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In an effort to understand the meaning of Chinese New Year in Phnom Penh from a commercial standpoint, we sought the input of Helene Tho, marketing manager of DFI Lucky Private Limited, the company that operates Lucky Supermarkets.
At the company headquarters on Sihanouk Boulevard last week, Tho said Chinese New Year activities start with a spring cleaning fair that offers dishwashing liquid, cleaners and mops to cater for the Chinese tradition of getting the home clean before the holiday, which starts tomorrow.
Next follows the gift baskets which start at about $30 and are plastic wrapped for delivery and can contain standard items including fruit like tangerines, whiskey, crackers, cookies and bird’s nest beverages, or specific things chosen by the customers.
Tho says corporate customers every year order dozens of gift baskets for the favourite clients and associates.
“If they want to order a large number of gift baskets, they can contact our wholesale staff,” Tho said, adding there’s free delivery for a minimum order of 10 baskets. Some basket configurations cost more than $100.
Consistent best sellers in Chinese New Year tradition are tangerines. Tho says Lucky differentiates with the Kino tangerines, which are grown in Pakistan and arrive via Singapore.
“The local market offers Thai honey tangerines, so we differentiate by bringing in the Kino tangerines.”
In addition to selling tons of tangerines, beer and liquor are also part of the gift-giving tradition.
“We have a promotion with Kingdom Brewery that when a customer buys a case of bottles, we give them a free case in cans.”
Tho says Chinese New Year is about cooking, with big families coming together, so Lucky promotes cooking sauce brands like Lee Kum Kee and discounts on cooking oil brands such as Sunbeam.
“People can get their premium sauces from us and good prices on cooking oil,” she said. “During this occasion, Chinese people will do a lot of gift giving.”
In addition to the gift baskets and tangerines, Lucky also sells the red envelopes that people use to give pocket money.
“We decorate the stores with Chinese New Year themes,” she said.
The two busiest Lucky supermarkets are the Sorya and Sihanouk locations, which are nearly the same in terms of traffic, according to Tho.
In March 2012, Lucky merged with Dairy Farm International, which acquired 70 per cent of the company. Dairy Farm is part of the Hong Kong-headquartered Jardine Matheson group of companies, which merged both with the supermarket and the Lucky fast food outlets. The original Lucky owners retained ownership of their upstairs department store.
Tho is happy with the results of the merger.
“Since the merger we have stability of supply, consistency in terms of stocks, more fresh dairy products, and more imported fresh produce,” she said.
Now there are seven Lucky supermarkets, with plans to open two more this year, one in April at the new Happiness Mall shopping mall across the Japanese Bridge. Another Lucky just opened at the Tonle Bassac community in December, preceded by the opening of the Lucky at Ratana Plaza on 11-11-11.
To contact the reporter on this story: Stuart Alan Becker at [email protected]


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The EFF called off the protests after a meeting with Clicks and the promise of bursaries and sanitary towels.
Durban – Retail giant, Clicks, has agreed to give bursaries to five black students to pursue qualification in the pharmaceutical industry next year, furthermore, Clicks has also agreed to donating a minimum of 50 000 sanitary pads, santisers and masks to rural and informal settlements. This is according to the Economic Freedom Fighters, following a meeting between the two earlier on Thursday.
The meet comes on the back of protests around the country following a hair advert by Tresemmé which called black women’s hair dry, damaged, frizzy and dull.
The EFF’s Vuyani Pambo, said both parties agreed that the advert was offensive and racist.
“The EFF made it clear that the days of apologies and sorry are over and that there must be consequences for racism,” he said.
He added that Clicks had expressed its remorse to all South Africans, black women, in particular for the advert.
“Clicks will withdraw all Tresemmé SA products from all its stores and replace them with locally produced products,” he said.
“The EFF will work with law enforcement agencies to ensure that agent provocateurs involved in the vandalism of Clicks stores are brought to book,” Pambo added.
He said the matter has now been put to rest and further discussions around transformation within Clicks relating to procurement, empowerment, employment equity, localisation and diversification of supplier base, will be held.
“The EFF calls off all protest action at all Clicks stores with immediate effect. All Clicks stores can now resume normal operations,” he said.

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Online gambling in Germany is booming since Casino Wiesbaden, a Frankfurt based online gambling company, launched its first ever online offering of live roulette on February 16th.
Via webcam, British players who play online can play Internet roulette from Germany. With this new technology, players can now play live and interactive roulette from the comfort of their own homes.
In order to play, players are required to register. After registering, players will have the chance to place bets on the roulette table through their computers. They can also keep track of the roulette results and watch the croupier via webcams.
According to Casino Wiesbaden, they hold the sole state license to offer online roulette via webcam.
Players can play at 2 roulette tables that have authentic wheels and it is available online from 11:00 AM to 3:00 AM local time.
According to Thomas Freiherr von Stenglin, CEO of Casino Wiesbaden, everything in their live roulette is real and the only difference is that players are sitting in their homes and using their computers instead of playing inside a casino.
He added that Casino Wiesbaden is excited to welcome British players and roulette enthusiasts to live roulette.
March 20, 2007


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Bess forges alliance for Fossfill
December 9, 2002,
Philadelphia — Fossfill, a synthetic, down-like fiber that has already been used in the medical and hospitality industries, is now available as decorative pillow inserts through a licensing agreement with Bess Mfg.
A patented fiber from Denmark, Fossfill has been in the U.S. market for 10 years, said Gary Romanik, ceo and president, Murtex Fiber Systems, Pico Rivera, CA, which has the license for the product in the U.S. and has forged the alliance with Bess. Europeans have used the fiber for such items as high-end seat cushions, he added.
"It fits in nicely with our line," said Tom Klenert, president, Bess. "It's a step above down — with better performance." He estimated that a decorative pillow with a Fossfill insert would cost about $1 more than one with down — which, he noted, would typically consist of only 5 percent down and 95 percent feather. Fossfill is available in any of Bess' products, though not the low-end, where price sensitivity is an issue, he said.
The products will target the specialty and department stores, Klenert added, and will include a separate, informational Fossfill hang tag.
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Live From New York: Fashion Comes Across the Pond
Home & Textiles Today eDaily


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All Articles Tagged "credit card fees"
Everybody knows the perils of credit card scams that try to lure young college students into debt on campus. But what you might not know is that many colleges are also in on the scams. According to the Associated Press, there are as many as 900 colleges opting to use credit card companies to handle student financial aid money. These payment cards come with heavy fees that benefit both the college and the bank sometimes through secretive deals. A report obtained by the AP reveals that these financial gains are sometime even in violation of federal law.
“They sold it as a faster, cheaper way for the college to get students their money,” Parker-Milligan, the student body president at Lane Community College in Eugene, Oregon said to MSNBC. “It may be cheaper for the college, but it’s not cheaper for the students.”
Higher One is one of those companies accused of baiting students into debt. The company has agreements with 520 campuses that enroll over 5.3 million students, that’s one-fifth of the entire enrolled student population. The report also shows that combined, Wells Fargo and US Bank have deals with schools that enroll 3.7 million students. Higher One charges fees $50 for an account that is overdrawn more than 45 days, $10 per month if the account remains inactive for six months, $29038 for overdrawing with a recurring bill payment and 50 cents each time a PIN is used instead of a signature at a store.
In response, the company’s Chief Operating Officer Miles Lasate says that Higher One is, “committed to providing good value accounts that are designed for college students.”
Despite the company’s claim of good intentions, these fees are adding up to the mountain of debt many students already face from loans. According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, U.S. student debt has reached $1 trillion.
Credit cards aren’t free. In fact, if you’re not careful, your credit cards can bury you under an avalanche of fees. Some of them can’t be avoided, but many of them can. You just have to know where to look and what to do.
Every credit card company charges interest fees on the purchases you make–it’s how they make a profit lending you money. However, most of them only apply interest to your balance if you carry it over from one month to the next. If you pay your balance off at the end of each month, you can go interest fees altogether.
(Wall Street Journal) — After this month’s crisis in Japan, the Red Cross raised tens of millions of dollars via credit-card donations. In response to the tragedy, Visa, MasterCard and American Express waived their credit-card fees, bringing the organization more than $1 million in additional funds.This goodwill gesture masks an ugly reality: Our growing love affair with credit cards, especially rewards cards, carries a real cost for our charities, which wind up footing the bill for our card fees. Retailers can adjust their prices to cover fee expenses. That isn’t an option for charities, religious groups and other nonprofits, which usually can’t pass along the fees because of rigid credit-card rules. Card transaction fees have long been embroiled in controversy. The Federal Reserve, prompted by last year’s Dodd-Frank financial-overhaul law, has proposed capping debit-card fees at 12 cents a transaction from an average of 44 cents now. Banks are up in arms over the proposal, saying that cutting the fees will lead to limits or new consumer charges on debit-card use.
(Kansas City Star) — Almost everyone who has traveled overseas and made purchases with a credit card has been stung by currency conversion fees, a charge for changing dollars into the local currency. If you want to avoid the fees, one card stands out: Capital One Visa. According to Greg McBride, senior financial analyst at personal finance website Bankrate.com, Capital One charges nothing for foreign credit card purchases, debit card purchases and credit card cash advances.
(Wall Street Journal) — The nation’s new consumer watchdog agency, the subject of much banking-industry angst, plans to release a report Tuesday with some favorable news about giant credit-card issuers: Banks have eased up on credit-card rate increases and turned more consumer-friendly over the past year.
“Leaders in the industry deserve credit for moving in the right direction,” Elizabeth Warren, a White House adviser in charge of setting up the new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, plans to say in remarks prepared for a Tuesday credit-card conference. Ms. Warren said that “much of the industry has gone further than the law requires in curbing repricing and overlimit fees.” The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau report represents the agency’s first research on the credit-card market.
(New York Times) — Last summer, the Senate, while debating what eventually became the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, took a stab at reining in fees for debit and credit cards. The amendment, proposed by Illinois Democratic Senator package Durbin, would have ended the card networks’ practice of preventing merchants from using incentives to steer customers toward other credit cards and credit card brands. When the bill reached the president’s desk, however, that provision had been replaced by one that allows merchants to offer discounts only for certain forms of payment.
(Wall Street Journal) – Regulars at Peter Luger Inc., the iconic steakhouse in Brooklyn, N.Y., know the drill. If they’re not toting cash or the restaurant’s own credit card, they’ll have to run to the nearest cash machine when it’s time to pay the bill. The steakhouse, like a number of small businesses, has long refused to take credit because of high interchange or “swipe” fees paid to card companies and banks.
(CNN Money) – Most credit card penalties will be limited to $25, and fees for customers who don’t use their cards will be eliminated under rules released Tuesday by the Federal Reserve. The Fed also ordered a review of all credit card interest rate hikes imposed since January 2009, including most of the record increases that came in the wake of a nationwide cutback on credit.


