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Wet fields leave time to attend farm show
With rain over the weekend, it is too wet to work in the fields, pushing attendance up at the annual Texas Farm Ranch Wildlife Expo.
The event showcases the $979 million agricultural industry of the Big County. Now in its 25th year, the expo has seen many changes over the year, the biggest of which is being locally managed and produced.
Laurin Kocurek, marketing and event assistant with the Abilene Chamber of Commerce, said this is the largest show ever.
“This is my second year to work with the expo, and things are going great, both the vendors and organizers of the event are excited," Kocurek said. "It's exciting to showcase agriculture and what it adds to the local economy."
Gary Grubbs with Lawrence Hall Abilene, the title sponsor of the show, echoed Kocurek's comments.
“Since all farmers and ranchers like trucks, it is a great opportunity for us to market, plus visit with old customers,” Grubbs said. "This is the one time each year that I see many of our clients during the two days of the expo."
Donna Hughes, commodity broker with Daniels Trading, said of the many agriculture events she attends each year, the expo is her favorite.
“Everything is so organized, and I get to reconnect with clients and develop new customers each year,” she said.
The expo offers something for everyone from homeowners to part-time farmers to large agricultural producers.
Phil Watkins, who recently launched a business called Firing Line LTC, which teaches firearms courses, said the expo “is the perfect event to meet people and promote a new business."
On Wednesday, the expo's trade show opens at 9 a.m. Educational seminars will be held throughout the day, and the Farm Family of the Year will be presented at the sold-out Scholarship Luncheon. The expo closes at 4 p.m. Admission is free.


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Twelve Thirty Eight to boost profile of data protection firm Ground Labs
New PR agency Twelve Thirty Eight has been called in to raise the profile of identity protection firm Ground Labs.
Data protection: raising profile of Ground Labs
Ground Labs has awarded the tech specialists with a retained contract to raise awareness of the company and its services across the EMEA region.
The company is an identity protection specialist aimed at improving security for the credit and debit card industries.
Mohamed Zouine, director – corporate development, EMEA said: ‘Twelve Thirty Eight grasped our business and the issues we deal with immediately. In fact, the time period from signing the contract to generating national media coverage that carries our core message was a matter of days.’
Hamish Thompson, MD, Twelve Thirty Eight, said: ‘Ground Labs is a really innovative technology business, doing breakthrough work on a range of issues that affect modern consumers and businesses. We're looking forward to putting the company firmly on the map in Europe.’
A recent Ground Labs survey found that, of 100 businesses sampled at random, every one had credit card details of members of the public unwittingly stored on IT equipment. A breach by a company of data such as this can attract a fine of up to £500,000 by the Information Commissioner's Office.
This article was first published on prweek.com
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We all knew last year that there was going to be a ton of weddings on July 7 this year. The whirlwind of flowers, beauticians, priests, dressmakers and wedding chapels is documented in the LAT:
Across the country, tens of thousands of couples wanting to marry on 07/07/07 ‚Äî for luck, or perhaps because bridegrooms will stand a better chance of remembering their anniversaries ‚Äî have booked a corresponding number of photographers, caterers, cake makers, hair stylists and vintage Rolls-Royces months, or even years, in advance.
This year, July 7 falls on a Saturday, three days after the Independence Day holiday, and anecdotal evidence suggests it will be the most popular wedding day in recent memory.
TheKnot.com, an Internet company that provides products and services to couples planning their weddings, said 38,000 couples among their users have set their nuptials for what some have dubbed the “magnificent seven.” That’s more than three times the usual number for a July Saturday, said Kathleen Murray, deputy editor.
David’s Bridal, a nationwide chain of 273 stores, has recorded twice as many customers who plan to marry July 7 as on last year’s busiest date. In the Los Angeles area, the retailer has sold 600 wedding gowns for that weekend.
“Judging from our 30% market share, that would mean you have about 2,000 brides getting married that weekend” in the L.A. area, said spokeswoman Cindi Freeburn.
Some vendors are going to great lengths to meet the demand.
Square Root, an Irvine event producer and floral design house, is flying in 30 designers from as far away as New York, doubling the number of workers who will be assembling centerpieces and bouquets.
“I’ve never seen a date so popular,” said Jeff Johnson, Square Root’s co-owner.
Gina Ludwig, owner of Hair Comes the Bride in Laguna Niguel and Beverly Hills, said she turned away clients because her nine hair and makeup stylists are already booked back to back to back with 14 weddings that day.
All six classic cars in Classy Chassis Rentals’ collection in Tarzana have been booked for many months. Owner Mel Harrison said he could easily have filled a seventh Rolls-Royce or Bentley ‚Äî or a 14th, for that matter ‚Äî given all the callers who were gearing up for a grand entrance. His big problem now is finding drivers. “I still need three more,” he said.
By settling on 07/07/07 as their wedding date, couples are tapping into a number that through the ages has assumed mystical importance. Religious texts of many faiths, including Islam and Judaism, refer to seven heavens. The saying “I’m in seventh heaven” signifies bliss.
The seven heavens correspond to seven heavenly bodies visible to the naked eye (the sun, the moon and five planets: Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn). In English, German and several other languages, the seven days of the week take their names from these celestial objects.
The ancient seven-branched Jewish menorah (not to be confused with the Hanukkah menorah) signifies the seven days of creation. There are seven colors of the spectrum, seven notes of the musical scale, seven deadly sins, seven virtues ‚Äî and seven books in the Harry Potter series.
The frenzy amuses me, of course. I do not believe I will be decorating a wedding that day, but then again, my mom has a penchant for telling me about stuff with just a few days notice.
And to be quite honest, in my experience, I think the day will mostly be lucky for the lawyers — who will be busy suing and defending reception halls, hotels, florists, dressmakers, cake makers and other vendors who were unable to meet the demand of the frenzy. I’ve had to do as many as three events (a convention, my own senior prom, and a wedding, for example) in one day, and trust me — its not easy.


