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The Boston Globe reviewed Catherine Steiner-Adair’s new book, “The Big Disconnect: Protecting Childhood and Family Relationships in the Digital Age.”
Steiner-Adair claims parents are pulling away from family life, lost in their own smartphones and screens, leaving children feeling neglected and lonely. The “digitized life,” she argues, is taking its toll on us — altering the way children think and relate and pulling families apart.
Her advice for parents is to help keep children grounded. “For that kind of textured, nuanced conversation, reflection and hashing things through, tech can’t deliver. That’s what parents are for,” she says.
The final chapter reinforces the main message that good parenting starts without technology, in a place where parents listen, set limits, and communicate. She provides a helpful list of rules to abide by — including a requirement that parents know their children’s phone passwords and check the gadgets when needed. Largely, she encourages everybody to slow down.
The Globe thinks ,”Steiner-Adair provides sound advice and much-needed wisdom during these increasingly confusing times.”
Tablettoddlers couldn’t agree more. We’ve added the book to our Amazon Kindle queue. Can’t wait to read it.


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Last year, Dyson released an autonomous robotic vacuum called the 360 Eye. Complete with a companion mobile app for iOS and Android called Dyson Link, the smart robot was the company’s first foray into connected technology and the Internet of Things. But it was, and remains, available only in Japan. Now, the company is unveiling another connected product, and this one is available in the U.S.
The Dyson Pure Cool Link purifier fan aims to tackle the problem of indoor air pollution. According to the EPA, the air inside a home can be up to five times worse than the air outside, contaminated with everything from toxic fumes to mold spores. The new $500 purifier uses Dyson’s patented Glass HEPA filtering technology to remove 99.97% of tiny pollutants and allergens from the air and captures them in the filter. But where the product distinguishes itself is with its smart sensors that monitor a home’s air quality and display it inside the new and improved Dyson Link App.
“We want to believe with any purifier that it’s cleaning the air in your home,” says Sean Hopkins, a reliability engineer at Dyson. “However, to be more effective and better relay that information, it’s always better to give a visual display of that, and the easiest way is with an app.”
Inside the app, users can keep track of in-home pollution remotely and see how air quality changes over time with their own activities, like cooking or painting. In this way, the app does more than just educate; it can encourage healthier behavior. “We first give people the understanding of their environment, and then the tools they need to improve it,” says Tom Bennett, Dyson’s head of environmental control.
The app needed to be intuitive and work without a lot of language, so to give users a quick snapshot of their home’s air quality, designers used the universal traffic light color system of red, yellow, and green to denote poor, medium, and good air quality. “When tested, people understood this concept immediately,” says Bennett. “We also carried out glance-ability trials, whereby we ask an individual to glance at something and ask them to tell us what they think it means.”
The design process took two years, but could pay off massively if this becomes the jumping-off point for a Dyson smart-home ecosystem.
“The way technology is moving is toward whole-home connectivity,” Hopkins says. “It only makes sense for us and any other consumer product manufacturer to start moving in [that] direction.” So in 2014, the company began a massive brand expansion: It tripled the size of its engineering team, broke ground on a new $400 million technology campus, and invested $8 million in a robotics lab. As Matthew Shaer observed in a recent Co.Design piece, “Dyson might no longer be known as a cutting-edge appliance company, but as a cutting-edge technology company, full stop.”
What’s taken Dyson so long to break into the Internet of Things? Perhaps the company’s high standards for its products. It’s been known to test new ideas stringently until they’re perfect; the 360 Eye robot took 15 years to come to fruition. But also, it seems Dyson has been waiting in the wings, watching how the Internet of Things market develops before stepping into the ring.
“Recently we found an egg tray that allows you to see when the eggs are expiring,” Hopkins says with a sarcastic chuckle. “We don’t want to go that route where we just have apps that are connected for the hell of it. It’s more about providing consumers with reassurances the product is doing exactly what it says it’s going to be doing, and at the same time giving proof that by buying Dyson, we’re actually doing something positive for the health of their home.”
Whether Dyson’s connected ecosystem would be open or closed is still undecided, Hopkins says. But he didn’t mince words: The Dyson Link Purifier is the tip of the iceberg. “We definitely do have future products coming out that will be connected,” he says. “As we move forward, the options for connectivity will start to increase.”

domain: news


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Prices leapt by more than dollars 900 a tonne at the opening of trade, the biggest one-day movement on record, said GNI, a commodity brokerage. At dollars 4,000 a tonne, the price was the highest for more than eight years before falling back to dollars 3,760 a tonne in late afternoon trading.
Retail coffee prices will increase significantly. A spokesman for Nestle, maker of Nescafe, said: 'Clearly this set of conditions will work its way through to the supermarkets. But the volatility makes it difficult to say by how much and when.' Industry analysts suggested that high-street prices could leap by 20 per cent in September.
The latest frost damage to coffee plants is the second of the Brazilian winter. Analysts said the surge in prices reflected fears that further attacks could occur because the winter can last until August. Brazil is the world's largest coffee- producing nation.
As a result of frost damage last month, the Brazilian government last week lowered its preliminary estimate for the 1995-96 coffee crop to 17 million bags, down from 22 million this year.
As much as half of the new crop may be damaged and Brazilian farmers described the impact of the frost as catastrophic.Reuse content


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HUNTERSVILLE, N.C.- JGRMX is proud to announce that in addition to already using Pirelli tires on its professional Muscle Milk/Toyota/JGRMX Team, it will be the official Pirelli support vendor at major amateur national motocross events.
A specially equipped JGRMX transporter will be on hand at each event where JGRMX technicians will assist racers in selecting and mounting Pirelli tires as well as supporting customers of JGRMX’s engine and suspension services. Tat Kimsey, who has been Pirelli’s amateur tire technician in years past will continue to provide selection and installation expertise to Pirelli customers at the new JGRMX Pirelli support area.
“We established a partnership with Pirelli with our pro team before the start of the 2011 season and have been really happy with the tires and the people involved,” said Coy Gibbs, JGRMX team owner. “The new amateur distribution agreement is a natural extension of our existing relationship and a complement to our ongoing expansion into engine and suspension services,” he added.
The 2011 amateur national schedule kicks off this weekend with the Annual Spring Classic at Mill Creek MX, in Pell City, Ala. To learn more about JGRMX visit www.jgrmx.com. For further information about Pirelli please visit www.us.pirellimoto.com and www.getpirelli.com.


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The US is imposing new tariffs on $200bn worth of Chinese goods as it escalates its trade war with Beijing.
These will apply to almost 6,000 items. Many everyday goods such as handbags, luggage, furniture, textiles and wool will be included. The list also covers food items such as frozen cuts of meat, many different types of fish, fruit, cereal and rice. Products that help computer networks operate, such as routers, are also targeted.
The US taxes will take effect from 24 September, starting at 10% and increasing to 25% from the start of next year unless two countries agree a deal.
It is the biggest set of tariffs to date, and unlike the earlier rounds this latest list targets consumer goods. That means regular households may start to feel the impact from higher prices. US companies have already said they are worried about the effect of higher costs on their businesses and warned of the risk of job cuts.
Around half of all Chinese imports to the US are now subject to new duties.
The White House says its tariffs are a response to China’s unfair trade policies.
In theory, the tariffs will make US-made products cheaper than imported ones, and so encourage consumers to buy American. The idea is they would boost local businesses and support the national economy.
Many US businesses are critical of the tariffs. Farmers, manufacturers, retailers and other industry groups have formed a coalition to oppose the tariffs, calling them taxes on American families.
President Donald Trump warned that if China retaliated then the US would impose further tariffs with taxes on another $267bn worth of Chinese products.
Talks between two countries’ officials ended in May without resolution. Efforts to restart discussions have failed to progress.
China is reported to have said it would reject new trade talks if Mr Trump imposed the $200bn worth of tariffs on its exports.


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Tuesday, 31 March 2009
EU warns internet sites about rights of users
Technology Review reports that Meglena Kuneva, the European Union's commissioner in charge of consumer rights, is warning internet site operators that they should better protect users. The European Commission is concerned that data being collected from personal profiles on social networking, search engine or other sites are increasingly being used for commercial purposes at the expense of privacy and consumer rights. The EU is calling on Web site operators to adhere to basic consumer rights to prevent deceiving, misleading or imposing excessive pressure on users to sign up to certain services or to buy products.


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Fans are eagerly awaiting the release of the sequel to the "Pokémon X and Y" game. However, the so-called "Pokémon Z" may not be coming soon and its expected launch this year may even get delayed, with the game said to be rolling out next year instead.
According to BreatheCast, there are still no confirmed details about the upcoming sequel, so it is highly unlikely that "Pokémon Z" will have a 2016 release. Indeed, in the franchise, "Pokémon GO" seems to be getting updates, and the upcoming "Pokémon Sun and Moon" is also slowly appearing through leaks and teasers online.
In addition, it is still unclear if "Pokémon Z" is a separate title or if Nintendo plans to shift its next-gen Pokémon to the upcoming "Pokémon Sun and Moon" title. Previously, speculations suggested that the "Sun and Moon" title will be the proper sequel to the "Pokémon X and Y" game, and based on recent "leaks" like new Pokémon additions and a seventh-generation lineup, the rumor seems highly plausible.
"Pokémon Sun and Moon" seems to have a steady development. Recent leaks have already established that the new title will most likely return to a multi-region gameplay, with at least three locations coming from real-world areas in Japan, New York, and France. There are also speculations that the "Sun and Moon" title will introduce the seventh-generation lineup of Pokémon, complete with new starters and Legendary ones.
As leaks and supposed gameplay details circulate about "Pokémon Sun and Moon" and another anticipated franchise title, "Pokémon GO," the previously rumored "Pokémon Z" titles gets more uncertain. However, should Nintendo push through with the project, a 2017 release is more likely. The company may have intended the delay to happen, and make "Pokémon Z" one of the titles for its upcoming Nintendo NX console, which is confirmed for a 2017 launch.