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Celebrity Chef Paula Deen will sign copies of her new cookbook in Waco on Saturday, April 8.
The book, titled Favorite Recipes of the Lady & Her Friends, includes more than 390 recipes -- 150 of which have never appeared in her other cookbooks. She originally self-published a mere 5,000 copies of the book in 1997. The copies were sold at Deen's Georgia restaurant. But, the book was never available in bookstores. In fact, one copy on Amazon is on sale for $999, a publicist said.
The 240 page cookbook will be on sale at Barnes & Noble beginning Tuesday. It will be $24.95 in store, but you can pre-order online Monday for $17.30. It was unclear if the book would be shipped in time for the signing, for those who ordered online.
Deen will sign copies at the Waco Barnes & Noble located at 4909 W. Waco Dr. from 7-9 p.m.
She will also visit Fort Hood's Clear Creek Exchange Friday, April 7 to sign books on post from 4-6 p.m.


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Tickets for Electric Picnic 2024 have sold out, it has been confirmed.
Organisers for the festival have announced this news in a statement, where they said that the tickets were "snapped in under an hour".
“Loyalty tickets and general admission tickets for Electric Picnic 2024 went on sale on Ticketmaster this morning at 9am,” they said. “Tickets for next year’s event were snapped up in under an hour by Electric Picnic fans. All general admission, family camping and campervan and loyalty tickets are now sold out”.
Next year's festival will take place on August 16-18, two weeks earlier than the traditional date, marking 20 years since of the Stradbally event.
WOW!✨ Just like that, Electric Picnic 2024 is COMPLETELY sold out! 🥳✨— Electric Picnic (@EPfestival) September 8, 2023
If you managed to secure a golden ticket, we’ll see you in Stradbally next year! 🎪✨ We can hardly wait! 🥰#EP24 #ElectricPicnic pic.twitter.com/7N5aDMFrwH


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In markets where widespread internet access has long been a factor, ecommerce appears to be growing steadily.
But in other markets around the world, ecommerce is growing at an eye-popping rate. And this is something payment facilitators should be taking a look at, according to Steve Villegas, vice president, Partner Management, at PPRO.
PPRO enables alternative payment methods for merchants and other payment service providers.
According to the PPRO Payments & E-Commerce Report: High-Growth Markets 2018, published by the company earlier this year, emerging markets in Asia, Latin America and the Middle East are seeing their ecommerce markets grow at rates well into the double digits.
The highest-growth market listed in the report was Indonesia, where ecommerce is growing at 78% a year. According to the report, online sales in that country account for only 2.4% of retail sales. Internet penetration, on the other hand, is 40% – leaving plenty of room for ecommerce to grow.
Other rapidly growing markets in the report include Colombia, the Philippines, and Mexico, where ecommerce is growing at 59% a year.
While these markets may not be relevant for every payment facilitator, there are those who might find a natural fit, Villegas told PaymentFacilitator.
“The payment facilitator has to ask themselves, ‘do any of my clients or the services I’m supporting for merchants have consumers that are coming across a border or that are foreign nationals or tourists?’” Villegas said.
Those PFs that have a significant international component to their business should explore ways to make transactions easier for those end users, Villegas said. One way to do that is by supporting local payment methods from other countries.
He used foreign students as an example. It can be difficult for many of those students from other countries who are attending school in the U.S. to open bank accounts or get a credit card, he said. Many instead use methods such as prepaid cards.
But the growth of internet access enabled by mobile phone adoption in emerging markets means that many of those students have become accustomed to using their local payment methods online, as well as in traditional local retail locations. The biggest examples of these would be e-wallet payment methods WeChat Pay and Alipay, out of China.
“Local payment schemes modify to support ecommerce as well,” Villegas said. “So, it becomes a natural inclination for that consumer to pay how they’ve been paying and not try to change anything about how they’re doing it today.”
Payment facilitators who are supporting services used by international students might be able to grow their transaction volume by offering payment methods those students are used to using, Villegas said.
In the end, he said, “it’s not for every payment facilitator. But it is for everyone to consider.”


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Fast-moving consumer goods company, Hindustan Unilever Ltd (HUL) has recently acquired Glenmark, which is an intimate hygiene brand.
HUL has inked a concord with Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd to buy its woman-focussed hygiene brand-VWash, VC Circle reported.
As part of the agreement, HUL will acquire VWashs business, the brand, trademarks, copyrights, and other associated know-how, VC Circle reported citing HULs official statement.
The acquisition is in line with HULs strategic intention of entering fast-growing segments in the premium beauty and personal care space and will also help the firm to enter the female-focused hygiene segment, the company said in its statement.
We look forward to completing the acquisition and strongly believe HUL is well-positioned to further scale up this business, given the strength of our market development and distribution capabilities, Sanjiv Mehta, Chairman, and Managing Director at HUL, said in an interview with VC Circle.
In another official statement, the Mumbai-headquartered company, Glenmark said it would get advance payment for the sale and sales royalties for 3 years, reported the cited media agency.
The decision to sell VWash was in line with its strategy of focussing on its core areas. Some of these focus areas for Glenmark include respiratory, dermatology and oncology, Glenmark president of India formulations, Middle East and Africa, Sujesh Vasudevan, said in an interview with the cited media agency.


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RIL, Future Retail: Reliance Industries announced the acquisition of Future Group for Rs 24,713 crore to bolster its fast growing retail business. Through the deal, Reliance will acquire Future Retail that owns the BigBazaar that sells everything from groceries to cosmetics and apparel, and Future Lifestyle Fashions that operates fashion discount chain Brand Factory.
GAIL: State-owned GAIL India is eyeing expansion in petrochemicals, specialty chemicals and renewables to supplement growth in its core business of natural gas marketing and transportation.
Jubilant FoodWorks: Jubilant FoodWorks, which operates Dunkin’ Donuts chain in India, has piloted a smaller sized kiosk model for the coffee and baked goods chain in the country and is evaluating opportunities to scale up through the new format.
DCM Shriram: Business conglomerate DCM Shriram's arm Fenesta has invested around Rs 25 crore to set up a factory in Bhiwadi, Rajasthan for manufacturing of aluminium windows and doors as it seeks to expand portfolio and gain market share.
Hindustan Zinc: Vedanta Group firm Hindustan Zinc Ltd (HZL) has begun a detailed exercise for the next phase of expansion and is focussed on creating a long-term sustainable value for stakeholders, according to its annual report.
Tata Consumer: The company believes there is enough headroom to grow in staples and packaged food space and the company is now expanding the offline reach of its spices and pulses brand Sampann. The company is taking advantage of commodity spaces and driving conversion from unbranded to branded across beverages and foods, according to PTI.
Adani Ports: Promoters of Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone have pledged 206.09 lakh shares of the company in favour of Credit Suisse AG to raise Rs 430 crore for a group company, according to a regulatory filing.
Suzlon Energy: Suzlon Energy reported widening of its consolidated net loss to Rs 398.86 crore in the April-June quarter compared to the year-ago period mainly due to lower revenues. The consolidated net loss of the company was Rs 336.88 crore in the quarter ended on June 30, 2019, a BSE filing said.
NMDC: NMDC approved the demerger of its upcoming three million tonne per annum capacity steel plant in Chhattisgarh, the PSU has said. “The Board of Directors of the company at their meeting held on Thursday the 27th August 2020, inter-alia, have accorded in-principle approval to the proposal to demerge its NMDC Ironand Steel Plant (NISP), Nagarnar, Chhattisgarh," NMDC said in a filing with stock exchanges on Friday.
Wockhardt: The company on Saturday reported a consolidated net profit of Rs 759.75 crore for June quarter mainly on account of exceptional items in connection with the transfer of a business comprising 62 products and Baddi facility to Dr Reddy's Laboratories. It had posted a net loss of Rs 36.88 crore for April-June 2019-20.
Adani Enterprises: Adani Enterprises said its promoter SB Adani Family Trust has pledged 5 lakh shares of the firm in favour of SBICAP Trustee Company Ltd for security against borrowing of Rs 500 crore from the State Bank of India (SBI).
RBL Bank: Private sector RBL Bank said its Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Vishwavir Ahuja has sold shares worth over Rs 38.5 crore in the bank, mainly to service personal debt and meet family commitments.
ITC: Diversified business entity ITC said it is considering merger of its three wholly-owned subsidiaries - Sunrise Foods, Hobbits International Foods and Sunrise Sheetgrah - with itself.
Indiabulls Ventures: The company said it will raise Rs 588 crore by issuing preferential shares to certain foreign investors.
Uniply, Shre Renuka: More than 100 companies are slated to report their June quarter results on Monday. Some of the companies in the list included Uniply Industries, Prozone Intu Properties, Shree Renuka Sugars, Prakash Industries and GNFC
- Front Page
- Pure Politics
- Brands & Companies
- Adani Enterprises Board OKs Raising up to ₹20kcr Via FPO
Adani Enterprises said Friday that the company’s board approved the raising of up to ₹20,000 crore ($2.5 billion) through a follow-on public offering (FPO) by issuing new shares to retail and institutional investors.All Aboard Black Friday Express — From US to India
Samsung, Amazon, Uniqlo and Domino’s were among several companies looking to turn Black Friday, yesterday, into another big sale day in India.Slew of Reforms brings Ease to Insurers
The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) allowed private equity funds to invest directly in insurance companies and banks to tie up with as many as nine insurance companies as part of several measures approved at its meeting on Friday that will free up about ₹3,500 crore capital.
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AT&T exec attempts to cool rumors of tiered iPhone data plans
The comments from Ralph de la Vega, president and CEO of mobility and consumer markets, came just a week after the AT&T official said the company would likely provide incentives to encourage bandwidth-hogging customers to "reduce or modify their usage." What kind of incentives were never made clear, though de la Vega said it is inevitable that high-bandwidth users will be charged for what they consume.
Those comments fueled speculation that the company could move away from its current unlimited data plan available for iPhone users. But in an interview with The Wall Street Journal, de la Vega said his company has no intentions to do so.
"We have not made any decision to implement tiered pricing," he reportedly said.
Instead, AT&T plans to make more free Wi-Fi hotspots available for mobile customers. The feature was introduced last year to great success. Following the introduction of iPhone OS 3.0, AT&T saw 15 million users connect to its Wi-Fi network in one quarter alone this year. The company offers more than 20,000 hotspots.
AT&T also noted it is investing in "femtocells" that use a home Internet connection and serve as a mini cellular tower. That product was tested earlier this year in Charlotte, N.C. The device reportedly offers 3.2Mbit/sec 3G service to users in their home.
Through both of these methods, AT&T hopes it can relieve some of the pressure on its network that has caused issues. Issues with dropped calls and spotty reception have led to bad publicity for the carrier, which market leader Verizon has attempted to capitalize on with a series of advertisements.
Earlier this year, the iPhone was referred to as the "Hummer of cellphones" as AT&T's network struggled following the launch of the iPhone 3GS. A report said that the average iPhone user consumes 10 times the bandwidth of a typical smartphone user. Last week, de la Vega noted that 40 percent of AT&T's network capacity is consumed by just 3 percent of smartphone users.