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Glasgow Store To Launch Bitcoin Scheme
A Scottish second-hand exchange store is replacing the pound with virtual currency Bitcoin for three days in one of its stores, making it the first retail outlet in the UK to let customers receive the virtual coins for products.
CeX, the high street chain that buys, sells and exchanges technological and electronic products, is switching from the pound to digital currency Bitcoin exclusively in its store on Sauchiehall Street in Glasgow.
While using Bitcoin to buy products is becoming increasingly common in stores and online in the UK, CeX will be the first outlet to pay out in the currency, meaning customers can earn the currency for the first time, by selling goods.
David Butler, commercial director at CeX said: "It's really exciting to be at the centre of such an innovative trial. In our store, the staff and customers live and breathe technology so it's only appropriate we looked at Bitcoin as a way for our customers to buy and sell electronic goods. Not only does Bitcoin have a number of security and access benefits, but it is also gaining popularity amongst consumers the world over.
"While we are temporarily dropping the pound from our Glasgow store, at a time when Scottish Independence is high up on the news agenda, we are doing so to give customers a choice in how they trade with us.''
Bitcoin is an entirely virtual currency that works without the need for a central bank, and can be sent over the internet. Coins are transferred directly from person to person, and are kept in a digital wallet that can be accessed on a computer or mobile device.
Creating new coins is done through a process called "mining'' where users are rewarded with new coins for verifying transactions that take place.
The process is open source and can therefore be used by anyone, with more and more mainstream businesses now accepting the currency as a form of payment.
According to a report by The Why Forum, the number of Bitcoin transactions globally have increased tenfold in the last year, and are now worth more than £40 million.
Several pubs as well as some taxi companies around the UK have begun to accept the currency as a means of paying for goods.
Part of the scheme is designed to highlight the pressing issue of Scottish independence, with the country going to the polls in September to vote on leaving the UK.
CeX says this trial will offer an opportunity to show that the country could manage without the pound.
Technology expert and writer Benjamin Cohen said: "Interest and curiosity around peer-to-peer electronic payments and digital currencies is at an all time high because there are compelling benefits for both the merchant and consumer. CeX's introduction is a reflection that the demand is there and also poses the question, do we need cash? CeX is giving its consumers a genuine way to test that theory. I'm eager to see the results of the trial.''
Erik Lorentz, Head of Communications for price analysis site PriceSpy.co.uk, which commissioned a survey on bitcoin in March 2014, said: "After previously conducting research which revealed that over a third of the UK, who were aware of Bitcoin, believe it to be the future of online currency, it is refreshing to see major retailers embracing it.
"We believe it is the anonymity, the modernity and the communities behind it, such as website reddit, that has been integral in powering the success and popularity of the currency. Additionally, the low transaction fees attributed to Bitcoin are a real draw to merchants, in spite of the ever-fluctuating value of the currency.
"Whilst there may still be confusion surrounding the payment method, bringing it to popular retailers will be a valuable learning exercise for consumers and likely demonstrate the power it has to other brands.''