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NEW YORK (AP) — The Edsel. Quibi. New Coke. The Segway. DeLorean sporting activities cars. The pantheon of colossal small business failures has a new member in the CNN+ streaming services.
The news network’s subscription offering hadn’t even been running for a month right before Warner Bros. Discovery introduced this 7 days that it would be shutting down on April 30.
“It’s heading to be in the Top rated 10,” stated Steve Rosenbaum, executive director of the NYC Media Lab and an expert in enterprise innovation, surveying the prolonged history of items that went belly-up.
Even though “CNN minus” reviews speedily proliferated, it’s no joke to the more than 300 individuals employed for CNN+, which was in enhancement for two decades. CNN is envisioned to take up some of all those positions but there will be layoffs — a clear photo on individuals numbers is still rising.
The enterprise used hundreds of tens of millions of dollars on the venture and no one realized when, or if, losses would be changed by income.
Outdated-timers try to remember the Edsel, a new car model launched by Ford in 1957 that was badly manufactured and far too expensive. It was discontinued after two yrs, costing Ford an believed $250 million, the name remembered as a synonym for company failure long immediately after the vehicle itself was neglected.
Coca-Cola’s endeavor to introduce a new taste in 1985 was dropped in weeks. Besides for its cameo function in the “Back to the Future” flicks, the DeLorean did not make a dent. Inventors of the Segway located in 1999 that not several individuals desired to invest all around $5,000 for a glorified scooter.
Quibi, short for “quick bites,” experienced the backing of Hollywood’s major names and $1.75 billion from traders when the cell video clip assistance was released in 2020. It lasted six months.
Presciently, reporter Josef Adalian recalled that failure in an article for Vulture headlined, “CNN+ has Quibi Vibes,” that posted two times immediately after its launch.
“CNN+ in its formative section feels fairly like the Quibi of streaming information,” Adalian wrote. “Lots of cash has been spent, large stars are onboard, but it is really hard to determine out just what the service is supposed to be and why a substantial number of folks will want to spend for it.”
Rosenbaum, a self-explained news junkie, couldn’t determine out what CNN+ made available that was special and critical to him. He explained he never even considered spending the regular monthly $5.99 cost to subscribe.
He said it experienced “lots of famed faces that I get other spots.”
CNN+ has a handful of its individual news programs, documentaries and converse reveals and massive names like Chris Wallace, Anderson Cooper and Jemele Hill but, mainly because of cable and satellite contracts, could not offer you a streamed variation of what most men and women know CNN for, the television network’s constant news protection.
People can uncover streaming information in numerous sites — ABC, CBS and NBC all have their own services, for illustration — for free of charge.
“In launching a new small business, timing is everything and their timing couldn’t have been worse,” explained Allen Adamson, cofounder of the marketing firm Metaforce. “Streaming providers have been in a bubble and everyone realized there was a restrict to how lots of streaming services they would get.”
When Discovery purchased out CNN’s former company owner, AT&T, many observers believed CNN+ would finally be absorbed into a larger app that also had amusement offerings.
It never obtained that much, leaving some of its workers shell-shocked at the Thursday assembly when they had been explained to the company would abruptly close.
1 of the service’s most important champions, previous CNN chief Jeff Zucker, was bumped out of the photograph on Feb. 1 when he was compelled to resign due to the fact of not disclosing a passionate connection with a co-employee.
CNN+ launched on March 24, only times prior to Discovery executives took in excess of. In a perception, that was a business provocation: Why start out a venture that was the brainchild of a previous leadership team, just in advance of new leaders ended up coming with strategies of their very own, not to mention a mandate to cut prices?
Incoming CNN chief govt Chris Licht, in Thursday’s conference with workers, likened it to a new proprietor coming in, viewing a wonderful new house, but declaring he essential an condominium rather.
The Discovery crew designed it apparent in the assembly that they didn’t consider CNN+ was going to work, centered on its personal expertise with streaming.
“If we’re likely in a new route, we just cannot let it go on 1 second additional than it requirements to,” explained J.B. Perrette, head of streaming for the new firm, in the worker meeting.
Licht regularly praised his personnel for the high-quality of CNN+, and there is no way of recognizing whether the merchandise alone would have unsuccessful if it had a handful of several years to settle in.
And Rosenbaum claimed he may have been enticed to see if it was truly worth it with an offer you of a few cost-free months.
Time, on the other hand, was a single matter CNN+ did not have.
“It’s a major failure,” Adamson said, “but not as big as it would have been if it stored going and grew to become a black gap of revenue.”
Business enterprise writer Mae Anderson in New York contributed to this report.


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Official French data shows that for three consecutive days, there were more than 140,000 new confirmed cases in a single day in France: 145,560 new cases on the 23rd, 148,635 new cases on the 24th, and 143,571 new cases on the 25th. The daily average of newly confirmed cases in France has now risen to 110,000, a 43% increase from the same period last week.
The market trend of the 3d printing metal company
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The price of 3d printing metal company continues to be affected by factors such as market growth momentum, various opportunities and challenges. However, during the forecast period from 202 2 to 202 7 , the global 3d printing metal company sales market is expected to continue to be above average. The growth rate will continue to increase. It is expected that from today to next week, the price of 3d printing metal company will increase to a certain extent.
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Early strength admixture refers to the admixture that can improve the early strength of concrete and has no significant effect on the later strength.Superplasticizer for concreter is a concrete admixture that can reduce the amount of mixing water whi…
The US Commerce Secretary has announced that the US will temporarily lift tariffs imposed on Ukraine during the Trump administration to help Ukraine recover its economy and continue to show support for the Russia-Ukraine situation. "For steel mills t…
Spherical alumina has the characteristics of high sphericity and high content of α-phase alumina, and exhibits excellent performance when used as filler for rubber, plastic and ceramic raw materials.…


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The Samsung Galaxy S5 release could come early in 2014 according to a new report in Korean media which asserts Samsung executives are loose-lipped about plans to bring an iPhone 5s competitor to market quicker.
This report comes as Samsung is already talking about a 64-bit processor for the Galaxy S5 and rumors of a metal Samsung Galaxy S5 are circulating. Samsung is also reportedly skipping fingerprint sensor technology for this model, though a recent report suggests it was part of the Galaxy Note 3 before Samsung pulled the feature.
The Samsung Galaxy S4 launched in March with a release soon after in April, but this new report suggests Samsung may be speeding things up for a Galaxy S5 announcement in January 2014. This report specifically calls out a Galaxy S4 successor release in February 2014 with full-scale sales, which likely means a global and U.S. release as close as we saw with the Galaxy S4 and Galaxy Note 3. The report comes from Naver, a Korean news daily.
In addition to claiming the Samsung Galaxy S5 release date is set for February, the report also claims Samsung insiders revealed plans to use the 64-bit Exynos 5430 processor in the Galaxy S5. In September Shin Jong-kyun, President at Samsung confirmed 64-bit processors are coming to the Galaxy line of smartphones, hinting at the Galaxy S5. The Samsung Galaxy S5 may also include water resistant and dust proof features that Samsung saved for a Galaxy S4 active. If included, the Galaxy S5 would likely be capable of handling a 30-minute submersion in several feet of water without a case.
We’ve also heard that Samsung is planning a metal design for the Galaxy S5 on multiple occasions and scattered reports that the company is experimenting with a flexible display for the device. The Samsung Galaxy Round is Samsung’s first smartphone with a flexible display offering a rounded screen. Samsung previously showed off other ways a screen like this could fit into a smartphone, with a curved edge to show notifications while an S-View Flip Cover was on the device, which would make more sense for a mass-market device.
Apple may also be a reason for a faster Samsung Galaxy S5 release date. Samsung typically enjoys a longer window of exceeding the iPhone in new specs and features thanks to a Spring release cycle for the Galaxy S series and a fall iPhone release cycle. Rumors suggest Apple may use 2014 to deliver an iPhone 6 with a bigger screen. The latest credible report suggests a 4.7-inch Galaxy S5 competitor and a 5.7-inch Galaxy Note 3 competitor could be on the way from Apple in Q2 2014. If true, this would deliver an iPhone 6 release in close proximity to the Galaxy S5.
If Samsung plans a Galaxy S5 release in February we could see a Samsung Mobile Unpacked 2014 event at or near CES 2013 which takes place on January 7th in Las Vegas. Samsung typically holds the Unpacked events near a large mobile technology conference.
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Associate Professor of Economics
Ph.D., Economics, Texas A&M
Timing of Benefit Distribution has Major Effect on Crime
Researcher Jillian Carr focuses on policies that change the timing of benefit distribution in order to estimate the effects of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, receipt on crime.
Domestic Violence Arrests Fall During COVID-Lockdown; 911 Calls for Police Surged
While COVID-19-related stay-at-home orders undoubtedly saved many lives, new research by Jillian Carr highlights the effects of changes to expected police procedures and a need to better protect the vulnerable.
Prior to February 2010, Illinois delivered food stamps on the first day of every month. Then the state decided to spread distribution more evenly throughout the month. As a result, stores weren't hit with massive crowds all at once and officials weren't burdened with a large workload. New research from Purdue University’s Krannert School of Management and Miami University featured in Business Insider suggests there could be another benefit of the change: a reduction in grocery store thefts.
As gun violence continues to escalate nationwide, research coauthored by Krannert economics professor Jillian Carr takes aim at widely enforced juvenile curfew laws intended to reduce crime that may actually increase it.