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A Tiger Town ad gushing about the friendliness of Georgia Bulldog fans appeared in an Athens, Ga., newspaper this week, and it has gone viral.
It turns out the message was paid for by Tom Atkins, who is pulling out the stops to brand Columbia as “Tiger Town USA.”
The ad ran in the print and online editions of the Athens Banner-Herald, a local community newspaper.
It read: “Our thanks to all of you Georgia Bulldog fans! What a terrific bunch of visitors you were — friendly, gracious and fun. We don’t like to lose around here, but both of our teams played an undeniably exciting and awesome game!
You gave us an unforgettable first game in the SEC, and we thank you for that. We hope you enjoyed your visit to mid-Missouri, and look forward to seeing you next time."
Best wishes from the fans & residents of Tiger Town, USA."
Atkins said he arranged for the ad to "get the name (Tiger Town) out there."
He said he was unaware of the stir his advertisement had caused on sports blogs and newspapers.
Joel Provano, an editor with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, referred to the ad on the newspaper's sports blog:
"Nice. But can you imagine Auburn or Tennessee fans taking out such an ad after a loss to Georgia? Can you see Georgia fans taking out an ad in the The Alligator thanking Florida fans for a fun time in Jacksonville after a loss?
Clearly, Mizzou needs to step up the hostility a notch if they’re going to be a real SEC team.”
Nearly three hundred people commented on the post, some defending the move as a sign of Midwestern manners.
“Sounds like you could learn a thing or two from Mizzou, Mr. Provano," one comment noted.


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Order your glow up like you would your groceries.
Sephora is partnering with online grocery delivery and pick-up service Instacart to bring customers beauty products in as fast as an hour from local retail stores across the country, Instacart announced Thursday.
Customers will now be able to access Sephora's selection of makeup, skin care, hair care, fragrances and beauty tools delivered for the same price as in-store, via Instacart's online marketplace. Beauty fans will also be able to earn points toward rewards on orders placed through Sephora’s Beauty Insider program.
The ordering service through Instacart starts Thursday in select stores across California and Canada, with plans to expand to more than 400 stores nationwide in the coming weeks, the company said.
The coronavirus pandemic has motivated retailers to make same-day delivery and online shopping more convenient than ever, as retail stores enforce capacity limits and fewer people venture out to shop. In recent weeks, Instacart also partnered with convenience stores and retailers such as 7-Eleven, Costco, Staples and Petco.
|LVMUY||LVMH MOËT HENNESSY LOUIS VUITTON SE||154.32||-1.39||-0.89%|
LVMH-owned Sephora reopened select stores in May after nationwide closures. However, it changed up its retail landscape with more health and safety measures, like mandating employees wear face masks, contactless payment methods, routine temperature checks for workers and no makeup or perfume testers in stores.
Online sales reached $63 billion in the month of August and totaled $497 billion for the first eight months of 2020, according to analytics from Adobe as reported by Digital Commerce 360, which said the pandemic has fueled consumers to spend an extra $107 billion online.


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The Aston Martin (LSE:AML) share price skipped higher last week on the back of some fairly encouraging earnings. In fact, this latest boost has pushed the stock’s 12-month return to an impressive 64%. Considering the company was on the verge of bankruptcy in 2020, that’s quite a remarkable comeback, in my opinion.
So, what has the progress been like over the past quarter? And is now the time to buy some shares for my portfolio?
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The Aston Martin share price versus earnings
The famous British car manufacturer made an impressive return following the release of its DBX model. This SUV has a pretty hefty price tag. And yet, it proved to be immensely popular, reviving the firm’s revenue stream in a rather explosive way.
Over the last nine months, Aston Martin shipped 4,250 cars to wholesalers, 2,186 of which were the DBX model. Consequently, revenue over the period has almost tripped, jumping from £270m last year to £736.4m today. This surge has pushed the group closer to profitability, with pre-tax losses since the start of 2021 falling by almost 40%. And at the same time, net debt has also been cut by around £60m.
Needless to say, this is fantastic news for Aston Martin and its share price. Even more so, given management estimates that 6,000 vehicles will be shipped by the end of 2021, along with an updated DBX model launching by mid-2022.
But despite this encouraging report, the stock only moved by around 3% on the news. So, the question is, why did the market have such a muted response?
Borrowing costs are rising
While Aston Martin’s income statement is seemingly making a stellar comeback, the balance sheet still needs some work. The firm’s level of debt is causing some uncertainty among investors, especially since its net adjusted financing costs came in £54m higher than a year ago. This resulted in losses for the most recent quarter, rising from £80.5m in 2020 to £97.9m.
These rising costs are a direct outcome of management refinancing some of its debt. And chief financial officer Kenneth Gregor admitted that interest payments on the firm’s obligations will likely remain substantial until 2023. With that in mind, I think the lacklustre lift in Aston Martin’s share price is pretty understandable.
The bottom line
This latest earnings report is yet another piece of evidence to suggest the worst is over for this business. Despite supply chain disruptions, Aston Martin seems to be getting its cars out of the factories and onto customers’ driveways. And depending on whether the long-anticipated £2.5m Valkyrie hypercar makes its planned debut next quarter, the company may even return to profitability before the end of the year.
This would undoubtedly be fantastic news for the Aston Martin share price. And the recent lacklustre response could indicate the stock is currently undervalued. But having said that, the jump in financing costs combined with increased interest payments does give me pause. Therefore, I’m keeping this business on my watchlist, for now.


text: Last night Zumiez kicked off it's annual 100k event in Key Stone, Colorado. The Everett, Washington based retailer flew more than 1100+ store employees and over 50+ members of the home office staff to snowboard and celebrate another great year of strong sales. Employees who sold over $100,000 in the past year received the all-expense paid trip as a reward for their hard work. A welcome party was held for attendees last night and was followed by a day of snowboarding (today). The 2 day event will conclude this evening with the Grand Finale/ Awards ceremony that will no doubt include special guest appearances and lavish prizes from many of the action sports brands carried by the retailer. Stay tuned! More details (and pics) to follow.


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Dragon Fruit Info
DFNet Newsletter 18
In this Issue
This issue lists nine latest publications on dragon fruits and other tropical fruits including the study on e-commerce in wholesale markets. The latest news highlight China’s bans on Vietnam’s dragon fruit imports, Vietnam’s coping strategy and the plan to diversify the dragon fruit markets. Malaysian durian exports to China are also reported.
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Acuity Brands expanded its minority stake in Renaissance Lighting acquiring the remaining outstanding capital stock for an undisclosed cash payment. The deal gives Acuity outright ownership of Renaissance's luminaire line and extensive intellectual property portfolio related to LED-based optical technology. Acuity also announced a separate intellectual property acquisition including patents that had been exclusively licensed to Renaissance.
Acuity had previously invested $9.1 million in Renaissance and received a license to certain intellectual property including the Constructive Occlusion optical system that is used in the Gotham (an Acuity Brand) Ecos downlight luminaire family. Now Acuity will have full access to Renaissance's LED-based solid-state lighting (SSL) portfolio.
"The acquisition of Renaissance and the purchase of related intellectual property support the Company's strategy to deliver superior, technologically-advanced lighting solutions," said Vernon J. Nagel, Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Acuity Brands. "This acquisition will extend our innovation capabilities in solid-state lighting and controls, enabling Acuity Brands to continue to deliver leading-edge lighting solutions to the market."
Acuity did not reveal the name of the company from which it acquired the intellectual property that had been previously licensed to Renaissance. It did say that the acquisition would add to its capabilities in the sensor and adaptive controls area.
The announcement of the acquisition didn't specify how Renaissance would be integrated into Accuity Brands, but it will likely join the roster of individual brands that live under the Acuity Brands Lighting banner. Presently, that roster includes Lithonia Lighting, Peerless, American Electric Lighting, Gotham, Roam and several more.
"The merger into Acuity Brands is a tremendous opportunity to broaden the impact of Renaissance's technology as it is showcased in Acuity Brands' expansive lighting and controls portfolio," said Barry Weinbaum, Chief Executive Officer of Renaissance Lighting. "Since its inception in 2005, Renaissance has amassed a high-caliber team with exceptional vision about the future of lighting and has developed a patent portfolio to foster the realization of that vision."