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Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE:WMT) brought back its layaway service in 2011 to relatively wide acclaim. Though only available during the holiday shopping season for most merchandise, layaway gives consumers the ability to pay for large purchases over the course of a few months. Some shoppers even use it to help manage their holiday shopping, keeping presents out of the house until just before the holidays so that impatient children don’t find the goods while snooping around.
This year, Wal-Mart has changed its layaway service slightly to eliminate the $5 layaway charge that the company previously included while setting up new layaways. Instead, a $10 charge will be assessed for cancelled or abandoned layaways to encourage customers to complete their layaway plans. While this is being touted as a way to make layaways easier for low-income consumers, the shift is likely inspired by competition from companies like Toys “R” Us and Sears Holdings Corporation (NASDAQ:SHLD)‘ Kmart stores.
The importance of layaway
The holiday shopping season can make or break retail outlets. Retail stores report up to 40% or more of their annual sales during the holiday season, and many higher-end products such as the upcoming Xbox One and PlayStation 4 are released during the holidays to capitalize on this increased spending. Layaway plays an important part in this, especially in recent years when the struggling US economy has made it difficult to afford paying for larger purchases up front.
Many stores, including Wal-Mart, abandoned layaway in the early 2000’s as a way to cut costs and deal with inventory storage problems. This resulted in a significant uproar from customers, indicating that the demand for layaway services may have been higher than the stores originally thought.
Wal-Mart isn’t the only one hoping for a solid holiday turnout this year. Target Corporation (NYSE:TGT) is also hoping for a strong showing in the later part of the year to help counteract less-than-stellar performance in Canada. Despite being on track to meet its goal of having 124 stores in the country by the end of the year, Target reported a loss per share of $0.21 from its Canadian segment and expects Target Canada to be in the red until 2015.
Knowing the importance of the holidays, most of the major retailers have started their holiday plans early. Wal-Mart began its layaway program this year on Sept. 13, marking its earliest start yet since its return. Kmart didn’t have to start its layaway program as it runs year-round, but it has begun airing holiday-themed ads to support a promotion that began on Sept. 8 (resulting in criticism from some consumers who felt that it was too early to advertise for the holidays.)
Target doesn’t offer layaway, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t planning for the holidays and has already begun hiring seasonal help in some locations. Last year the company hired around 90,000 holiday employees, down from 92,000 the year before, but the expansion into Canada will likely increase that number this year. The company will also likely announce holiday promotions soon, such as the price-matching guarantee it offered last year that matched online as well as physical retailers.