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Sberbank has developed its own driver’s license with chip
Chipped right from the Bank since December 2018
Sberbank together with the Ministry for digital development, communications and mass communications of the Russian Federation presented prototypes of a variety of biometric identity cards. Including in the list of certificates included, and a new driver’s license with a microchip.
New identity documents, get the chip with assembled on citizen biometric information will contain a photo of the owner, his electronic signature and the image of the fingerprint.
As noted in the press release, the developers of a new type of identity, “In the near future from clients of Sberbank will be able to obtain a government issued biometrics new sample in Sberbank without a visit to MFC”.
The owners of the new biometric identity can, in addition to prove their identity to government services that require electronic signature, and to make other legally-significant actions without even leaving home, for example to register remotely the trick.
“Thus, the savings Bank began a major campaign to simplify the delivery of the public services and business”, – emphasized in a press release.
Yesterday also it became known that from December 1, Sberbank plans to start issuing driver chip, which will contain all of the required biometric data, the photo, al. the signature and the image of the fingerprints of the owner.
“We will have a driver’s license, and then, and the so-called ALG (citizen identification card), an analogue of the passport. Hopefully, after some time paper ID leave and will remain this form,” said senior Vice President, head of unit “Corporate business” of the savings Bank Anatoly Popov.
According to Anatoly Popova, the issue of the driver’s license was approved and adopted by the Ministry of internal Affairs, therefore, did not have any administrative barriers to the promotion of the idea to the masses.
Biometric identity cards Sberbank and Minzifa demonstrated a week ago at the St. Petersburg international economic forum.


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The inaugural Savour Stellenbosch Valley will be taking place on Saturday, 27 September, on World Tourism Day. The event, taking place at Neethlingshof Estate showcases the area’s heritage, heirlooms, cuisine, music and, of course, wines.
Café Blanc de Noir at the Brenaissance Wine Estate and Stud Farm is once again hosting a food and wine pairing. But this one has a difference. In a twist on the conventional wine and cheese pairing, Brenaissance is pairing … Continue reading
Imagine a combination of Fleur du Cap Unfiltered wines paired with indigenous vygies (succulents)! During November you can experience just that at the unique Pendock Wine Gallery at the luxury Taj Hotel in Cape Town. The event kicked off on … Continue reading


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source: Audi of America
- New Audi Automated Driving Development R&D office focused on creating Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) technologies specifically for North American market
- The development team anticipates hiring up to 60 engineers primarily for artificial intelligence, software development, and Silicon Valley startup collaborations
- Audi Q7 SUV testing fleet outfitted with QR code wraps allow onlookers to get the latest in Audi automated driving developments
Audi today announced the opening of its new Audi Automated Driving Development (A2D2) R&D office in San Jose to create Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) specifically for the North American market. Located in the heart of Silicon Valley, A2D2 will have the flexibility to quickly develop new software and to collaborate with nearby startups for production-intent applications.
The U.S. is expected to continue its lead in terms of ADAS system capabilities based on artificial intelligence and its cloud supported development processes in the push to more advanced Level 2+ automated systems for the coming decade worldwide.
“Given the rapid advancement of driver assistance technologies in North America, it’s important to be part of the latest breakthroughs, work with leading edge of technology startups and attract the top talent,” said Frank Grosshauser, senior director, ADAS, Audi of America. “We’re looking to bring on as many as 60 engineers to develop new functionalities, catered specifically to North American Audi customer needs.”
While Audi maintains R&D offices in various locations throughout the U.S., A2D2 is the first office dedicated to developing ADAS hardware and software specifically for North American roads and driving behaviors.
To start, A2D2 has outfitted several Audi Q7 development vehicles with roof-mounted sensor kits to collect data and help software engineers develop tools that power tomorrow’s vehicles and enhance the driving experience in an Audi. The A2D2 development vehicles are wrapped in a QR code that links to a webpage with the latest Audi automated driving breakthroughs and developments. Designers working in the Audi Design Loft in Malibu, California, created the unique graphics and logo specifically for A2D2.
The fleet of testing vehicles will be used for data acquisition to develop various cloud-based automated driver-assistance functions planned for introduction by 2023.
Audi is focused on the further development of automated driving together with colleagues in the Car.Software organization, a newly founded Volkswagen Group unit. All Volkswagen Group brands have concentrated their automated driving development activities within this unit. This pooling of expertise ensures that synergies can be leveraged and benefits can be realized for all Volkswagen Group brands.
To learn more about Audi automated driving technologies and development, visit https://media.audiusa.com/models/automated-driving


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Based on Auckland’s North Shore, Richie comes to Formus Labs with a wealth of experience in the medical start-up industry after working for six years at Aroa Biosurgery as Quality Manager.
In his role as Head of Regulatory and Quality, Richie will be leading the global regulatory affairs function which will allow Formus Labs to commercialise products across multiple global territories. He will also lead the quality function to ensure all activities are performed in accordance with international standards and regulatory requirements.
Richie says he wanted to work at Formus Labs as the company has a great product offering with robust clinical data and a strong user base.
“There is huge potential to apply the Formus platform technology in various orthopaedic applications which is a very promising sign for a start-up,” he says.
On a professional level, Richie wanted to have a fresh challenge by working with devices that are classified as ‘software as a medical device’.
“The regulatory landscape for these types of devices is evolving rapidly to keep up with technological developments within the medtech industry, and it’s a space I’m excited about,” he says.
Richie is looking forward to playing a key role in making sure that users around the world have access to Formus’ products, which ultimately improve patient outcomes.
“I am also looking forward to making internal quality system processes robust and efficient so we can take new products to market quickly,” says Richie.
At home, Richie and his wife have a toddler who has kept him busy throughout lockdown, and in any spare time he does get, he pursues his passion for photography as well as playing the piano and singing. And in the age of the smartwatch, Richie has developed a keen interest in mechanical timepieces and spends his time learning about the traditional time tellers.


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After months of hype, Amazon today announced the Kindle Fire, a 7-inch tablet with a $199 price tag. Amazon also refreshed its line of e-readers with a $149 Kindle Touch 3G, a $99 Kindle Touch without 3G, and a non-Touch $79 Kindle.
Now that Apple has announced an October 4 iPhone event, the time to speculate on when exactly the company would hold its fall event is over. But the time to speculate on what the company will announce at that event has just begun.
Microsoft has signed a cross-license patent agreement with Samsung Electronics that grants Microsoft royalties from Samsung's Android-based smartphones and tablets, Microsoft said in a statement on Wednesday.
Linux Foundation and Limo Foundation are rebooting their efforts to compete with Apple and the Android camp by merging MeeGo and Limo into a new operating system called Tizen, with the backing of Intel and Samsung.
Android devices have outsold the iPhone by a 2-to-1 margin in the past three months, according to a new Nielsen survey.
It's just like Apple to pour rain on Amazon's new Kindle Fire by setting a press event for the new iPhone next week.
Apple has finally revealed the date it is expected to unveil its next-generation iPhone, the iPhone 5. The company sent out invitations to the media overnight for an event on Wednesday morning 5 October (Australian time).
Windows Phone 7 owners rejoice: Your smartphone is finally getting the Mango update. The update will be pushed to existing Windows Phone 7 owners over the next few weeks.
Microsoft began its Windows Phone 7.5 "Mango" update to smartphones globally at 1 p.m. ET Tuesday.
Apple will put an end to the rumors and introduce its next iPhone on October 4 - it's already sent out invitations to an iPhone-specific event that will be held at Apple's Cupertino campus.
More than a third of all Android phones in the U.S. are equipped with 4G and the number is rapidly increasing, according to a study by app analytics firm Localytics.
Nokia has started shipping the N9, its first and last smartphone based on the MeeGo operating system, the company said on Tuesday.
Amazon is expected to unveil its Kindle Tablet at a press event in New York on Wednesday. From what we know so far about the device, it seems like it might be the first tablet rival capable of really competing with the Apple iPad. Based on the size a...
Google's Android mobile operating system is still steadily expanding its share of the U.S. smartphone market, as industry watcher Nielsen reports that 43% of American smartphone subscribers use Android-based devices.
The first two smartphones to run on T-Mobile's fast HSPA+42 network are coming soon, the operator announced Monday.
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GGG Evaluation Team
First impression on unpacking the Q702 test unit was the solid feel and clean, minimalist styling.
For work use, Microsoft Word and Excel programs pre-installed on the device are adequate for preparing short documents.
The Fujitsu LifeBook UH574 allowed for great mobility without being obnoxiously heavy or clunky. Its twelve hours of battery life did not disappoint.
The screen was particularly good. It is bright and visible from most angles, however heat is an issue, particularly around the Windows button on the front, and on the back where the battery housing is located.
My first impression after unboxing the Q702 is that it is a nice looking unit. Styling is somewhat minimalist but very effective. The tablet part, once detached, has a nice weight, and no buttons or switches are located in awkward or intrusive positions.
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In a 2007 ComicMix article, Glenn Hauman recounts the bizarre story of "Letitia Lerner, Superman's Babysitter," a comic story by Kyle Baker with Liz Glass that was spiked by DC Comics publisher and president Paul Levitz, who ordered the whole run of Elseworlds 80 Page Giant #1 spiked. The early shipments to Europe survived, though, and went viral on the Internet. When comics fans heard there was kick-ass Kyle Baker stuff to be had online, they learned, in great hordes, to use torrent sites and to decode CBR files -- and a generation of new Internet comics downloaders was born. And even though the comic was never legally published, Baker won two Eisner awards for it and it was subsequently reprinted.
The point is that when the distribution system– and I mean the entire chain, from publishers to distributors to retailers — fails, a black market will pop up. It happened with this story. It happened when people couldn’t get copies of Captain America #25. It’s happening now with Miracleman, one of the more popular torrents out there, because it can’t be brought back into print. It’s happening in countries where legitimate versions aren’t available yet, if ever — witness fan-subbed manga and anime, or Doctor Who episodes. It’s happening more and more as publishers try to extract every last dime they can out of the existing fan base, placing themselves on the upper half of a Laffer curve.
And it’s not going to get any better. But then, it never does, once you’ve shown them that sometimes, getting a copy online is the only way you’re ever going to get to read it. Even if it’s not strictly legal.
GLENN HAUMAN: Who made comics piracy big?
Researcher Yarden Katz scraped the database of Intellectual Ventures, a giant business that buys up patents, but produces nothing but lawsuits (previously), and discovered that IV claims ownership of nearly 500 patents that were created at public expense by researchers employed by public universities, and another 100 or so patents filed by the US Navy.
Kids’ author/droid builder Kurt Zimmerman created “Artoo Deco,” an Art Deco take on R2-D2, capable of movement under radio control, and with an in-built sound-system that makes cool, droidish noises.
Good Hello, Consumers of Media About Media:
Courtesy of our friends at Boing Boing, this is Negativland speaking to you. Thank you for reading about all of our deaths over the past year and a half!
Nothing is more frustrating than needing to edit or sign a PDF and not having access to the original document. That’s why PDFpenPRO is a must-have app in our books.With this extremely useful app, you can merge, markup, and create PDF documents without ever having to convert your PDFs into word processor file formats. Type directly onto […]
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It was ranked as the second most preferred clothing brand of US teens on a long
... According to this history, John Hollister, Sr. emigrated from New York to the ...
Jul 20, 2015 ... Hollister Co's storied history of its 'free spirited surfer founder John M. Hollister'
was completely MADE UP to make the lifestyle brand more ...
Jul 20, 2015 ... They might even praise the storied legacy of John M. Hollister, the supposed
founder of the California-spirited brand. But Hollister's "legacy" ...
Jul 20, 2015 ... Dave Eggers on how a California town was eclipsed by an Abercrombie & Fitch
brand and its iconic sweatshirts.
Aug 7, 2008 ... While the surf industry has matured significantly since Hollister's launch in July ....
By creating a retail concept around a fictitious brand history, ...
Apr 24, 2009 ... Hollister, Calif., is a quiet agricultural town northeast of Monterey, ... town created
by Abercrombie & Fitch for its line of surf-inspired clothing.
Nov 10, 2009 ... The date on clothing labels made by one of Britain's fastest growing ... The brand
story behind Hollister is also fictitious, the BBC's You and ...
Nov 19, 2009 ... That's what the British government did to the Hollister Clothing Co. recently, ...
Apparently, in a country with a written history longer than a few ...
Hollister Co. company research & investing information. Find executives and the
latest company news.
Hollister is the fantasy of Southern California, with clothing that's effortlessly cool
and totally accessible. Shop jeans, t-shirts, dresses, jackets and more.