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As consumers increasingly shop online, retailers are changing how they interact with their customers. Customers are expecting the option of picking up their purchases or having them delivered with expediency and convenience, similar to how they were able to buy the product with just a few clicks.
Retailers recognize they need to feel as if they’re physically close to their customers, according to Los Angeles commercial real estate executives.
Access to the customer was the major factor in Amazon’s decision to acquire Whole Foods. “About 80 percent of Walmart’s real estate is within 15 minutes of 90 percent of the U.S. population,” says Jon Reno, SIOR, senior vice president and managing partner, Kidder Mathews. “Amazon doesn’t have that, and they know that. They’re trying to get there, but that’s where Walmart has its competitive advantage.”
For the full story, go to the L.A. Biz.
©2018 American City Business Journals. All rights reserved.


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US-based sustainable sneaker brand Allbirds sources one of its core materials from South Africa. The Allbirds running shoes launched last week, Tree Runners, features an upper made from eucalyptus from South African farms.
“This fibre is one of the most sustainable materials on the planet,” said Joey Zwillinger, co-founder of the company, speaking to the New Yorker.
Put some spring in your step – not only do we have a whole new material that launched today, we also have a new silhouette! Introducing the Tree Skipper – it’s our modern take on the classic boat shoe that’ll fit in naturally down on the dock or out to dinner! #weareallbirds pic.twitter.com/49tMXyqdMl
— Allbirds (@Allbirds) March 15, 2018
The eucalyptus is farmed locally, using no irrigation. Allbirds dissolves the wood pulp in a non-toxic bath to convert it into tufts of fibre called Tencel.
“Our tree fibre—TENCEL™ Lyocell—is sourced from South African farms that minimise fertiliser and rely on rainfall, not irrigation,” the company says on its website. “Compared to traditional materials like cotton, it uses 95% less water and cuts our carbon footprint in half.”
READ MORE: How to make your sneakers last longer
Allbirds is Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified, the body responsible for responsible forest management. “FSC ensures that we’re not only protecting forests, but the people, wildlife, and ecosystems that depend on them.”
Other parts of the Tree Runner is also sustainable: the laces are made from recycled plastic bottles, the insole is made from caster beans, and the eyelets are based on plant starch.
Our recipe for the Tree Runner and Tree Skipper. Made from ingredients like eucalyptus fiber, castor beans, post-consumer recycled water bottles, plant sugars, and recycled cardboard (for our boxes)! pic.twitter.com/NLn7gXzyRy
— Allbirds (@Allbirds) March 19, 2018
According to the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI), eucalyptus is a diverse genus of flowering trees and shrubs belonging to the myrtle family Myrtaceae. It is not indigenous to South Africa.
“Outside their natural ranges, eucalypts are both lauded for their beneficial economic impact and criticised for being ‘water-guzzling’ invasive aliens, leading to controversy over their total impact,” says SANBI.


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New Delhi: BMW Group has posted its best-ever first half of the year sales with 12,52,837 units sold between January-June 2019, marking 0.8% growth compared to the same period last year, says the German company in a release.
This success bucks the overall sales slowdown trend in the global automobile market. The automobile group also claims that BMW itself has experienced its best-ever June sales with 203,523 units marking 1.4% growth compared to the same month last year.
In the first six months of 2019, BMW sold 10,75,959 units of luxury vehicles registering 1.6% growth compared to the same period in 2018. The company says that this sales success has been achieved despite ongoing volatility in several markets across the world.
BMW i3 electric hatchback has seen 21.2% growth in the first half of the year. BMW i sales increased by 22% in the first half of the year. Sales of the BMW 5 Series plug-in hybrid models increased by 43.4% during January-June 2019, while deliveries of the plug-in hybrid Mini Cooper SE Countryman ALL4 increased by 55.8%.
BMW Group sales in/ytd June 2019 at a glance
In June 2019
Compared with previous year %
Compared with previous year %
BMW Group Automotive
BMW Group electrified*
*BMW i, BMW iPerformance, MINI Electric
Mini Electric saw more than 40,000 customers already registered interest in the car, with its production scheduled to start on November 2019.
Rolls-Royce, another British luxury carmaker owned by BMW Group, delivered 2,534 cars to customers across the globe in the first half of 2019, marking 42.3% growth.
In China, where several automakers have faced strong headwinds affecting the overall global sales, BMW has been able to buck the trend by posting 21.8% YoY growth in June 2019. In the USA and Germany, the Bavarian auto giant recorded 7.5% and 0.5% growth respectively.
Speaking about this sales performance, Pieter Nota, member of the BMW AG Board of Management responsible for Customer, Brands and Sales, said, "Our model rollout is clearly having a positive impact on our sales result, with our exciting new vehicles getting very positive feedback from customers. In the first half-year, we were able to counter the trend and grow sales above market, thereby gaining further market share."
He also said, "For the first time ever, we have delivered more than 1.25 million vehicles in the first half of the year. Our new X family vehicles are more popular than ever, with sales up 23.1% compared to the first half of last year. And as we saw at our #NEXTGen event in June, where we celebrated six innovative world premieres, there is plenty more to come.”
The new or facelifted BMW X range SUVs continue to be the brand’s biggest growth drivers, with global sales of the BMW X2 up by 19.1% in June, while sales of the BMW X3 increased by 66.6%, says the company.
Deliveries of the BMW X4 SUV increased by 70.8%, while in less than three months after market launch, BMW X7 sold 13,555 units around the world.
During January-June 2019 period, a total of 467,134 BMW X range of SUVs were delivered to the customers worldwide, contributing 43.4% to the brand’s overall sales, reveals the automaker. The was just 35.8% in the same period last year.
On the other hand, BMW Motorrad has registered 93,188 units sales in the first six months of 2019 marking 7.1% growth, while the two-wheeler manufacturer sold 18,230 units in June 2019, 7.4% higher than the same month last year, claims the BMW Group's media release.
Under the agreement, the homegrown automaker will pay over INR 725 crore and the acquisition includes entire land & buildings, Vehicle Manufacturing Plant along with machinery and equipment situated therein; and (iii) transfer of all eligible employees of FIPL’s vehicle manufacturing operations at Sanand.
The company will stop producing Jazz after October 2022 while the crossover WR-V will not be produced beyond March 2023. The carmaker will also stop the production and sale of the 4th Generation Honda City by December 2022 in the country. However, the 5th generation of the sedan will continue to be available in the market, a source in the know of things told ETAuto.


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WISeKey International Holding Ltd (SIX: WIHN, NASDAQ: WKEY), a Swiss based cyber security, IoT, AI platform company, today announced that it is helping Governments prepare for the Metaverse. Recent developments have forced governments around the world to take steps to quickly understand how Metaverse, this new frontier of innovation, is challenging the traditional conception of Sovereignty.
With data being stored virtually on the Metaverse anywhere in the world and government employees and citizens using information technology systems that are hosted and operated from anywhere (even outside of their jurisdiction), the expected sovereign rights over that date on the Metaverse needs to be reconsidered. Many information technology companies are telling governments that that their versions of the Metaverse will be enough to ensure sovereignty over their data and citizens. Others are stating that new legislation is needed to protect citizens. All in all, the solutions they propose are partial and unsatisfactory.
WISeKey, has been at the forefront of balancing technology, law, policy, and geopolitics from its headquarters in Switzerland for over 23 years. Over the years, WISeKey has developed solutions to the problems of State sovereignty and the challenges brought on by technology, including now the metaverse, that can be defined as a virtual world where citizens can exist simultaneously and interact in infinite ways with their government services and among themselves. Citizens can use their digital identities to conduct Metaverse-government transactions like, voting, pay their taxes, get married, while they also run private activities such as work, meet, collaborate, shop, stroll, watch movies and concerts, and do almost anything else they could do in the real world.
WISeKey has recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Seychelles, represented by the Department of Information Communications Technology (DICT), to initiate a pilot project for the development of an innovative Digital Identity platform for Seychelles. The Digital Identity platform is expected to be integrated with different national initiatives especially the eGovernment and potentially eTourism and eHealth. Last year WISeKey also signed two MoUs with the Government of Gibraltar and the Mayor of La Línea de la Concepción, for the development of a joint 4th Industrial Revolution Center of Excellence (LLG 4IR Center of Excellence)spearheading innovation in the region with the objective to build a collaborative metaverse.
The metaverse is a great way for governments to interact with their citizens and the next step in the evolution of the internet from a two-dimensional interactive to a three-dimensional immersive experience. Governments should take the future opportunity represented by the metaverse seriously. The metaverse will present entirely new ways, for example, to create employment, impart education, deliver healthcare, and plan urban spaces. It will be the next major labor organizing platform. New organizations, products, and services will handle everything from payment processing to identity verification, hiring, ad delivery, content generation, and security. The Metaverse is based on Web 3.0, also known as the decentralized web, is an evolution of the Internet that allows users to interact with each other in a more secure and private way. It does this by using blockchain technology to create a peer-to-peer network where users can transact without relying on intermediaries. This makes it ideal for developing virtual worlds, as it provides a platform for users to interact without fear of censorship or data theft.
WISeKey is teaming with governments to facilitate services related to the complex regulatory issues that a metaverse would present and establishing MoUs allowing the governments to test the technology and participate in working groups on anticipatory regulation commissioning research on the regulation process that would become necessary and collaborate with the private sector to explore regulatory approaches for a metaverse.
The company is also providing the WISeID second generation Digital Identities in Metaverse that includes an identification module that its built into the protocol, while supplementary applications will be developed. Users will have autonomy over their identity meaning that they are in full control of their personal identification information and hence need not to rely on any central entity or third party for identity verification. With a truly NFT identity, users can create, sign, and verify claims, while parties who interact with a user will be able to prove their identity. Additionally, users will be able to selectively disclose their information.
Users can establish a reputation on Metaverse through digital identities, improving the way we exchange value. Value is exchanged through digital signatures, requests for verification and transactions; these transactions then allow a user to gradually build a reputation which can be inspected and verified by other digital identities and value intermediaries. You can download your ID from WISeID.com.
WISeKey (NASDAQ: WKEY; SIX Swiss Exchange: WIHN) is a leading global cybersecurity company currently deploying large scale digital identity ecosystems for people and objects using Blockchain, AI and IoT respecting the Human as the Fulcrum of the Internet. WISeKey microprocessors secure the pervasive computing shaping today’s Internet of Everything. WISeKey IoT has an install base of over 1.6 billion microchips in virtually all IoT sectors (connected cars, smart cities, drones, agricultural sensors, anti-counterfeiting, smart lighting, servers, computers, mobile phones, crypto tokens etc.). WISeKey is uniquely positioned to be at the edge of IoT as our semiconductors produce a huge amount of Big Data that, when analyzed with Artificial Intelligence (AI), can help industrial applications to predict the failure of their equipment before it happens.