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Last year, it looked like Russia would be the recipient of Samsung’s first Tizen smartphone, but now India gets the honor instead. Meet the Z1, the South Korean tech company’s first smartphone powered by its own open-source, Linux-based software.
Unsurprisingly, the dual-SIM $92 budget device comes with middle-of-the-road hardware on board—including a 4-inch WVGA screen, 1.2 GHz dual-core processor, 768MB RAM and two wholly unspectacular cameras, a 3.1 megapixel rear camera fronted by a VGA selfie shooter.
But hardware isn’t the main attraction. It’s the software—namely that Tizen 2.3 operating system Samsung developed and now wants to spread across its connected devices—that warrants attention here.
A Mediocre Phone Is Not Boring …
Last year, Samsung saw falling mobile device shipments. Now it appears to be running full-tilt at the mid-tier market. Earlier this week, it launched the Galaxy A7, a lower-end off-shoot of its flagship Galaxy S series line-up.
As an individual phone, even a mediocre one, the latest Z1 should ably handle what Hyun Chil Hong, president and CEO of Samsung in India, says is the device’s main purpose: to “meet [the] unique, entertainment-focused needs of local Indian consumers,” he said in a statement.
Mobile users in India are voracious consumers of media, and the phone comes with Samsung’s “Joy Box” service, for free media and trial access to sources like Hungama.com and nextGTv, for Hollywood and Bollywood titles. To keep the device running, it comes with an “Ultra Power Saving Mode” much like you’d find on higher-end Samsung devices. Wireless provider Airtel steps up to offer 500MB of 3G data free for six months.
Even so, on the surface, it still looks like yet another budget device heading to a developing market. And it would be, if not for the fact that Samsung stuffed Tizen into the Z1, making it the first to hit the market with the company’s own software on board.
The biggest challenge in front of the company and its new handset is the lack of Tizen apps. After all, app makers can’t just port over their existing Android or iOS apps. They must build on Tizen or rewrite those other versions to work on Samsung’s platform.
Now at least there’s an actual device on the market to run those apps. It may not be the most advanced device or even widely available, but hold tight, says Samsung. It’s just the first of many Tizen gadgets on the way, it promises.
… When It’s A Sign Of What’s To Come
The Z1 fills in an important gap for the tech giant. These days, mobile devices tend to act as the heart of gadget ecosystems, tying together various gizmos into a connected and inter-connected system. The end result: Homes, cars and personal gadgets that know you and your habits, and give you a remote control for your life or even make decisions for you, if that’s what you want.
While it remains an Android device maker, Samsung doesn’t want to run its Internet of Things initiative on Google’s platform. It clearly has its own plans—which may even include buying BlackBerry (although BlackBerry has denied that report). Renowned for its hardware QWERTY keyboard phones and enterprise security practices, the struggling BlackBerry has a big backup strategy focused on the Internet of Things.
How exactly BlackBerry might fit into Samsung’s mobile or Internet of Things plans isn’t known yet. What is clear is that the Internet of Things is a top priority for the electronics and appliance maker, and that it wants to put its Tizen software into most every connected product it makes, which is a lot—everything from its televisions and kitchen appliances, to smartwatches and now smartphones.
The company used some of its spotlight at the Consumer Electronics Show to discuss how it will put the software in its popular line-up of smart televisions. Previously, Samsung also released Tizen-powered wearables, including its best smartwatch to date, the Gear S.
Until now, Samsung has lacked any sort of mobile device to bring it all together. Granted, the Z1’s limited capabilities certainly won’t be up to the job on its own. But the handset gives developers a concrete reference point, and shows that Samsung’s ready to walk the walk, and not just talk the Tizen talk.
Photos courtesy of Samsung India