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So, have the gains from the FTA begun to diminish
No, rather, there are bound to be more mutual gains for both nations, say analysts based at the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (Icrier).
It is difficult to make any conclusions based on 6-month data. Trade is very volatile, so it could be an aberration, adds an economist from Research and Information Systems (RIS).
Also, during April-September 2004, petroleum product shipments which account for 20% of Indians total exports to Sri Lanka fell 20% to Rs 618.44 crore from Rs 782.2 crore in the comparable period last fiscal. There is a feeling that saturation levels might have been reached for Indian exports. After all, Sri Lanka is a small market, opines another economist.
After the FTA was made operational in March 2000, Indian exports have been growing at a compounded annual growth rate of 30% to Rs 6,067 crore in 2003-04.
Another factor is the growing Indian direct investment in Sri Lanka. India is the third largest source for FDI in Sri Lanka, with $$450 million in investments (1978-2005), after the UK and Singapore. Indian majors like IOC, Ashok Leyland, Ceat and Gujarat Ambuja have set up operations in Sri Lanka. This, according to trade watchers, translates into lesser exports from India and more imports from Sri Lanka, as companies have begin to cater to their south Indian markets via their Lankan operations. Investments are only bound to increase after Sri Lankas recent trade pact with Pakistan. It will be cost-effective to route exports to Pakistan via Sri Lanka than Dubai, say the Icrier analysts.
Also, with the comprehensive economic partnership agreement (CEPA) likely to be inked in June, trade in services is bound to increase, they add. As on date, services account for around 30% of Indias and 20% of Sri Lankas total trade.


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The nation's largest alliance of hospitals and health systems announced supply contracts Monday that will generate more than $7 billion for three Chicago-area health-care companies over the next five to seven years.
Premier Inc. said it awarded supply contracts averaging $1 billion a year over seven years to Baxter International Inc. and Allegiance Healthcare Corp. The deal comes at a good time for the fledgling Allegiance, which spun off from Baxter on Oct. 1.
Waukegan-based Allegiance will receive roughly 60 percent of that, to supply surgical and respiratory therapy products, while the remainder of the $1 billion a year goes to Deerfield-based Baxter, which will supply intravenous solutions and electronic infusion pumps.
In addition, Mundelein-based Medline Industries Inc. will receive at least $50 million annually over five years to provide patient and medical staff apparel and bed and surgical linens.
The "corporate partnership" with Baxter and Allegiance is the first announced by the new Premier, created with the merger Jan. 1 of Premier Health Alliance Inc., based in suburban Westchester, San Diego-based American Health Care Systems Inc. and SunHealth Alliance Inc., based in Charlotte, N.C.
Premier, which consists of 1,832 hospitals and health-care system owners and affiliates, still has headquarters in those three locations.
The agreement represents a significant portion of Premier's annual purchases, which are expected to total $9 billion in 1997, said John Strong, chief operating officer for Premier Purchasing Partners, a Premier subsidiary located in Westchester.
The deal, which begins Feb. 1, is expected to be "the biggest or one of the biggest" that Premier will write, Strong said. It is possible that Baxter and Allegiance will be in line for subsequent contracts, he said.
The amount reflects a commitment by Premier hospitals and systems to purchase 90 percent of their supply needs through the arrangement. That amount could rise or fall based on actual utilization.
Baxter, which develops and manufactures kidney dialysis, cardiovascular, transfusion and intravenous technology, is expected to have more than $5 billion in sales this year. Allegiance, which provides health-care products and health-care cost-management services, is expected to have $4.5 billion in sales on a pro forma basis in 1996.
The agreement reflects a continuation of business Baxter had before the spinoff of Allegiance and the merger of the three systems to form Premier. But "a lot of this is in fact new business," said Baxter spokeswoman Mary Thomas.
"This is a good example of the partnership Baxter and Allegiance will have moving forward in terms of meeting the needs of our customers," Thomas said.
The deal did little for Baxter stock, which fell 12 cents Monday on the New York Stock Exchange, closing at $42.50. Allegiance shares, on the other hand, rose slightly, closing at $22.62 on the NYSE, up 37 cents.
At the same time, Premier announced a $500 million, five-year dual purchasing agreement with Medline, a privately held manufacturer of hospital supplies, and a joint venture of Standard Textile Co. of Cincinnati and Angelica Corp. of St. Louis.
The deal will almost double the amount of annual business Medline previously had with the three companies that now make up Premier, said Chris Simpson, vice president of national accounts for Medline. Medline has about $600 million a year in sales.


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P&D Show – all stand space sold out!
All stand space at the 25th National Painting and Decorating Show has been sold. “That means more products, more demonstrations, and better deals for everyone” say the organisers. Over 100 companies are massing at the event to show the biggest display of products, materials and ancillaries ever assembled in the UK.
A spokesperson added: “Decorating contractors, interior designers and stockists have busy professional lives. But a day spent at the Ricoh Arena will prove a worthwhile time investment.
“The very latest innovations in coatings technology, application techniques, tools and accessories will be there to see and try. And it’s definitely the place to go if you are looking for a real bargain.”
The National Painting and Decorating Show takes place on 26th and 27th November at the Ricoh Arena, Coventry.


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All the fashion news of the week that’s fit to reprint.
Files a lawsuit against his ex-wife Tory over their respective businesses — hers, you know, but his? C. Wonder.
Clash of the Fashion Houses
Simons vs. Slimane. Read up on the aftermath of the “Shakespearean” drama here.
Cast of seminal Alicia Silverstone film reunites. … I hope not sporadically.
And Richard Buckley have a son! Alexander John Buckley Ford. Name sounds like (fashion) royalty to me.
The “Jersey Shore” star is having a traditional wedding. She doesn’t know a lot (about the wedding plans), but she knows she wants it to be in Vegas and somehow, some way, include the color pink.
The first lady rocks a green tweed dress from Jason Wu’s new contemporary line, Miss Wu.
Sarah Burton killed it with her spring 2013 collection. Like, beekeeper-hats-and-honeycomb-net-skirts killed it.
The actor, who signed on as the first male face of Chanel No. 5 women’s fragrance, reportedly got $7 million for his new gig. The commercial, which was shot by Joe Wright (“Anna Karenina”), makes its debut on Oct. 15.
The photographer’s complete coverage of fashion week.
Victoria’s Secret 2013 Fashion Show
Who needs scantily clad supermodels when you have Justin Bieber, Bruno Mars and Rihanna on the lineup?


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The service streamlines how SMBs use their earnings.
Monetary companies firm Payoneer has teamed up with Mastercard to raised meet the wants of small and medium-sized companies (SMBs) and the business-to-business (B2B) market.
By the Payoneer Digital Buying Mastercard, SMBs can streamline the best way they use their earnings to speculate again into rising their enterprise, bringing worth to digital marketplaces and platforms.
The service is tailored for SMBs, e-commerce sellers, and freelancers worldwide.
“Our global customer base can pay for online advertising and other digital services, as well as have another way to pay suppliers. We are very excited to partner with Mastercard as we expand our global offerings, providing our marketplaces and SMBs the best solution available,” Payoneer’s chief technique officer Charles Rosenblatt stated.
The partnership comes after Payoneer introduced that it will likely be going public by way of a particular objective acquisition firm transaction, which assigns it a pro-forma implied enterprise worth of roughly $3.3b upon consummation.
Mastercard will present Payoneer with entry to new merchandise and advantages to raised meet the wants of their clients, and Mastercard will profit from Payoneer’s international B2B footprint, having access to the corporate’s ecosystem of greater than 5 million companies.
“We have been laser-focused on enabling faster, more convenient, and secure digital payments to address the evolving needs of businesses and consumers alike,” Mastercard government vice chairman Sherri Haymond stated.