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October 19, 2013, Deposit, N.Y. – Early last month, Leonard Bus Sales announced that customers will soon have more clean-diesel school bus choices, a result of Navistar’s announcement that the IC Bus™ CE Series will be available with Cummins ISB 6.7-liter engine option. Leonard began taking orders in October for early 2014 production.
“This is big news in the school bus world, as we will now offer the broadest range of clean-diesel engine options in the industry,” said Leonard Bus Sales President Mike Leonard. “Our customers, new and existing, will be able to order school buses with a MaxxForce engine or with the Cummins ISB engine, all while getting the industry-leading support they’ve come to expect from Leonard Bus Sales.”
Customers can choose to buy CE Series buses with either the MaxxForce engines, using exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) technology, or with the Cummins ISB engine, using selective catalytic reduction (SCR) emissions after-treatment.
Navistar has had great success over the last three years utilizing the Cummins ISB 6.7-liter engine and its CE Series chassis through their Blue Diamond joint venture with Ford. The company has engineered over 20,000 units since 2010 while simultaneously exceeding warranty and quality goals.
The announcement by Navistar described the longstanding relationship between Cummins and Navistar, and highlighted the proven Cummins SCR after-treatment system, which has been the leading emissions technology since 2010 with the 2013 ISB 6.7-liter engine getting some of the best fuel economy of any engine in its class.
“We are certainly eager to take orders for the new Cummins-powered CE Series by IC Bus,” said Leonard. “Our award-winning team of professionals is looking forward to demonstrating why Leonard Bus Sales continues to be New York’s one-stop-shop for customer and vehicle support for all make and model school buses.”
More information about the announcement by Navistar can be found in their press release below:
Navistar Adds Cummins ISB for Trucks and Buses
Cummins ISB Expands Customer Offerings; Initial Production Slated for December
LISLE, Ill., Sept. 3, 2013 – Navistar International Corporation (NYSE: NAV) today announced the expansion of its medium-duty engine offerings to include the Cummins ISB 6.7-liter engine for International® DuraStar® medium-duty trucks and IC Bus™ CE Series school buses.
“Adding the proven, market accepted Cummins ISB to our line-up is a key part of our strategy to offer our customers the most comprehensive medium-duty truck and bus offerings,” said Jack Allen, Navistar executive vice president and chief operating officer. “The ISB will complement our existing engine offerings and will be a catalyst as we look to improve our medium-duty truck and bus business in 2014 and beyond.”
International DuraStar trucks and IC Bus CE Series school buses with the Cummins ISB will be Navistar’s first medium-duty vehicles with Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) emissions after-treatment. Navistar will begin taking orders immediately for trucks and buses with the Cummins ISB with initial truck builds later this month and regular production for trucks scheduled for December. Regular production for CE Series school buses is scheduled for late-January 2014.
Familiarity, Industry Acceptance of Proven Engine/Chassis Combination
“Medium-duty truck and bus customers from across the industry have extensive familiarity and confidence in the Cummins ISB. Adding it to our proven DuraStar and CE Series products, along with our industry-leading dealer network, will provide customers with a winning combination,” said Bill Kozek, Navistar president, North America Truck and Parts. “Customers seeking commonality in their engine line-up have expressed significant interest in combining the Cummins ISB engine with our chassis and we anticipate strong demand and orders as a result.”
While the Cummins ISB is a new offering for Navistar’s medium-duty trucks and buses, Navistar has gained extensive experience packaging and manufacturing medium-duty trucks with the Cummins ISB since 2010 through its Ford Blue Diamond joint venture.
The Cummins ISB allows Navistar to meet the needs of its truck and bus customers by adding a proven mid-range SCR engine to its line-up. The company will announce the next steps of its comprehensive mid-range SCR engine strategy at a later date. In the meantime, Navistar will continue to offer EGR-only versions of its mid-range engines utilizing its medium-duty emissions credits.
Long-term Partners Continue Collaboration
With more than 75 years of history and collaboration behind its partnership, Navistar and Cummins teams have worked side-by-side over the past year to launch the Cummins ISX 15-liter engine in the company’s Class 8 trucks—including the International ProStar, PayStar 5900 and 9900i models. In addition, the teams continued their close collaboration this past spring and summer as Navistar added the Cummins SCR after-treatment system to its proprietary MaxxForce 13-liter for the successful launch of ProStar, WorkStar, TranStar and PayStar models. That same level of teamwork will continue as Navistar leverages the experience and learnings gained during its heavy-duty SCR launch for its medium-duty launch with the Cummins ISB.
About Leonard Bus Sales, Inc. is owned and operated by the Leonard family, a recognized leader in the distribution and support of quality, environmentally-friendly school and commercial buses. A third generation family-owned business, Leonard Bus Sales has nearly 50 years of experience providing cost-saving fleet management and award-winning customer support. Leonard Bus Sales is a leading-distributor of IC BusTM brand buses in Upstate New York. The company also distributes Type-A school and commercial buses from Trans Tech throughout New York and Type-A commercial buses from Champion Bus in Upstate New York. The company is headquartered in Deposit, NY and operates four additional full-service facilities in Saratoga Springs, Rome, Bergen, and a Trans Tech Type-A facility in Garden City Park, N.Y. — www.leonardbus.com.


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News by Industry
Releases published in the last 30 days.
Page 1 of 1
- Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited Unveiled
- 7/19/2014 1:03:06 PM
- Amazon, who revolutionized the publishing industry several years ago with Kindle, has struck a second blow to the publishing industry with its introduction of Kindle Unlimited, a service that offers unlmited download of over 600,000 titles for only $9.99 per month. “This levels the playing field for self-published authors,” said Kenneth Eade, author of Amazon best selling …
- Author Champions the Cause of Marine Life Protection for Young Readers
- 7/17/2014 9:05:15 AM
- Simon James House , author, businessman and designer is launching his first children’s book, Andee The Aquanaut: Guardian of the Great Seas (Andee The Aquanaut Trilogy’s) (AMAZON ASIN: B00KI2GXJC). House, who divides his time between London and Sydney Australia is the president of FreeForma Apparel, a 100% Organic Street Clothing line and the creator and designer of …
- Library Collaborates with ABA to Create Traveling Facsimile Exhibition on Magna Carta
- 7/16/2014 10:54:40 AM
- The Library of Congress—which opens its on-site exhibition "Magna Carta: Muse and Mentor" in November—is joining the American Bar Association (ABA) in commemorating the 800th anniversary of the great charter by collaborating on a facsimile traveling exhibit, which will be launched Aug. 8 at the ABA Annual Meeting in Boston. ABA’s "Magna Carta: Enduring Legacy 1215-2015" will …
- "An Involuntary Spy" Cover garners second place at 2014 RONE Awards
- 7/14/2014 9:47:39 AM
- Times Square Publishing announced today that the best selling thriller, “An Involuntary Spy,” by Kenneth Eade, has been selected as a secondary winner for the best mystery/suspense cover at the 2014 RONE Awards in Las Vegas, Nevada on July 11, 2014. “An Involuntary Spy,” also nominated by Ind’Tale Magazine for a RONE Award, competed among 13 other semi-finalists in the …
- 3 Ways To Claim Your Life Back If You’re Stressed, Depressed And Dreading Mondays
- 7/7/2014 11:53:23 PM
- Employees who were stressed, depressed and dreading Mondays , were probably working in a toxic interpersonal environment that had started to take its toll on their physical and mental health. Workplace bullying expert and clinical psychologist Dr Sophie Henshaw said that she had discovered a baffling phenomenon in which targets don’t actually realise they are being …
- Americans Are Reminiscing About Historic Cars and Summer Nights at the Drive-In!
- 6/27/2014 4:09:25 PM
- Summer has arrived and people are indulging in one of America’s favorite past times: driving. This is the time of year when more people get out on the road whether they are starting a summer vacation or driving to the beach. But their interest in cars isn’t just limited to driving, but to watching racing and reminiscing about cars and summertime. “There has been a …
- New Book From Award-Winning, Relationship Experts: Lesbian Marriage: A Sex Survival Kit!
- 6/26/2014 8:46:18 AM
- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Press contact: Kristen Reyes email@example.com Prize-Winning Authors Develop the First Relationship Guide Book for Married and Soon-to-be-Married Lesbians! LESBIAN MARRIAGE: A SEX SURVIVAL KIT April 22, 2014, Pt. Reyes, CA. Lesbian Marriage: A Sex Survival Kit is a groundbreaking, taboo-smashing book for every …
- Clear View Lighting Introduces Little Book Reading Light That Packs A Punch!
- 6/26/2014 8:42:09 AM
- Anyone who’s an avid book reader knows that there’s nothing like curling up with a good book at night right before bed time. But once the lights go out, only those that have a quality book like will be able to keep reading even after everyone else has called it a night. Clear View Lighting released a handy little reading book light this week that outshines the competition …
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Stock prices rose broadly in moderate trading Thursday, as traders correctly anticipated that semiconductor giant Intel would not deliver a blow to the tentative glimmer of investor confidence.
After the close of regular Nasdaq trading, Intel said its second-quarter sales and gross profit margin would be slightly below the midpoint of the ranges it disclosed in mid-April. Intel said the second half of the year looks better. Both comments had been expected by analysts.
Separately, National Semiconductor posted a loss for its fiscal fourth quarter but said the inventory backlog of computer chips seems to be declining.
The Dow Jones industrial average rose 20.50, to 11,090.74. New York Stock Exchange volume reached 1.09 billion shares. Winning stocks held a narrow lead over losers among NYSE-listed stocks.
Intel and Microsoft led the Dow gainers. Intel rose $1.32, to $31.14, and moved higher in after-hours trading after its second-quarter forecast update. Microsoft climbed $1.32, to $73.68.
The Standard & Poor's 500 index rose 6.93, to 1276.96. The Nasdaq composite index advanced 46.27, or 2.1 percent, to 2264.00.
Retailers posted disappointing results in May, in part reflecting cold and rainy weather in much of the country.
Federated Department Stores, which owns Bloomingdale's, dropped $1.90, to $43, after the company warned of disappointing second-quarter results and said it might not meet its current-year profit goal.
Downers Grove-based retailer Spiegel said 2001 earnings per share will drop 10 percent to 15 percent below last year's level. The second half of the year will not show as much improvement as previously forecast, the company said. Shares gained 26 cents, to $8.
Sears Roebuck, based in Hoffman Estates, slipped 53 cents, to $39.99, after reporting a 3.3 percent decline in May same-store sales.
Nonetheless, analysts said the $39 billion in federal income tax rebates, to be distributed in the months ahead as part of the tax cut bill signed by President Bush on Thursday, will benefit retailers in the back-to-school buying period.
Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill said he expects the tax cut will add about three-quarters of 1 percent to the nation's economic growth rate in the second half of the year.
Philip Morris fell $1.48, to $48.52, in the wake of a $3 billion punitive damage award handed down by a California jury Wednesday in a smoking-related injury case. Analysts said the giant award could prompt more suits in California against tobacco companies.
The Russell 2000 index of small-company stocks climbed 2.19, to 514.77.
Treasury securities declined after a six-day advance.
In a continuing series of public remarks by Federal Reserve officials, Robert Parry, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, forecast economic growth of 3 percent next year, down from rates of more than 4 percent in the 1990s but up from about 1 percent this year.
Pollster Harris Interactive said its latest "feel-good index," measuring several sentiment indicators, showed that Americans are downbeat about the economy at large but are more optimistic about their own circumstances than they were last year.
Attitudes toward personal standards of living improved in the latest survey, as did confidence in financial security.
"People feel much better about things they know first-hand, which are part of their own personal experiences, than they do about the country as a whole or things they only know about through the media," said Humphrey Taylor, chairman of the Harris Poll.
"Indeed, this poll is further evidence that the media gives people a less rosy view of what is happening nationwide than the collective experience of the public."
Local news: J.P. Morgan cut its 2001 earnings forecast for Chicago-based Bank One, saying it expected the banking firm to post lower revenue and worse loan quality results than previously expected. Shares slipped 69 cents, to $38.27.
Chicago-based Internet consultant Inforte rose 84 cents, to $11.78. The company said its second-quarter sales and earnings would be at the lower end of its previously announced range. "Client research tells us that [information technology] spending budgets will remain at minimal levels for the remainder of 2001," said Phil Bligh, Inforte's chief executive officer.