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The PPI scandal shows no sign of going away.
After a supreme court decision last year decided that if a PPI seller neglected to advise the consumer that they had been paid a commission from the products provider that the sale was unfair and mis-sold.
Susan Plevin, a 59 year old college lecturer, and the subsequent court judgement, has opened up a fresh wave of new complaints.
The FCA is considering whether additional rules and/or guidance are required to deal with the impact of the Plevin decision on complaints about PPI
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is seriously considering imposing a deadline for any new mis-sold PPI claims.
Directors are to hold a board meeting on Thursday to discuss whether the new time-bar can be introduced.
Banks have set aside upwards of £30bn since the scandal first broke in 2010, to compensate customers who were sold PPI on financial products that were neither required or nor needed.
The banks now face the very real possibility of spending much higher sums on PPI compensation claims.
The FOS has expanded from 100 staff at its foundation in 2006 to more than 4,000 to deal with the deluge of PPI complaints from customers unhappy with the product or their bank’s redress process
“The FCA is considering whether additional rules and/or guidance are required to deal with the impact of the Plevin decision on complaints about PPI,” the City regulator said in May.
“The FCA will be engaging with relevant stakeholders in the coming months in respect of this and it expects to announce its views on this, including next steps, at the same time as existing work.”
The FCA already warned earlier this year that they would seek to impose a time limit on PPI complaints.
It said it would gather evidence on “whether the current approach is continuing to meet its objectives of securing appropriate protection for consumers and enhancing the integrity of the UK’s financial system”.
The Financial Ombudsman said last month that although new cases have slowed by 10% to 94,091 in the first six months of this year, the scandal still continues to generate a steady amount of complaints.
With the Plevin court ruling, we could see steady quickly escalate to the numbers of 2010. If you have been previously advised you were not mis-sold, now is the time to act!
Have you ever claimed PPI compensation?
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A 49-year-old Naomi Campbell took part in a new provocative photoshoot. Supermodel shot for the July issue of the British Vogue.
The Black Panther posed in colorful swimsuits. The photographer was Jamie Hawkesworth.
The photo captured the model in leather jumpsuit that highlighted her tan.
Naomi also was captured topless in a netting skirt up to the floor.
15:11, November 19Madonna takes ice bath and drinks her ‘urine’
12:39, November 19Naomi Campbell, 49, falls in love again
11:11, November 19Coty Inc. paying $600 million for a controlling stake in Kylie Jenner's cosmetics startup
19:12, November 18The 2019 TIME 100 Next
18:11, November 18Nicolas Cage to play himself in ‘The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent’ movie
16:14, November 18Kanye West announces opera devoted to Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar
15:41, November 18Time names top 10 movie of the 2010s
12:12, November 18Makeup testers named hazardous, investigation finds
18:34, November 17Alexis Ohanian remembers his wedding, on its anniversary
15:19, November 17Kanye West gives concert in prison
12:14, November 17Kim Kardashian does hand stand to advertise her clothing brand (PHOTOS)
10:16, November 17Emily Ratajkowski shows her “goods” (PHOTOS)


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Keyword: Hikma Pharmaceuticals
Amarin had big plans for Vascepa after a big label expansion last year, but it lost a patent fight—and now a generic has won FDA approval.
The FDA is reporting shortages of anesthetics used to treat COVID-19 patients as the novel coronavirus pandemic continues to strain the supply chain.
Hikma has stopped production of an injected pain drug as it figures out how to fix an issue that has resulted in black, oily particles in vials.
Rising Pharmaceuticals pleads to price fixing, and a pilot-scale lyophilization facility is being made available for pilot projects.
Hikma says it has picked up some pipeline products and nasal and sublingual spray equipment from Insys Therapeutics' bankruptcy.
Here is some news of note for the week.
Here are some of the other stories we're following today.
Big Pharma firms touted growth in China; Genentech sues ex-staffers and biosim company; Janssen licenses Yuhan's potential Tagrisso rival.
Hikma, which has established itself as a top sterile injectables manufacturer in the U.S., is now picking up a production plant in Vietnam.
Acorda faces the prospect of generic competition on its primary revenue source, Ampyra, after an appeals court's decision.


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Looks like Disney Infinity won't be getting a new sequel this year, although it's hardly getting a year off.
In a statement on the Disney Infinity blog, the company said that there would be four new Play Sets to look out for, but no full-blown sequel.
"We value our fans and your feedback, and we've heard your requests to extend the life of our Starter Packs loud and clear," reads the statement.
"You've asked for a wider variety of content, across a wide variety of brands with each Play Set, and that's what we're committed to delivering.
"So, in 2016, we are focusing our development efforts on adding more Play Sets and characters – based on the biggest events coming from Disney this year – to the 3.0 Edition. In other words, if it's happening at The Walt Disney Company, it's happening inside Disney Infinity."
The company said that the four new Play Sets would be released throughout the year, and would cover all things Disney, Pixar, Marvel and Star Wars.
"These new Play Sets will ensure that Disney Infinity 3.0 has the largest collection of content ever released inside a Disney video game."
Disney Infinity 3.0 introduced Star Wars Play Sets and characters to the game world, while its predecessor added Marvel content.