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BlackBerry has sent out media invites for an event it is hosting in India on August 2. Currently not much is known as to which devices the company will be looking to launch at the event. The company is expected to launch the BlackBerry Evolve and BlackBerry Evolve X which according to a prior report are the Ghost and Ghost Pro respectively.
The event will take place on August 2 at 11 am, where the company will unveil the new smartphones. The invite states ‘Secure Your Date’, which reinstates the company’s focus on user security and privacy. The company recently launched the BlackBerry KEY 2 in India for Rs 42,990.
According to earlier reports, the BlackBerry Evolve and BlackBerry Evolve X will sport a dual camera setup on the back with optical zoom and low light enhancement features. The report further states that both the devices will be backed by a 4,000mAh non-removable battery. We also saw the tipster Evan Blass leak renders of both the smartphones which showcase a tall display with minimal bezels and no physical keypad like the KEY-series of BlackBerry smartphones.
In other news, BlackBerry might be working on a toned down version of the KEY 2 smartphone, the KEY 2 LE. According to an FCC listing, the device carries the model number BBE100. Multiple regional variants of the device have already been approved by the FCC and the company is expected to launch the device soon.


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We’re updating this post with the big news down at the bottom!
All year, Broadsword’s been teasing something big for Ultima Online, which we’ve been assuming just has to be the long-delayed Steam launch. And we do mean long-delayed: As we’ve previously noted, the game was greenlit for Steam in 2014, back when Steam greenlighting still existed, but we were led to believe that EA (which licenses the game to Broadsword, which itself is a spin-out of the old Mythic team) was preventing it from actually happening. With EA’s recent about-face on Steam and SWTOR’s launch there, a launch may finally be imminent.
Maybe it’s not that, but we’re about to find out either way, as the game is celebrating 23 years online today, and Broadsword is running a live event to announce whatever it is and toast the seminal MMORPG. “To celebrate the 23rd Anniversary of Ultima Online and make an exciting announcement we would like to invite everyone to a special live stream event on September 24, 2020 at 1pm ET,” the team announced last week. The stream further suggests it’s a “much anticipated next big project.” We’ll be updating this post with this highlights, or you can watch along with us!
The goal of the new shard is to allow players to experience the nostalgia of entering the game world, with a focus on onboarding brand-new players to the game. Yes, they’ve clearly been listening to complaints about the difficulty of starting up in a game this old and the current lackluster tutorial. New Legacy has a totally new ruleset, “getting back to the core” of the RPG, with changes to much of the original gameplay to make it more intuitive and immersive – like the skill system, which will still exist but won’t be exactly the same. The gear stat system will also be simplified. Players will not be able to transfer to the New Legacy shard, though it sounds as if the shard will have seasonal phases that will allow players to move from New Legacy to prodo shards.
Existing servers will continue on as they are, so if you’re an existing player, you don’t need to panic. Broadsword’s Bonnie Armstrong emphasized that the team is focused on embracing the game’s heritage, not gutting it, so dramatic changes to the game (like art) aren’t on the table. Counselors and Seers will not be returning, just GMs and EGMs. No release date is being announced; there will not be an extra cost. Free-to-play accounts will able to access the new shard, though they will not be able to place houses. And yes, it’ll work with both clients (yay!).
As for PvP, Broadsword said that it doesn’t have any plans to allow for a gankbox, as the game’s old school gankbox gameplay helped neither the population nor the community, as most veteran players know. However, the team says it’s trying to “thread the needle” by allowing some form of PvP in the world, though it doesn’t sound as if there will be separate Trammel and Felucca facets.
Worth noting is that the six folks in the stream image above? That’s the entire Ultima Online team. Six people. Puts all the content from the last few years in perspective, yeah?


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Some feel it will give brick-and-mortar shops additional competition.
ST. MARYS – Downtown business owners have a beef against a proposal to open a hot dog vending cart near the historic district’s waterfront.
Allowing a street vendor to set up shop would be unfair to “businesses already in town paying property taxes and overhead costs, hanging on by their fingernails,” Rosemary Rillo told the City Council Tuesday.
Her husband, Roger Rillo, who is president of the Downtown Merchants Association, said the association is “not happy” about Arthur Griffin’s proposal to operate the cart just south of the intersection of Osborne and St. Marys streets near Lang’s Marina.
“Having a street festival with street vendors is one thing. Permanent street vendors is another,” he said.
He pointed out that St. Augustine recently faced off with its street vendors, who he said were interfering with that city’s larger “contributing” businesses.
Griffin did not speak at the meeting but submitted a letter to Mayor Bill DeLoughy ahead of time.
City Planning Director Roger Weaver recommended the council deny Griffin’s application based on the city’s history of rejecting such plans. City Clerk Darlene Roellig told the council that only nonprofit groups have been allowed to sell items in the proposed area in the past, and those sales were only allowed during St. Marys’ Starry Nights events.
Weaver said he told Griffin he would recommend against the plan, but he said Griffin still wanted it presented to the City Council.
In his pitch to DeLoughy, Griffin wrote, “Currently, people visiting the park and taking sight-seeing tours to the Cumberland Island have no opportunity to purchase a snack other than a sit-down restaurant. If folks have an opportunity to eat a snack without going home to get it, they might spend more time in the downtown area shopping and enjoying the sights.”
Griffin, who already owns a home remodeling company in St. Marys called Utopia Home Services Inc., anticipated that other business owners would squawk at his proposal.
But he argued in his letter, “I don’t believe my hot dog cart will take business away from ‘brick and mortar’ shops, because my food selection doesn’t compete with their offerings.”
He wrote that research by fast food giants McDonald’s and Burger King has shown locating the restaurants right next to each other actually improves both businesses’ bottom lines because “people like choices when they eat out.”
During a recent trip to New Orleans, Mayor Pro Tem Chuck Trader said he saw the way street vending can add character to a downtown when done right.
“I think there’s a niche there for someone to sell hot dogs to people getting off the boat,” he said, pointing out that many tourists forgo spending time downtown in order to find a quick meal off Georgia 40 or in Kingsland.
Councilman Greg Bird suggested looking into pros and cons of allowing a street vendor before making a decision.
“We’re all trying to make a living and no one wants competition,” he said, “but I want to look into this a little more.”
“We heard compelling arguments from folks tonight, but we need to give everyone a fair shake,” he said.
The council directed Weaver, the planning director, to put together a report about other cities’ experiences dealing with street vendors.
In addition to his letter to DeLoughy, Griffin gave the council detailed plans for his business; diagrams of the cart he’d like to use; and a copy of Fernandina Beach’s policies for vending carts, which he suggested could serve as a model for St. Marys. Street vendors in Fernandina must pay that city a yearly franchise fee in addition to the other permits, insurance and fees required under state laws.
Griffin hopes to begin selling hot dogs, sausages, chips and drinks as early as April. He would start out offering his wares only on weekends.


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Euro café buyers sniffing around Costa Rica
With pen and paper in hand and an abundance of cameras in tow, a group of coffee connoisseurs, mostly from Europe, have been making their way through Costa Rica this week.
Their goal is to examine every detail of the Costa Rican coffee making process, from the moment a bean picker grabs the fruit to the instant it´s dropped off at the mills to be weighed, peeled, washed, dried and placed in storage.
The group is part of the Specialty Coffee Association of Europe (SCAE), whose members are coffee roasters, buyers and distributors from throughout the world.
The visitors, coming from places such as the Netherlands, Germany, Ukraine, England, Hungary, Sweden and South Korea are in search of quality coffee, but they are also interested in environmentally friendly coffee processes, fair-trade regulations and fair working conditions for the crop pickers.
See Friday´s print or online edition of The Tico Times for more on this story.
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Design firm Alessi have turned their hand to electronics with the new Android-based AlessiTAB, a touchscreen home media tablet. Shown off at an Italian design fair recently and spotted by InfoServi.it, the tablet packs WiFi and a digital TV tuner, together with internet access and digital photo frame functionality.
Users will also be able to access social networking sites, such as Facebook and Twitter, and the AlessiTAB has an integrated battery good for around 6hrs of use. As for recharging, a base station is supplied onto which the AlessiTAB sits, triangular in cross-section.
Alessi expect the tablet – which is made by Promelit and designed by Stefano Giovannoni – to go on sale in Europe in September 2010. Pricing is said to be around €300 ($403), making it less than an iPad.