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Every year, Greentarget releases a fascinating study on general counsels’ use of and engagement with social media. It gives unparalleled insight into what legal services buyers think of all of the marketers’ tactics. But this year, they did something different as they turned the study inward on the industry. What’d they find out? Legal marketers don’t have a strategy when it comes to social and content marketing.
ROI is the name of the game nowadays in legal marketing—and it seems social media, which still garners a fair deal of skepticism, is looked at in this regard as much as any marketing tool. In speaking with LXBN TV at the 2014 Legal Marketing Association Annual Conference, Randall Craig of 108 ideaspace explains that the focus of social media should be on creating real relationships.
Technology has done a lot to make life in general a lot more complex. Instead of worrying only about printed marketing materials, and a few other things, now there’s so much more to worry about. But, at the same time, it’s made a whole lot about legal marketing easier as well. That’s the point Per Casey, President & CEO of Tenrec, raises in speaking to us at the 2014 Legal Marketing Association Annual Conference.
Now, more than ever, legal marketing departments have the ability to move the needle and make a difference with their law firms. From the combination of tools available to the fact that it’s an industry thirsty for innovation, now is as good as time as any to be a legal marketer. Seth Apple, Business Development Manager at Davis Polk & Wardwell, joins me to explain why.
For lawyers, getting work has always been so closely tied to one’s reputation. Lawyers, for a long time, have done everything they can to create a sense of authority around their practice area—and now, they have more tools than ever to use in doing this. Jabez LeBret, co-author of Online Law Practice Strategies, joins us at the 2014 Legal Marketing Association Annual Conference to discuss what he’s seeing on this front.
The death of the billable hour is near. Or, if most buys of legal services had their way, that’s how it’d be. As such, law firms must look at switching up their billing and going to an alternative pricing model. As part of LXBN TV’s coverage of the 2014 Legal Marketing Association Annual Conference, I spoke with Akin Gump Chief Practice Officer Toby Brown on the subject.


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[UK] A Sidmouth man who makes health products using seaweed he collects from the Devon coastline has been recognised twice with a prestigious award and a £1,000 grant.
Tony Coulson, of Woolbrook Road, launched Ebb Tides in May and was this week awarded a silver accolade at the Food and Drink Devon awards held at the Deer Park in Honiton – and was also been gifted a grant by Invest Devon, run by the county council.
The 58-year-old, who makes products using dried seaweed, which is good as a salt supplement, plans to use the money for an exhibit at the BBC Good Food Show in Birmingham between November 24 and 27.
“I was thrilled when I found out I had been awarded the grant. It is a new business and much welcome,” Tony said.
“It is a high-profile event and buyers will also be there, so it will give me the opportunity to talk to them and get my products more widely distributed. I also plan to use the opportunity to talk about what a great place Devon is for businesses.”
Tony currently offers three products to be used as seasoning like salt and pepper – kelp, which has a savoury taste; dulse – that has a rich and smokey flavour; and sea salad – which is a unique mix of four different seaweeds which creates a marine-flavoured seasoning good for fish, eggs and to bake with.
Tony said including seaweed in your diet has numerous health benefits, many of which he has experienced first-hand.
He believes that kelp is particularly good for weight loss – not only great for helping to prevent the body from absorbing fats by up to 30 per cent, but also for hydrating the stomach, giving a feeling of being full and helping to regulate the metabolism.
View original article at: Seaweed proves successful for Sidmouth man’s new business


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We’ve been getting a lot of feedback on social media that people want to see the prices before they’ve signed up – and we listened.
BOCA RATON, Fla. (PRWEB) August 18, 2016
MailMyPrescriptions.com, a subscription-based network of mail-order pharmacies, announced today that, in a continuing effort to increase transparency in the prescription drug business, potential customers will no longer need a membership to view medication prices.
MailMyPrescriptions.com offers prescriptions at wholesale cost, and now this cost will be searchable on the public portion of MailMyPrescriptions.com’s website. The price on the website is the price members will pay for the medication once they have subscribed to the service.
In addition to listing the prescription prices, MailMyPrescriptions.com also has abundant educational resources on its website. Interested visitors to the site can watch informational videos explaining how MailMyPrescriptions.com is able to offer such unprecedented low prices and demonstrating the convenience of ordering medications through a subscription service.
“For years now, finding savings on prescription medications has forced consumers to do an inordinate amount of price comparison and bargain hunting. Our prices on thousands of name brand and generic medications are so low, people really need to see it to believe it,” said MailMyPrescriptions.com Founder and Chairman Santo J. Leo. “We’ve been getting a lot of feedback on social media that people want to see the prices before they’ve signed up – and we listened.”
To order the prescriptions, consumers will need to be members. One membership costs $5 per month and covers the entire family living at the address of the subscriber. Subscription fees are billed quarterly. In addition to saving money, subscribers save time, because the pharmacies in MailMyPrescriptions.com’s network will handle getting new prescriptions from the doctor and will deliver the prescribed medication straight to subscribers’ homes for an inexpensive flat shipping fee.
In addition to listing the prices on the website and mobile app, MailMyPrescriptions.com is instituting a transparent savings guarantee. If the wholesale price offered by MailMyPrescription.com is more expensive than the out-of-pocket cost at a retail pharmacy without coupons or manufacturer’s discounts, MailMyPrescriptions.com will refund the member the difference in savings.
To ensure they can receive their medication in a timely fashion, interested customers should subscribe a few weeks before the day they need a refill.
“The participating pharmacies need to get a valid prescription from the doctor, and unfortunately we have no control over how long that takes,” said Leo. “Once we have the prescription and process payment, the medication will arrive at the member's door in just a few days.”
To get a savings analysis on prescription spending, visit http://www.MailMyPrescriptions.com.
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Black Label Trading Co. says it will begin shipping the 2022 version of its Bishop Blend line next week.
Like previous releases, it uses an Ecuadorian habano maduro wrapper over an Ecuadorian habano binder and Connecticut, Nicaraguan and Pennsylvania broadleaf fillers. It is made at the company’s Fábriva Oveja Negra factory in Estelí, Nicaragua.
Bishops Blend will be offered in three sizes:
- Black Label Trading Co. Bishops Blend 2022 Corona Largo (6 1/4 x 46) — $12 (Box of 20, $240)
- Black Label Trading Co. Bishops Blend 2022 Robusto (5 x 48) — $11 (Box of 20, $220)
- Black Label Trading Co. Bishops Blend 2022 Lancero (7 x 42) — $12.50 (Box of 20, $250)
The Robusto size has the same pricing as the 2021 release; the other two sizes have increased by 50 cents per cigar.
“We are very excited about this highly anticipated release. This is the seventh release of Bishops Blend and continues to be one of our most sought-after, limited annual releases,” said James Brown, creator of Black Label Trading Co., in a press release. “Bishops Blend boasts big bold flavors of anise, pepper, raisins, and a sweet earthiness on the finish. It is very complex and extremely refined. As with the past vintages, the broadleaf fillers shine at the forefront and are perfectly balanced by the Nicaraguan filler tobaccos.”
This is the seventh consecutive year that Black Label has shipped Bishops Blend.