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As #cybersecurity attacks are increasing exponentially, SolarWinds was a target for hackers for almost a year now. Here’s some insight on how it happened and how to prevent being a part of a #cyberattack.
Cybercriminals are using top level domains (TLD) to their advantage, performing domain fraud in the hopes of directing user traffic towards their own registered sites. Domain fraud happens when hackers register a domain that is made to look legitimate by using, for example, typos in the site name. The domains are meant to imitate real company names.
In the instance of typo use, these lookalike domains replace letters that are easy to go unnoticed without a second glance. For example, cybercriminals can replace “m” with “r” and “n” combined and easily trick site visitors into thinking the domain is legitimate. These illegitimate sites with typo-registered domains can be used for phishing schemes in which a hacker may attach their domain link to an email made to look like it came from a real company source. After clicking on the link, victims would be directed to a fake site that asks for users to log in, thereby allowing hackers to steal sensitive credentials. Cybercriminals also use their fake sites for other means like selling counterfeit products of a well-recognized brand.
Due to the extensive variety in domain name extensions, cybercriminals have found it much easier to register domains that copy actual business sites or brand names. Alongside this, the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation allows privacy for domain registrars thereby making it much more difficult to track cybercriminals.
Cybersecurity experts warn users to always check the URL for a safety certificate – in which HTTPS is used rather than HTTP – to ensure a fraudulent site isn’t used. However, hackers can always use safety certificates to their advantage, posing their site as one that is legitimate. In this case, it’s always best to double-check the URL spelling or do a quick search on Google to find the actual company site.
In a recent filing with California’s Attorney General Office, 1-800-FLOWERS was revealed to be the victim of a silent malware attack that affected the business within a four year period. As the filing explains, customer credit card information was stolen from the Canadian branch’s website, while the main 1800Flowers.com website was unaffected.
What is interesting to note is how the malware affected the site for four years without any detection. During the time frame between August 15, 2014 and September 15, 2018, consumers’ first and last names, as well as card numbers, expiry dates, and security codes were all accessed by the unknown hacker(s).
The report did not disclose the number of consumers affected by the breach, but the company is required to inform its customers of the incident when a breach affects more than 500 people, this according to California law.
Interestingly enough, 1-800-FLOWERS was the second company to report a four-year long breach, as the Marriott was also affected within a four-year period when hackers stole 500 million guest records.
For now, the company recommends that all its customers keep a close watch on their payment records and to report any suspicious charges to their bank or issuing card company.
On Thursday, September 6th, British Airways announced they were the latest target of a data breach involving compromised credit card data of around 380,000 consumers.
In a statement, the airline clarifies how passport information was not affected by the breach. Financial details were said to be stolen between August 21 and September 5 from both the British Airways website and mobile application.
Due to negligence in data protection, British Airways may have a 4% fine in their hands, as GDPR data protection laws strictly target the global annual income of businesses that make such errors.
According to a security firm, hackers used skimming malware to gain access to consumer payment information. RiskIQ researcher Yonathan Klinjnsma explains how it took only 22 lines of injected code into the airline’s mobile and web platform for the breach to occur. Such online-skimming tactics aren’t new, as Ticketmaster UK was also hit by a similar breach back in June, this caused by the same hacker operatives known as “Magecart”.
“Magecart injects scripts designed to steal sensitive data that consumers enter into online payment forms on e-commerce websites directly or through compromised third-party suppliers used by these sites.”
Hackers specifically customized their coding structure to avoid any possible detection. Once consumers inputted their credit card information and hit “submit”, such data was “extracted…and sent to the attacker’s server,” Klinjnsma reports. Consumer names, including email and billing addresses were also collected.
“Magecart is [still] an active threat…[and has] been active since 2015…” he says. Hackers using this technique of information theft “have continually refined their tactics…to maximize [their] return…”
Consumers of the airline have been urged to get a new card after the breach was reported.
To avoid any further situations such as this, companies must always take precautionary steps of heightened security to ensure consumer data is safe, especially when sensitive information is involved.