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The bankruptcy comes ahead of the crucial holiday season, when the retailer does the majority of its sales. » Read More
By: Huileng Tan
It's not too late for South Korean leaders to "reflect on the lessons" from Seoul's THAAD deployment, Chinese state media said on Tuesday. » Read More
By: Lauren Thomas
Wal-Mart is expanding an option that allows shoppers using food stamps to order items through its online grocery pickup platform. » Read More
Amazon has made Whole Foods' prices more competitive with rivals Ralphs and Sprouts in the greater Los Angeles area, according to JPMorgan. » Read More
Goldman Sachs reiterated its neutral rating on Chipotle Mexican Grill after its Twitter research found a "muted" interest in queso.
Chipotle confirmed Monday that is is ditching chorizo to make room for its queso on its menu.
Seattle-based Starbucks has set its sights on lunch, having conquered the caffeine market.
Honda said on Monday it has invested $267 million and will add 300 new jobs to support increased production of its revamped 2018 Accord sedan model.
Tobacco companies have already started posturing themselves for a future beyond cigarettes.
"[I]f you fail, there's no parachute," Steve Ballmer told Satya Nadella.
Luxury shoemaker Jimmy Choo on Monday said its shareholders voted in favour of a $1.2 billion takeover by fashion group Michael Kors.
The potential bankruptcy comes ahead of the crucial holiday season, when the retailer does the majority of its sales.
Tesla and BMW have sold roughly the same amount of electric cars in the first half of this year, one investor tells CNBC.
Current CEO Bob Sasser will become executive chairman of Dollar Tree's board, the company said.
Streaming service Hulu made Emmy history on Sunday by becoming the first digital platform to win a top series award with its dystopian saga "The Handmaid's Tale."
"The Handmaid's Tale" and political comedy "Veep" won the top prizes at the Emmy awards on Sunday.
General Motors and its joint venture in China will recall more than 2.5 million vehicles due to faulty airbag inflators, a watchdog said.
Stop thinking of Volvo as the maker of clunky old brown station wagons. The Volvo V90 Cross Country is stunning.
The rise of Amazon Prime booze is yet another shoe that's yet to drop for the start-ups that compete with Amazon.
The maker of "The Wolf of Wall Street," has settled a U.S. suit to seize assets allegedly bought with funds stolen from Malaysian fund 1MDB.
Get the best of CNBC in your inbox


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Indian technology startups are having the best year so far as they set a record of raising $11.3 billion after the downfall in 2016 when the startups only accumulated $4.3 billion i.e. $3.6 billion less from the year before. According to the research firm Tracxn, startups with consumer-facing offerings including financial services have attracted most of the venture capital this year with $8.2 billion, followed by retail startups and enterprise service providers.
It is a fascinating turnaround for the nation, which just 10 years ago had a very small startup ecosystem.
Source: Tech Crunch
Inflics provides it readers the information that they need in concise and short articles, making information and news more accessible to everyone.


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UK: Ted Baker FY growth encourages City
- FY pre-tax profit up 34.6%
- Group sales grow 26.5%
- UK & Europe sales climb 20.3%
Analysts say Ted Baker provides “an encouraging growth story in the face of an uncertain economic climate”
Ted Baker continues to provide an "encouraging growth story", analysts say, after the apparel lifestyle brand revealed a 35% increase in full-year earnings and sales growth in all its regions.
In the 12 months ended 25 January, profit before tax amounted to GBP39.8m (US$65.8m) from GBP28.9m a year earlier, in line with market estimates.
Group revenue was up 26.5% to GBP321.9m, while retail sales grew 24.6% to GBP259.1m, boosted by strong growth in the UK and Europe where revenues were up 20.3% to GBP198.6m.
In the US and Canada, retail sales increased 38.1% to GBP50.7m. E-commerce sales were up 55.7% to GBP23.2m.
Cantor Fitzgerald analyst Freddie George said over the last three years there has been an "unerring focus" on the integrity of the brand, on-going improvements to the ranges, and further strong momentum in womenswear, which now accounts for 54% of sales. "These positive drivers have, we believe, given the company the confidence to relax the company's ultra-cautious strategy."
Conlumino analyst Greg Bromley offered a similar view. He said Ted Baker provides "an encouraging growth story in the face of an uncertain economic climate".
"By positioning itself as a lifestyle brand rather than just a clothes retailer alone, it has managed to engage with and inspire consumers, encouraging spend on its products even with disposable incomes squeezed.
"It has achieved this through its consistent awareness and development of major fashion trends, while sticking to its roots as a fun, aspirational, British lifestyle brand.
"The coming months will likely see the retailer continue to improve its proposition in the UK, but the more exciting developments are surely set to be abroad, with Ted Baker's growth showing no sign of abating any time soon."
Ted Baker's share price was up 0.14% to 2,202 pence at 09:08 GMT this morning.
- Why have US FTA imports fallen to a record low?
- Hanesbrands sourcing to cut Pacific Brands costs
- Why China makers are moving out or moving online
- Multiple country choices require complex decisions
- The potential and pitfalls of local sourcing
- Li & Fung divests Asia distribution business
- US looks to boost trade with Sri Lanka
- US Q1 in brief: Wolverine Worldwide, Weyco
- Vietnam textile sector calls for strategy update
- Aeropostale to close 154 stores amid bankruptucy


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More than 3,500 members of the International Council of Shopping Centers are expected to convene in Orlando next month for the national group's fall conference. That would be a 66 percent increase in attendance over last year's fall convention which was held in Anaheim, Calif., according to Charlotte Schluger, council convention director. Speakers at the sessions which run from Oct. 18-21 include CBS correspondent Charles Kuralt. During the conference, tours of several area shopping centers will be held. Included in the list will be Belz Factory Outlet Mall, The Marketplace, Mercado, Dyer Square, Colonial Promenade, Colonial Plaza and the Florida Mall.
Jack Snyder of The Sentinel StaffTHE ORLANDO SENTINEL
Copyright © 2019, Orlando Sentinel


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Bloomberg reported on the numbers from Beijing on Monday, Feb. 11, noting that U.S. exports and imports of goods last year totaled $3.82 trillion, according to the U.S. Commerce Department. Meanwhile, China's customs administration reported last month that the country's total trade in goods in 2012 amounted to $3.87 trillion, just barely toppling the U.S. off its pedestal.
China's increasing influence threatens to disrupt regional trading blocs as it becomes the most important commercial partner for countries not only in Europe, but also far away in places like Brazil, where the U.S. has played second fiddle now for more than three years running.
"For so many countries around the world, China is becoming rapidly the most important bilateral trade partner," Jim O'Neill, chairman of Goldman Sachs's asset management division told Bloomberg.
The U.S. is not licked yet.
When services trade is included in the mix, the U.S. total trade value comes to $4.93 trillion, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis. The United States actually has a surplus in services of $195.3 billion. It runs a goods deficit of more than $700 billion, however.
By comparison, China's 2012 trade surplus, measured in goods, totaled $231.1 billion. The U.S. economy is also double the size of China's, according to the World Bank, and per capital income is nearly five times that of China.


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DeSantis Gunhide, a U.S. manufacturer of holsters and accessories, based in Amityville, NY, announced a partnership with The Evans Group, a multi-line independent sales organization.
“Our existing customers know DeSantis Gunhide as a best in class holster manufacturer that has been producing quality American Made products in the USA for nearly 50 years,” stated Danny DeSantis, president of DeSantis Gunhide. “With the success of so many of our patented products we continue to expand and are lucky to be experiencing continued growth. As a result of this, we have brought in The Evans Group. This team is a force multiplier for DeSantis and will allow us to provide best in class marketing and sales support to both existing and new customers. We couldn’t have chosen a more experienced group of industry-based professionals to partner with.”
“The Evans Group is pleased to begin working with the DeSantis family and their products. We look forward too delivering their products to our incredible commercial and law enforcement customers from coast to coast,” stated Wade Lynton, senior vice president of The Evans Group.
Photo courtesy DeSantis Gunhide


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On September 7th, in Chandigarh.
Mozilla recently released Privacy Not Included, a report that reviewed 25 major car brands and found that they failed the privacy test.
According to a study by Mozilla, well-known global companies like BMW, Ford, Toyota, Tesla, Kia, and Subaru can gather personal information about individuals, including their sexual activity, immigration status, race, facial expressions, weight, health, genetic information, and location.
Researchers have discovered that information is being collected by various devices such as sensors, microphones, cameras, phones, and devices that are connected to cars by drivers. This information is also collected from car apps, company websites, dealerships, and vehicle telematics. This was reported by foundation. mozillaorg
Brands can give away or sell this information to other companies, according to the statement.
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With his explosively colourful flower-smothered printed collection,Richard Quinn is a star of the CSM MA class of 2016. Quinn has launched himself into business in a wholly different way. This summer, Londoner Quinn set up his own textile printworks in Peckham, as a studio facility for the young fashion community to share at reasonable cost. Richard is with us to show his collection – a taster of his upcoming launch in september London Fashion week, and talk with Sarah Mower about his social enterprise. HE’s here courtesy of John Lewis, who have upholstered a one-off sofa in Richard Quinn fabric which is the centrepiece for this year’s Wardrobe Department stage.
Image: Tim Walker courtesy of i-D