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At its Friday keynote address at IFA 2015 in Berlin today, Microsoft provided a familiar demo of Windows 10 before launching into a list of new Windows 10-powered PCs that will become available to customers this holiday season.
Many were hoping that Microsoft would announce something—anything—at this event. But I had been tipped off previously that the software giant would focus on its partners instead. (The current rumor is that Microsoft will host a combined announcement event for Surface, Lumia and Microsoft Band 2 in October). That, coupled with the fact that almost all of the PCs Microsoft showed off had been previously announced this week ahead of IFA—led to a bit of disappointment, especially with folks—like me, and readers of this site—who have been paying attention.
Indeed, Brad Sams and I appeared on TWiT this morning with Mike Elgan to cover the keynote live, and it’s fair to say we were pretty disappointed. (I’ll post a link to the show when it’s made available.) As I noted on the show, this was a great time for Microsoft to demonstrate continued Windows 10 momentum and, I think, make the first substantive Windows 10 Mobile device announcements. But Windows 10 Mobile was nowhere to be seen. It was just Windows 10 for PCs.
Skipping over the first half of the keynote—a repetitive Windows 10 demo during which remote viewers were never even shown the screen, a curious mistake on the part of the people behind the live stream—let’s move forward to what Microsoft did show off. Actually, let’s just focus on the interesting bits, as there were some nice looking Windows 10 PCs to think about.
Acer Aspire One Cloudbook
Why it matters: it costs less than $200.
Notable: there are two versions, one with an 11-inch screen and one with a more spacious 14-inch display. They both include a free year of Office 365 Personal, 802.11ac Wi-Fi for faster wireless.
Windows 10 specific features: trackpad gestures.
Learn more: Acer.com
Lenovo IdeaPad 100S
Why it matters: it is a high-quality 14-inch notebook that costs less than $300
Notable: premium build quality, a free year of Office 365 Personal.
Windows 10 specific features: none.
Learn more: Lenovo.com
HP Elitebook Folio 1020
Why it matters: not a new device, but a MacBook-quality touch-based notebook.
Notable: amazing build quality, great battery, thin and light design, fanless.
Windows 10 specific features: trackpad gestures, fingerprint reader.
Learn more: HP.com
Why it matters: gorgeous 2-in-1 convertible notebook with a 12- or 14-inch touch display
Notable: 4K screen.
Windows 10 specific features: face identification and authentication camera, Continuum support.
Learn more: Toshiba.com


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Hollister city council passes shopping cart ordinance that will affect homeless, residents who use them to take groceries home, and businesses.
HPD report says Road Rage and Gun Brandishing lead to arrest of man with children and family members in car
767 people have tested positive since February, 9,714 tested in total, 63 are active patients, 700 have recovered and four have died.
$500 award will help with food distribution in San Benito County.
Paycheck Protection Program loans provide for over 8,270 local employees.
Mike and Frank O'Connell of Ranchers Feed & Western Wear have been a part of the Hollister business community since 1976, and have been at their First Street location for 20 years. Read more about Ranchers Feed click…
LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR SPONSORS ›


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When it comes to traditional recipes, purists may scorn substitutions or innovations. But for vegan cook and TikToker Alyssa Switzer that’s part of the fun.
Switzer started eating a more plant-based diet in 2014, but she still wanted to maintain the Caribbean flavours that speak to her heart and her taste buds.
“That’s what I grew up on,” she told the Star.
Her feed @PlantifulAlyssa is filled with seconds-long tutorials of vegan dishes so colourful it may scramble your phone pixels. And much of it has a Caribbean flair.
She’s found vegan substitutes for meat-based staples, such as a meatless oxtail using jackfruit. And she pulls classic Caribbean foods like ackee and callaloo outside of what is traditional to make tacos, dips and galettes.
“You kind of get forced to be creative,” Switzer told the Star.
The canvas for some of her most innovative creations: breadfruit. It’s a starchy fruit that is typically roasted and sliced in the Caribbean and is part of the national dish of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, the island Switzer’s mom is from.
She subbed diced breadfruit for potatoes, taking advantage of its starchy consistency, and made an island-inspired breadfruit salad in one TikTok video.
In another, she turned thin slices into taco shells and stuffed them with ackee.
And the recipe she’s most proud of is her creamy breadfruit split pea soup, seasoned with coconut cream, thyme, allspice and scotch bonnet.
But when she shares vegan alternatives for things like oxtail, saltfish and fritters, she’s been met with both praise and ire in the comments.
“It’s so traditional to eat traditional West Indian foods without altering in any way,” Switzer said “If people hear like, oh, vegan oxtail, (they say) what are you talking about?”
But the raised eyebrows make her want to show these plant-based takes even more.
“There’s so much varieties of fruits and vegetables you can eat, and they’re cultural and they’re good,” she said. “You don’t have to be stuck in a certain way or a certain mindset on how to eat.”


