August's Fishkill fire as well as potential store closings during last week's Hurricane Matthew threat.
Gap shares fell sharply last year, and last week's pop now finds them trading slightly higher for all of 2016. The sustainability of last week's gains will rest on the mall retailer's ability to keep Old Navy moving in the right direction and its namesake brand from slipping too much lower. Banana Republic is a mess, but Gap doesn't have to fire on all cylinders to remain a market winner. Patient investors are being rewarded with a 3.5% yield as they wait for this to play out, and thankfully Gap steps up with sales updates every month.
A secret billion-dollar stock opportunity The world's biggest tech company forgot to show you something, but a few Wall Street analysts and the Fool didn't miss a beat: There's a small company that's powering their brand-new gadgets and the coming revolution in technology. And we think its stock price has nearly unlimited room to run for early in-the-know investors! To be one of them, just click here.
Rick Munarriz has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.


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Personal finance app Truebill has reportedly raised $15m in its Series B round to support the launch of three new products.
The Eldridge Industries led the investment round with contributions also coming from Evolution VC, Cota Capital, Lucas Venture Group and YouTube co-founder Jawed Karim, according to reports in the media.
With the funds the FinTech is looking to launch its new services for paying bills, monitoring credit scores, and access to the TrueBill Rewards Program.
TrueBill helps users to manage their finances through a mobile app, empowering them to optimize spending, manage subscriptions, lower bills, and track financial wellness. Through the app, a user can easily see their cash, credit and investment balances and see which bills are upcoming.
Subscriptions are also tracked and monthly reports can help a user better identify where their money is going.
Earlier in the year, Eldridge Industries participated in the $74m Series A funding round of computer vision developer Face. The company develops technology solutions for security and surveillance, mobile authentication, access control, and real-world analytics.
Copyright © 2019 FinTech Global


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Tennis Stars Walk the Runway for Ladies Day Fashion Show
The Alex and Ani Ladies Day fashion show and Champagne brunch at the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport featured beautiful summer styles by Fila, Brooks Brothers and Alex and Ani.
The annual Alex and Ani Ladies Day fashion show and Champagne brunch, held July 20 at the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, featured beautiful summer styles by Fila, Brooks Brothers and Alex and Ani. Many of the looks are still available at neighboring stores in Newport or online.
The morning started off with a runway show on the Hall of Fame center grass court, where models wore tennis apparel and sportswear from Fila, followed by beautiful summer whites, dresses and other looks from Brooks Brothers. They also showed off bangles and other jewelry from Rhode Island-based Alex and Ani. Tennis celebrities such as Sam Groth, John Isner and former world number one, four-time Singles Champion and 2017 Hall of Fame inductee, Kim Clijsters, walked the runway.
The fashion show was followed by a Champagne brunch where guests mingled over drinks, quiche and fresh fruit, wearing their summertime best and big floppy hats. Alex and Ani Ladies Day was part of the week-long, Dell Technologies Hall of Fame Open event, which also included the International Tennis Hall of Fame Class of 2017 induction. That weekend, Clijsters was inducted along with several other tennis greats, including Andy Roddick, Monique Kalkman van den Bosch, Steve Flink and Vic Braden.
For the fashion show, Clijsters sported Fila’s special tennis apparel collection which was made to honor her induction. The outfit was adorned with hundreds of small decorative stars paying tribute to her stellar career. Four of the large stars featured the outline of a tennis ball to highlight her four Grand Slam singles titles.
When speaking with Clijsters, she stated that she enjoyed the time spent in Newport with her family and she was looking forward to catching up with people, including the 2003 U.S. Open tennis star, Andy Roddick.
See below for some of our favorite photos from this year’s fashion show!
John Isner takes the court in style, wearing Fila’s 2017 summer apparel.
A model is seen wearing a navy dress and a head wrap from the Brooks Brothers summer collection.
A male model sports a classic summer white suit from the Brooks Brothers collection.
Women seated around the grass court wore floppy hats and sipped Champagne to stay cool during the fashion show.
Tennis player Sam Groth breaks a dance move for the crowd as he makes his way around the court wearing Brooks Brothers clothing.
One of my favorite looks from the show was this long navy patterned maxi dress from Brooks Brothers.
Ladies enjoy a fun filled morning dressed in their summer best and floppy hats.
Brooks Brothers’ pop-up tent was decorated for the occasion with summer styles and tennis gear.