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10 things to know about the Hunterdon County 4-H and Agricultural Fair
HUNTERDON COUNTY – The Hunterdon County 4-H and Agricultural Fair, running from Aug. 23 to 27 at South County Park in Ringoes, draws thousands upon thousands to take part in this celebration of the county’s farming culture.
The 18th annual event also offers a variety of entertainment, including amusement rides, main stage entertainment, tractor and the new highly anticipated truck pulls, pig races, antique tractor display, 4-H shows and exhibits and vendors and food galore.
Here are 10 key things to know about the fair, the last big 4-H fair of August in Central Jersey.
Honoring Roger K. Everitt
Earlier this month, the site of Hunterdon County’s annual 4-H Fair at the South County Park was named "The Roger K. Everitt Fairgrounds" in recognition of the late 4-H Fair Founder and President Roger Everitt. Everitt, who was deemed responsible for the creation and growth of the Hunterdon County 4-H and Agriculture Fair, died in March at the age of 86. Everitt was the leader of a group of farmers and 4-H alumni who came together in 1999 after the privately owned Flemington Fair stopped conducting the fair. Everitt was elected President and held that position until his death. His funeral procession took a loop through the fairgrounds and his family asked that any memorial contributions be made to the Fair. Recognition of the naming of the fairgrounds will be made at the opening ceremonies at 4 p.m. on Aug. 23. The 2017 Fair will feature various tributes to Everitt.
Smoke, dust and noise!
That’s the lure for the hundreds of fans expected for the tractor and truck pull contests. On opening day, the track will be busy with traditional farm tractor pulls starting in the morning and a contest for slightly modified tractors at night. The 4-wheel-drive truck pull is part of the evening show. The truck event is limited to 25 entries, so the tractor classes get done at a reasonable hour.
Backyard gardeners invited
You don’t have to be a 4-H club member or a farmer to win a prize at the Fair. Backyard gardeners have at least 39 ways to win a prize. One of the many contests open for public entries is the "Biggest Specimen Show," for vegetables and fruits. A perennial favorite, it has 38 classes ranging, from the biggest beet to the longest carrot to the largest sunflower head. And there's also a class for what the judges determine is the "most unusual-looking" vegetable. Separately, there are shows to select the best vegetable and fruit specimens, based on uniformity, quality and other attributes. Other public shows at the Fair include quilting, needlework, rug hooking and the like; jellies, preserves baked goods and antique farm tractors. Farmers can compete with their field crops, dairy cows, beef cows and goats. For rules and information on entering your own home grown fruits and vegetables, visit http://www.hunterdoncountyfair.com/show-information/open-agriculture-shows.
This IS a 4-H fair
4) There are more than 300 4-H members that participate in the county 4-H program and just about every member will participate in this year’s fair — the highlight of their 4-H year. Whether showing sheep, demonstrating robots, performing with their horses or talking on stage about their projects, members in the 22 4-H clubs will be busy every day.
Importance of volunteers
Besides 4-H members, the 4-H program includes more than 150 adult volunteers. There also are nearly three dozen people who are involved in the non-profit Fair organization.
Things to do day and night
The fair has a full schedule of activities day and night, including truck, tractor and garden tractors pulls, sheep, goat, dairy and beef cattle shows and contests for growers of fruits, vegetables and farm crops. The Ramsburg Building will be filled with 4-H displays and entries, along with crocheted items, quilts, hooked rugs and other forms of handiwork by both children and adults.
All kinds of Main Stage entertainment is planned for the 2017 Fair. Dan "Dr. D" Torrone of Clinton, a former Hunterdon 4-H Sheep Club member, arranges the Main Stage activities and plans a variety of acts and attractions each day and night. "Tractor Dave" Bond, a Delaware Township farmer, and his Real Country Band take the stage Thursday night . Also on tap will be oldies and musical tribute groups, Bob Lloyd’s “More Than Magic” shows, the Happy Tappers senior tap dance group, a Mexican Mariachi band and a Hawaiian fire dance show. Each day, “Hunterdon’s Got Talent” allows residents to show off their talents and skills. “4-H Live on Stage” features members demonstrating or discussing something related to their projects.
Keeping it fresh
The fourth annual 4-H Fresh! Farm to Table Auction starts at 5 p.m. Saturday and features 4-Hers auctioning their projects, including live chickens, farm-fresh eggs, vegetables, hand-made goat milk soap, bales of hay, artwork, services and some antique items, such as a Johanna Farms milk can and a cow stanchion. The intent is to highlight 4-H members and their projects and let buyers get fresh, locally made items. The popular Thanksgiving Day turkey offering is again featured. It lets buyers order a that turkey a 4-H member will raise in time for slaughter and processing just before the holiday. Another sale lot consists of home-grown natural lamb, processed to your liking and delivered along with recipes, appropriate wine and other goodies. All livestock and other auction items will be graded and inspected before the sale to make sure they’re of high quality. For details on the sale and all the items to be auctioned, go to http://4hfresh.org.
At the Dairy Den
9) Dairy promotion activities, designed to remind the public how vital milk and milk products are for health and stress the importance of dairy farmers, will be ongoing in the Dairy Den. In a promotion for area dairy farmers, a different milk product — milk, cheese, yogurt or ice cream — will be given away each afternoon, at the Dairy Den. The Hunterdon County Dairy Princess and Alternate Princesses — Gianna Novak of Delaware Township, Mercer County Dairy Princess Carly Persichilli of Hopewell and Amanda Wengryn of Ringoes, the alternate (runner-up) New Jersey State Dairy Princess — will be at the Fair to promote milk and milk products. Between 2 and 3 p.m. on Friday, the princesses, all of whom have been active in 4-H dairy clubs, will be giving away ice cream sundaes. The rest of the sampling schedule includes yogurt from 2 to 3 p.m. on Wednesday, white milk and cookies from 4 to 5 p.m. on Thursday, chocolate milk from 4 to 5 p.m. on Saturday, and cheese and crackers from 2 to 3 p.m. on Sunday. The county princesses are chosen during June, National Dairy Month, and spend the next year promoting of milk and milk products. They visit fairs, supermarkets, schools and public and agricultural events. The alternate Hunterdon County princess, who will serve whenever Novak is unavailable, is Sadie Strober of Stockton. Hunterdon County has chosen a dairy princess each year since 1965, one of just a handful of New Jersey counties which have crowned a princess annually for more than 50 years.
Just the facts
The Hunterdon County 4-H and Agricultural Fair has been at the present South County Park location on 1207 Route 179, Lambertville, since 2004. The fair officially runs daily 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., though some of the animal shows start earlier in the morning. Closing time on the final day is 5 p.m. The annual fireworks, which are visible from anywhere on the fairgrounds, are scheduled for 9 p.m. on Aug. 26. There is a $5 grandstand admission charge for the evening tractor pull. All other shows, performances and contests are free. Daily wristbands are available for a fee for the amusement rides. Parking is $10 per vehicle and the money is shared with the volunteer fire companies whose members supervise the parking fields. Go to http://www.hunterdoncountyfair.com/.
Staff Writer Cheryl Makin: 732-565-7256; email@example.com


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The study below was published on 2.19.18:
A 20-year longitudinal study conducted by scientists at the University of Bergen in Norway has found that using cleaning products can be as harmful as smoking 20 cigarettes a day.
The European Community Respiratory Health Survey aimed to find out more about the long-term effects of using cleaning products. The study looked at lung function in 6,230 participants in 22 locations around the world. Participants answered questions about how often they used cleaning products and had their lung function measured.
The study found that women responsible for cleaning at home or professionally suffered a more rapid decline than women who were not responsible for cleaning. The same trend was not observed in men, however. The authors did not offer a reason for this gender difference, though there were fewer men than women in the study and a smaller percentage of those men engaged in “occupational cleaning.”
Based on the results, the authors suggested that exposure to cleaning materials can be detrimental to women’s health in the long term. In fact, the effects of 10-20 years of cleaning can be as damaging as smoking a pack of cigarettes a day for the same amount of time.
There is increasing awareness of the connection between cleaning product use and asthma and other respiratory issues, but this is the first study to look at the impact of using cleaning products over a long period of time.
Me Talking Now:
The study was posted on Fortune.com, Forbes.com, Newsweek.com, Chicagotribune.com, Foxnews.com and Nydailynews.com, just to name a few. When I read the study above, I am mad and disappointed, to put it mildly. It's like I kinda knew but did not think it was this bad. Once you learn new information, it is impossible to "UNLEARN" it. So what did I do? I joined an online wellness shopping club that has over 500 non-toxic, high quality products. I gladly switched my spending from walmart and target to this healthier,no-brainer option. I want products that wont kill me a little bit at a time, just because I like a clean home and body. Just absolute craziness but anywho.... Below are some of my favorites and the packs that I recommend to make the switch.


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The delegation of Uzbek Ministry of Agriculture visited Poland in order to expand contacts and strengthen partnerships with Polish colleagues in similar departments and companies specializing in the agricultural and investment spheres, Trend reports via Uzbek media.
During the meeting with Deputy Minister of Agriculture of Poland Szymon Giżyński, the Polish side expressed support and readiness to assist in the development of Uzbek agrarian sector.
The growing interest of Polish companies to participate in the implementation of joint agricultural projects with the introduction of best practices and modern technologies, in particular, in the areas of advanced processing of agricultural products and the production of finished food products, production of seed potatoes, meat and dairy products, implementation of projects for the introduction of environmentally friendly, energy-efficient technology in agriculture.
Following the meeting, an agreement was reached on creating a joint working group to develop a strategy for future cooperation in the agricultural sector.
At the meeting with general director of the Polish National Center for Agricultural Support (KOWR) Mr. Piotr Serafin, the possibilities of participation Polish agricultural sector’s large companies in the implementation of investment projects in Uzbekistan were discussed.
During the negotiations in the reputable bank of Poland BGK (People’s Economic Bank) a thorough exchange of views took place on the issue of cooperation in the development of the agrarian sector. BGK management has proposed to consider the possibility of providing a loan for Uzbek National Bank in the amount of up to 100 million euros for the development of animal husbandry in the country.
Meetings were held with representatives of ten Polish Companies specializing in livestock, poultry, potato, intensive horticulture, fruit and vegetable exports, agricultural engineering and drip irrigation. The specific conditions and parameters for the implementation of joint projects in Uzbekistan in 2019 were discussed with them.
The Center for seed production and potato protection in Poland (creation of a cluster for the production of seed potatoes using the inviro method in Kitab district), Milex (construction of a plant in the Guzar region for the production of equipment for drip irrigation based on Israeli technologies), Sky Bone, Contractus and Global Business Promotion Group (construction of consolidated centers for cattle from Poland of meat and dairy breeds, as well as artificial insemination laboratories and compound feed plants in Kashkadarya, Namangan and Syrdarya regions) are among them.
Moreover, the companies Igloszron (construction of poultry farms for the production of chicken and turkey meat and their processing in a closed cycle), PKB (construction of facilities for the disposal of post-slaughter waste at large slaughterhouses and poultry farms), Arno (creation of intensive gardens), Ursus (localization production in Uzbekistan of tractors of various capacities for agriculture) and the logistics center Bronisze were at the meeting.
Uzbek delegation also visited a number of Polish enterprises and departments, where they were able to familiarize themselves with their activities, potential and production capacities. The issues about establishing close cooperation, as well as organizing reciprocal visits to Uzbekistan were discussed.