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We’re now getting into our second yr of 5G protection within the U.S., however it could not appear to be we’re nearer to studying when 5G goes to make a distinction in our lives. Networks are up and operating, 5G units together with iPhones are extensively accessible, however widespread protection and super-fast speeds stay a piece in progress.
For those who’re questioning when 5G is coming to your space, the easy reply is that it could have already got. All three wi-fi carriers within the U.S. supply nationwide 5G networks, although these speeds do not match the hype. No less than not but.
If you will get a 5G sign the place you are at, you may possible see improved efficiency over LTE (aka 4G) networks — supplied you’ve got bought one of many greatest 5G telephones. However even with an uptick in velocity, the 5G expertise is not all that totally different from LTE at this level.
The 5G panorama is continually shifting and can proceed to take action all through 2021. This is a standing report on the place we are actually, how we bought right here and what’s forward for 5G as the brand new networking normal blankets extra of the nation with quicker speeds and decrease latency.
5G is the fifth era of wi-fi communication requirements, following earlier iteration of wi-fi networking. It was the arrival of 3G almost 20 years in the past that made it attainable to surf the web on a smartphone, whereas 4G delivered speeds that enabled video streaming and a complete economic system of apps that want sustained, dependable connectivity.
In 2017, the third Technology Partnership Undertaking—the group that creates the principles for wi-fi connectivity—issued the non-stand-alone normal for 5G, which permits 5G to coexist alongside 4G. The usual for stand-alone 5G bought finalized a yr later. Within the two years since, infrastructure builders akin to Ericsson and Nokia have labored with the 4 main wi-fi carriers within the U.S. to construct out 5G networks and take a look at them with units outfitted with 5G radios that adjust to the brand new normal.
Meaning your present smartphone will not have the ability to obtain a 5G sign (until, in fact, you’ve got already upgraded to a 5G machine prior to now year-and-a-half). The brand new normal requires a brand new machine that will hit obtain speeds of 1 Gbps (however solely on a high-band 5G community) and theoretically hit a peak of 10 Gbps.
In principle, that will allow you to obtain full-length motion pictures in seconds. Extra considerably, it opens up a world of potentialities we will not even think about but.
When is 5G coming: U.S. community cheat sheet
|Present 5G cities||38 (5G Plus service); 14,000 (low-band 5G service)||61 (Extremely Wideband); 2,700 cites through lower-band protection||7,500 through sub-600Ghz community, with high-speed service in components of seven cities|
|Preliminary 5G expertise||Millimeter wave in 5G Plus cities; low-band spectrum elsewhere||Millimeter wave in Extremely Wideband cities; DSS elsewhere||Millimeter wave in half-a-dozen cities, 600 MHz for nationwide community|
|Required plan||Limitless Pay as you go ($60/month); Limitless Starter ($65/month); Limitless Further ($75/month); Limitless Elite ($85/month)||Do Extra or Play Extra ($80/month) or Get Extra ($90/month); Limitless pay as you go ($75/month)||Necessities ($60/month); Magenta ($70/month); T-Cellular Join ($15/month)|
|Main supported units||Galaxy S21; Galaxy Notice 20; iPhone 12; LG Velvet; Galaxy A71 5G; LG V60 ThinQ; Galaxy Z Fold 2; Galaxy Z Flip 5G; LG Wing; Pixel 4a 5G and 5; Motorola One 5G; Motorola Razr 5G||Pixel 5; Galaxy S21; Galaxy Notice 20; Galaxy A715G; Motorola Edge Plus; OnePlus eight; LG V60 ThinQ; LG Velvet; Galaxy Z Fold 2; LG Wing; TCL 10 5G; iPhone 12||Galaxy S21; Galaxy Notice 20; OnePlus eight and 8T; Galaxy A71 5G; Galaxy A51 5G; Galaxy Z Flip 5G; LG V60 ThinQ; LG Velvet; Motorola Razr 5G; Revvl 5G; iPhone 12|
5G applied sciences affecting when 5G is coming
The spine of the 5G normal is comprised of low-, mid- and high-band spectrum. 5G networks function on totally different frequencies with sub-6 GHz and millimeter-wave (20-60 GHz) on the high and low ends of the spectrum.
Carriers have been already utilizing sub-6 spectrum for present LTE networks, and now they want extra of it to construct out 5G. Millimeter-wave frequency was beforehand unused, and the arrival of 5G has given carriers entry to the spectrum that may allow the quicker speeds we anticipate with the brand new normal.
However mmWave has just a few drawbacks: As a result of it is so high-frequency, the waves do not journey lengthy distances. Actually, they cannot even journey via home windows or buildings. Meaning a tool working on an mmWave-based community — primarily Verizon’s at this level, although T-Cellular and AT&T additionally use mmWaver to some extent — will have to be extraordinarily near a 5G node to catch a sign.
That is tremendous in a dense metropolitan space, the place you’ll be able to stick a 5G node each few hundred toes. However in rural areas the place there are few buildings or cell towers, mmWave will not work.
That is why each sub-6 bands are essential to make 5G indicators extra widespread. Certainly, new Qualcomm CEO Christian Amon has lengthy insisted that actual 5G will probably be a mix of the low, mid, and high-band frequencies.
T-Cellular supplies a superb instance of this. It launched nationwide 5G protection in 2019 utilizing sub-6Hz spectrum. That meant plenty of protection — at launch, T-Cellular’s 5G reached 5,000 cities — however at speeds that have been solely 20% quicker than 4G on common. Since then, T-Cellular has began incorporating the midband 2.5GHz spectrum it acquired throughout its merger with Dash to spice up efficiency in its far-reaching community. In some cities, T-Cellular makes use of all components of 5G — mmWave, mid-band and sub-6Hz spectrum — for what it calls a layer cake method.
When is 5G coming to your space?
5G is already right here, however until the celebs of your location, the wi-fi provider you subscribe to and the smartphone you personal are completely aligned, you most likely cannot use it but.
AT&T, Verizon and T-Cellular supply 5G protection, however there are caveats. First, the variety of 5G telephones have grown. However you continue to need to ensure you have a 5G-capable machine in your hand. Protection is now reaching wider areas — Verizon has joined AT&T and T-Cellular in providing nationwide protection — although speeds aren’t wherever close to the 1 Gbps obtain speeds you’ve got been listening to about.
What’s extra, it is evident many smartphone customers aren’t certain what 5G is. Actually, one in three Individuals assume they have already got 5G, in keeping with one examine from 2019. The outcomes confirmed that 47% of AT&T subscribers who personal iPhones assume their machine is 5G-capable. AT&T’s deceptive 5G Evolution emblem (5GE) to explain service that is actually simply superior LTE, most likely aided that confusion.
When is 5G coming to extra areas and the way will it carry out?
The present state of 5G appears like this: Verizon has high-speed 5G in components of 61 cities, together with mmWave towers in lots of stadiums, arenas and airports. To mark the arrival of the iPhone 12, Verizon launched nationwide protection, which now reaches 230 million individuals. That service is not as quick as Extremely Wideband and makes use of lower-band spectrum coupled with dynamic spectrum sharing (DSS) expertise that repurposes LTE for 5G protection.
Verizon is the final provider to launch nationwide protection. T-Cellular was first, and its 5G service now reaches 7,500 cities and cities, with mid-band protection giving a velocity enhance to clients in additional than 1,000 cities. On the finish of 2020, T-Cellular says its 5G community reached greater than 280 million individuals.
AT&T has launched its personal nationwide community, too, reaching 14,000 cities and cities with low-band protection and high-speed mmWave service in 38 of these cities.
A 2020 report by OpenSignal detailing 5G efficiency illustrates what influence the totally different 5G applied sciences can have on networks. Verizon, which had relied completely on mmWave in its preliminary 5G launch, boasted one of the best speeds by far at 506.1 Mbps. Different carriers are utilizing mid- to low-band 5G, and their common obtain speeds — 114.2 Mbps for Dash, 62.7 Mbps for AT&T and 47 Mbps for T-Cellular mirror that. (This survey was performed previous to T-Cellular’s efforts to fold Dash’s community into its 5G service.)
However check out 5G availability. The identical carriers who’ve slower speeds due to mid- to low-band-based 5G can boast a wider attain. Verizon and its mmWave-based 5G community has the bottom proportion of availability of all, with customers in a position to get a 5G connection lower than 1% of the time.
Who has one of the best 5G community proper now depends upon who’s doing the counting. Ookla, which depends on crowd-sourced testing, provides the crown to AT&T for quickest 5G community as of the tip of 2020, after Verizon’s common velocity tumbled because of the introduction of slower nationwide protection.
RootMetrics praised T-Cellular for having the most important 5G footprint and greatest 5G availability in its report on wi-fi community efficiency for the second half of 2020, whereas AT&T’s 5G community continues to develop. Verizon has the quickest 5G speeds, at the very least in locations the place Extremely Wideband protection is accessible.
In the meantime, Opensignal declares T-Cellular to have one of the best 5G community in the intervening time because of high obtain and add speeds. Verizon has the higher video expertise over 5G.
When is 5G coming to extra telephones?
We entered final yr with half-a-dozen 5G-capable smartphones in the marketplace. Today, it looks as if each main new launch presents 5G functionality, highlighted by the current debuts of the iPhone 12 (Apple’s first 5G telephones) and the Galaxy S21, the third 5G capable-release in Samsung’s Galaxy S household.
Along with these units, main flagships from OnePlus, LG, Google and Motorola all supply 5G connectivity. Extra importantly, midrange and funds telephones are beginning to assist 5G as nicely, because of inexpensive chipsets like Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 765G. 5G telephones beneath $500 embody the Pixel 4a 5G, Motorola One 5G Ace and TCL 10 5G UW. The OnePlus Nord N10 5G is simply concerning the most cost-effective 5G machine we have seen at $299.
Anticipate the 5G units to maintain coming in 2021, notably on the excessive finish. Qualcomm has launched the Snapdragon 888 and Snapdragon 870 5G for flagship telephones; each new chipsets embody 5G modems, and you may see them powering most frontline Android units this yr.
When is 5G coming to the iPhone?
It is already right here. Final fall, Apple went all in on 5G, introducing 4 fashions that assist 5G, together with Verizon’s Extremely Wideband protection. Finally, that may very well be the enhance 5G wants.
With the iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Professional and iPhone 12 Professional Max now out and ranging in value from $699 to $1,099, do not anticipate Apple to look again. iPhone 13 rumors recommend that 5G will probably be part of this fall’s cellphone updates, too.
When is 5G coming to units past telephones?
Individuals equate the G’s — 2G, 3G, 4G and now 5G — with smartphones, as a result of that’s at all times been the place the place we have been in a position to see an indicator of what sort of connectivity we’re getting. However that is solely a part of what 5G is — the quicker speeds will imply a lot extra than simply higher-quality streaming and lightning fast downloads.
“5G would be the post-smartphone period,” Robert J. Topol, Intel’s basic supervisor for 5G enterprise and expertise, mentioned throughout an interview on the 2019 Cellular World Congress. “Telephones are the primary place to launch as a result of [they’re] such an anchor in our lives from a connectivity standpoint.”
That’s within the course of of fixing.
Decrease latency will make augmented actuality and digital actuality extra helpful — and eradicate nausea — as a result of there will not be any lag. AR glasses and VR headsets have not but cracked the mainstream, however tech corporations are betting that these units will ultimately exchange our smartphones. With 5G, that might truly occur.
“Related PCs, related IoT merchandise, related AR/VR, related gaming consoles, issues like that — we see all of these on the horizon,” mentioned Ryan Sullivan, Dash’s vice chairman of product engineering after we spoke to him in December 2019 earlier than he turned vice chairman of units and expertise on the new T-Cellular. “They could not all be a 2020 factor, however you begin to see a few of these new use circumstances and new product classes emerge.”
To that finish, Qualcomm ended 2019 by releasing its XR2 blended actuality processor with 5G connectivity. That chipset powers the Oculus Quest 2, which got here out final yr. Qualcomm can be pushing 5G to always-connected laptops, with its Snapdragon 8cx Gen 2 platform coming to 5G-capable units from each Acer and HP amongst others.
Among the many methods 5G might change your life, colleges might benefit from virtual- and augmented-reality experiences that may carry ideas out of textbooks and into actual life for college kids. Quicker connectivity and no latency might additionally revolutionize hospitals, enabling holograph-assisted surgical procedures. On the roads, 5G might make self-driving vehicles safer, as a result of communication between autos and infrastructure will turn into instantaneous.
“It is not simply velocity and latency, it is so many different issues,” Verizon chief product growth officer Nicki Palmer mentioned in the course of the December 2019 Qualcomm tech summit on 5G. “This transition from 4G to 5G is even greater and admittedly far more revolutionary.”
This is not going to occur in a single day, however anticipate main shifts because of 5G within the subsequent 5 years. Qualcomm’s Amon predicts there will probably be 2.eight billion 5G connections by 2025. (That is not simply telephones, however relatively related units, too.)
What’s going to occur to 4G now that 5G is right here?
Not like previous generations of connectivity, 4G and 5G will coexist. When your machine drops a 5G sign, it is going to fall again on LTE. The hand-off ought to be imperceptible—other than the truth that your add and obtain speeds will lower.
This will probably be particularly helpful in areas of the nation the place 5G networks will take longer to get off the bottom.
Current 4G networks may also play a task in carriers constructing out their 5G protection, as applied sciences like dynamic spectrum sharing will permit carriers to share their spectrum between 4G and 5G makes use of.
And the enhancements carriers are making to their networks to arrange for a nationwide 5G rollout will make 4G higher, too. Once we examined AT&T’s 5G Plus community in Las Vegas in 2019, we noticed 900 Mbps over 5G. LTE cannot examine, however we additionally clocked greater than 200 Mbps on an iPhone operating on AT&T’s 5G E (superior LTE) community. That is exponentially higher than AT&T’s present LTE community, which averaged obtain speeds of 32.91 Mbps earlier this yr.
We have a better have a look at how 4G and 5G speeds examine.
Is 5G harmful?
There’s no proof to recommend that 5G is harmful to your well being, and but persons are nonetheless involved. Why?
For years, the assumption that radio waves may cause mind most cancers in people has unfold, seemingly affirmed by a 2000 scientific examine of high-frequency waves and their impact on human cell tissue. A New York Occasions report examined that examine and located it to be based mostly on a misunderstanding of the human physique — particularly, the pores and skin’s capability to protect the mind from radio waves.
Our colleagues at Stay Science have additionally regarded into the risks — or lack thereof — that 5G can pose, and located that whereas there is no such thing as a purpose to be alarmed concerning the rollout, extra research will (and will) be performed as 5G turns into extra widespread to find out its influence.
The newest conspiracy theories surrounding 5G have claimed the community expertise has one way or the other triggered the coronavirus pandemic — a doubtful assertion that some individuals have taken critically sufficient to set fireplace to 5G towers within the UK final yr. The well being consultants we talked to assume 5G coronavirus conspiracy claims are nonsense.
5G is right here, however to this point, it is just a little underwhelming. Nonetheless, that ought to change as extra cities come on-line and extra 5G units turn into accessible.
When asserting its quarterly earnings throughout January, Verizon outlined 5G plans for this yr that embody including 20 extra Extremely Wideband cities and doubling the quantity of UW websites in its community; it additionally plans to spice up low and midband protection.
For its half, T-Cellular needs to double the world lined by each low and midband spectrum, which the provider payments as its Extremely Capability 5G community. Search for service like Voice over 5G calling to emerge as nicely. AT&T additionally says it is planning on increasing its 5G protection in 2021.
If the networks can ship on their 5G guarantees, we’ll now not be asking when 5G is coming, however how we ever lived with out it.