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Do Ha Nam, deputy chairman of the Vietnam Food Association, said export prospects look gloomy with demand for rice now decreasing after a surge in the last few months when the pandemic was spreading rapidly globally.
The Philippine government recently scrapped plans to import up to 300,000 tons of rice from Myanmar, India, Thailand, and Vietnam because it was “no longer necessary under the current situation.”
This shows demand for rice is now dwindling, Nam said.
He was concerned his company would not be able to find new markets for rice exports as there are signs of a resurgence in coronavirus cases globally.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the World Health Organization, on June 29 said the pandemic is accelerating around the world as many countries that reopened their economies have seen a resurgence in Covid-19 cases.
The U.S., South Korea, China, Italy, and Germany have all reported new local infections despite imposing lockdowns.
Experts expect exports to the E.U. to rise thanks to the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) taking effect in August.
But rice producers said they have yet to meet the bloc’s quality standards and so are unlikely to export to it this year.
Truong Dinh Hoe, general secretary of the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers, said if there is a second wave of coronavirus cases globally, demand would slow in the E.U., stymieing Vietnamese businesses’ plans to boost exports in the second half.
Vietnam’s trade shrank by 2.1 percent year-on-year in the first six months to $238.4 billion, the first decline since 2009.
Exports fell 1.1 percent to $121.2 billion, with smartphones, textiles and garments, footwear, seafood, and fruit exports all decreasing.
The chief of a footwear company, who asked not to be identified, said products are always created with exports in mind and therefore would not have much demand domestically.
But his company has no choice except to reduce its share of revenues from exports from 80 percent to 60 percent and increase local sales, he said.
Officials have said the pandemic is also an opportunity for businesses to restructure their supply chains and invest more in technology to increase value addition.
Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Xuan Cuong said at a recent forum that Vietnamese companies need to focus on growing organic products with traceable origins to meet European standards.


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Despite foodservice pricing falling slightly in December, it remains almost 2% up on last year, according to procurement specialist Prestige Purchasing.
In contrast to consumer figures showing lower prices, pricing in the foodservice industry as measured by the Foodservice Price Index (FPI) is up 1.8% year-on-year and sits at 1.8% for December.
It suggests foodservice is having to cope with price increases that the general public are not, or at least are not yet.
Prices were down in line with the typical movement from November to December due to both increased sales of goods targeted specifically at the Christmas period and festive discounting.
An unsettled outlook for the next few months with particular volatility in both salad and fruit items imported from Spain and Italy is reported, as well as salmon, cream and butter prices soaring.
Christopher Clare, head of consulting and insight at Prestige Purchasing, said: "The level of volatility currently being experienced is significant, driven by a perfect storm of key commodity challenges and political and economic uncertainty.
"The foodservice market typically reacts more quickly to the former given the market dynamics where the large number of individual customers have less influence on price changes being passed on."
The FPI is jointly produced by Prestige Purchasing and CGA Strategy using data drawn from over 50% of the foodservice market and consisting around 7.8m transactions in a typical month.


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In a world where being a green hotel often translates into simply asking guests to reuse towels, a new initiative by several hotel brands to eliminate bottled water has gotten our attention.
According to SustainableBusiness.com, a group of hotels and resorts including Virgin, Ritz-Carlton and Banyan Tree plan to reduce their use of plastic water bottles by filtering, bottling (in reusable glass bottles) and selling their own water.
One of the cool things about the project is not only that it will reduce the number of plastic bottles used by the hospitality companies, but also that a portion of the proceeds from the water sales will go to the nonprofit Whole World Water, whose main purpose is to bring clean drinking water to populations that don’t have it.
Virgin expects to eliminate more than 200,000 plastic bottles a year from its Necker Island Resort, Virgin founder Richard Branson wrote on his blog.
“With Whole World Water, we plan to stop use of almost all plastic bottles on Necker,” he wrote. “We’re aiming to reduce the amount of plastic at our other Virgin Limited Edition properties and our new Virgin Hotels.”
Green Travel Tips
The initiative is modeled on a system used by Soneva Resorts at its Maldives and Thailand properties since 2008. The resort’s founder, Sonu Shivdasani, also is a founding member of Whole World Water. The program has improved clean water access for more than 600,000 people, Shivdasani claims.
What we find particularly impressive is that so many competing companies are working together. For instance, Soneva Resorts is actually providing the seed money to get the project going. But it’s not a free ride for any of the companies; each has to pay $1,000 annually per participating property, plus install a water filtration and bottling system at each property.
Participating brands so far include Virgin Limited Edition, Virgin Hotels, Banyan Tree, Auberge du Soleil, Tao Restaurant Group, The Ritz-Carlton Charlotte, The Ritz-Carlton Lake Tahoe, Oberoi Hotels and Resorts, JetWing Hotels, Dusit Hotels and Resorts, and The Ranch at Live Oak Malibu.
The initiative officially kicks off on March 22, World Water Day.
Top 10 Ecolodges and Green Hotels
What do you think of the initiative? Would you choose a hotel specifically because it’s participating? How would you feel about buying water filtered and bottled on-site?
— written by Dori Saltzman


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NyloBoard builds distribution
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Atlanta-based wood-alternative maker NyloBoard announced a new relationship with distributor Dixie Plywood and Lumber Co. in Charlotte, N.C.
Dixie Plywood distributes to the Charlotte metro area as well as the North Carolina-Piedmont area.
Since its launch in 201,2 NyloBoard, makers of brands including NyloDeck and NyloPorch, has been picking up distribution partners at a solid pace.
Other recent deals are with Vandermeer Forest Products in the Pacific Northwest, Holbrook Lumber in the Northeast and Jim Mackie Distribution in the Midwest.
Made from compressed and treated recycled carpet fibers, the product offers good looks along with high-end performance, including bend-proof flexural strength. And therefore, it allows designers the flexibility to create tighter joints, according to the Atlanta-based company.
Builders FirstSource acquires Slone Lumber Company
Dallas, Texas-based Builders FirstSource completed its acquisition of Houston-based Slone Lumber Company.
"The Slone purchase adds to our presence and gives us a solid platform to further expand our business in the highly attractive, greater Houston market," said Floyd Sherman, Builders FirstSource CEO. "It provides us a top-quality distribution business, outstanding employees and an established customer base to complement our existing window manufacturing operations in the surrounding area. We are very pleased to be adding Slone’s employees to the Builders FirstSource team, and look forward to working along-side them."
Netting sales of about $17 million in 2013, Slone supplies lumber, engineered beams, interior and exterior door units, moulding, trim and cabinets. It also offers installation services for exterior doors, shutters and cabinets.
"This is an exciting time and a great opportunity for the company and our people," said Gregg Slone, owner and president of Slone Lumber, who will remain in place as general manager. "We look forward to joining Builders FirstSource and becoming part of one of the nation’s leading suppliers to the residential construction industry."
GE boards the Wink train with new ‘smart’ LED bulb
GE is following closely on the heels of Quirky’s recent announcement that it was launching a smart-home offshoot (called Wink) for incubating various technologies, as well as an integrated app to connect them all.
The GE Link connected LED 60-watt replacement (A19) bulb is a smart LED bulb that’s enabled by the Wink app — one of several new (and incumbent) products that are beginning to emerge within the Wink suite.
The bulb allows consumers to control their lighting from afar, as well as to sync the bulb with other devices. The primary selling point: the lack of need for expensive add-ons that usually come with connected devices.
There are also three options: a 60-watt replacement soft white LED bulb, an indoor soft white floodlight LED and an indoor/outdoor-rated bright white spotlight LED.
“Our very own Thomas Edison built the first commercially viable bulb, and today we’re proud to announce the first commercially viable connected bulb designed for Wink users,” said John Strainic, general manager, North America Consumer Lighting for GE. “We know the quality of light consumers love and want in their homes, and we’re a brand they trust.”
The bulb, which will retail around or below $15, is now available for pre-order on the Home Depot website. It’ll make its appearance in retail locations this fall.


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Bengaluru: Nexus Venture Partners, a California headquartered VC firm along with Point Nine Capital and the Business Development Bank of Canada have poured in $4 million in Software-as-a-Service startup Procurify. With the funds, Procurify plans to increase the efficiency of its sales, marketing and product development in order to support its aggressive business expansion plans. Steve Johnson, CEO & Chief Revenue Officer of Hootsuite and Ryan Holmes also participated in the round and will act as the advisors for the Procurify team.
Established in 2012 by British Columbia Institute of Technology alumni – Aman Mann, Kenneth Loi and Eugene Dong, Procurify’s affordable software solutions help the companies to save their time and money through its mobile and cloud-based purchasing platform which manages the company spending, while simultaneously providing complete visibility of the financial transactions. It also assists the companies in generating the reports of their spending.
The three year old startup claims to have its clients in 58 countries and had earlier raised $1.2 million from BDC Venture Capital and Nexus Venture Partners, and an undisclosed amount from Highline VC in April 2014 and November 2012 respectively.


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According to a recent report by DigiTimes, Apple is looking to ship around 80 iPhone handsets before the end of 2014, the company ended up shipping 60 million iPhone 5 units last year, which included the 5S and 5C.
Apple aims to ship 80 million units of the iPhone 6-series products before the end of 2014, higher than the 60 million units of the iPhone 5 shipped in 2013, the sources indicated.
Barring the occurrence of component shortages and low yield rates, shipments of the iPhone 6s should be able to reach 10 million units by the end of September and total 60-70 million in the fourth quarter, the sources estimated.
This would make the new iPhone 6 launch Apple’s biggest smartphone launch to date, and it will be interesting to see how many devices are available on launch day, and whether there are any shortages of the handset.
When the iPhone 5S launched last year, demand for the handset outstripped supply, especially for the gold model of the handset which was hard to get hold of for at least a month after launch. It will be interesting to see if Apple are able to meet demand for the new iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus when they launch next week.