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Want to catch a seasonal favorite flick outside of your living room? Look no further:… Read Entire Blog. Celebrity Headlines from AP. Dylan’s electric guitar from Newport up for sale. Fri Dec 06 05:51:22 EST 2013. Teen arrested in theft of part from Walker crash.
Amanda Bynes — Fit to Walk the Dog … After Leaving RehabTMZ.com
Amanda Bynes Leaves Treatment Center for Parents’ HomePeople Magazine
Amanda Bynes Leaves RehabTV Guide
E! Online –Los Angeles Times –CNN
all 384 news articles
Source: Google News Entertainment


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Hyundai plans to offer “subscriptions” its Ioniq EV like a cellphone plan, which it calls Ioniq Unlimited.
When the new Hyundai Ioniq battery-electric vehicle rolls into California showrooms next year, the Korean carmaker wants to create what it calls a “worry-free ownership experience.”
And that means it won’t sell you the Ioniq but instead let you subscribe, much the way you might when it’s time to trade in your old smartphone in a program called “Ioniq Unlimited.”
Auto Show News!
“We looked at the cellular phone industry,” explained David Zuchowski, CEO of Hyundai Motor America, “and nobody buys their phone. They sign up for a package.”
Ioniq is the dedicated platform Hyundai has developed, its response to the long-popular Toyota Prius. It will eventually be offered in three different forms, a plug-in hybrid version introduced earlier this year, with the pure battery-electric Ioniq making its debut on Wednesday at the Los Angeles Auto Show. A conventional hybrid version is set to follow next year.


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This October, a new 9.7 inch tablet with 3G capability is going to hit the market in India. Pantel Technologies, the makers of the new tablet, have yet to reveal the pricing structure, but it is expected to be financially competitive. The company already has a tie-up with state telecom operator BSNL for various 3G data plans.
“We are working on a host of products. We are planning 3G 9.7 inch model with a dual core processor which will be launched by October this year,” said Pantel Technologies Managing Director Vijender Singh.
There have been quite a few budget tablets launched in India and Pantel will have to offer superior computing at competitive prices to appeal to the customer base.


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Mobile operator reveals new eco-driving gadget is helping to cut emissions by around 20 per cent
Mobile operator O2 has become the latest company to debut eco-driving technology designed to help motorists enhance fuel efficiency and curb carbon emissions by encouraging them to adopt green driving...
Tech giant quadruples number of locations for US customers to hand in old iPhones as part of recycling and reuse drive
GreenBiz releases its latest update on soaring renewables demand from US corporates
Record amount of future new wind capacity will be financed from last year's investment, according to WindEurope
Nation known for its natural beauty is under pressure with extinctions, polluted rivers and blighted lakes


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OutRun™ 2006 Coast 2 Coast Goes Gold
New Video and Screens
OutRun™ 2006 Coast to Coast
has Gone Gold and the
final launch count down has started. With only one week away from shipping
OutRun™ 2006 Coast 2 Coast Sega has released a trailer and new screens.
OutRun™ 2006 Coast 2 Coast is
one of those games that brings back memories of summers past spent at the
arcade, and now you can have it in your own home.
OutRun™ 2006 Coast 2 Coast will be shipping to
stores nationwide on April 25th for the Sony PlayStation 2, PSP, and


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Stoli Group Unveils New Upscale Tequila, Villa OneAugust 28, 2019
Stoli Group has partnered with musician and actor Nick Jonas and fashion designer John Varvatos on a new high-end Tequila brand called Villa One. The new entry will debut nationally next month, including 100%-blue agave Silver ($45 a 750-ml.), Reposado ($50), and Añejo ($60) expressions made at Stoli Group’s Fabrica de Tequilas Finos distillery by master distiller Arturo Fuentes. All are at 40% abv.
The Villa One brand was inspired by a trip that Jonas and Varvatos took to Mexico last year. The duo is responsible for Villa One’s bottle design, which includes jewelry-inspired metalwork that’s a signature of the John Varvatos brand, and will promote the label under the tagline “Life as it should be.” Stoli Group acting president and CEO Rudy Costello noted that the ultra-premium Tequila space is continuing its strong growth trend, and is projected to expand by about 8% this year.
“At launch, we’re focusing on high-quality distribution channels and ensuring that the brand is introduced the right way,” Stoli noted in a statement to SND. “We own our own distillery, so we can manage demand along the way, but we do have long-term aspirations to compete with the top five tequilas in the ultra-premium sector.” Villa One joins the existing Cenote Tequila in Stoli Group’s brand stable.—Daniel MarstellerSubscribe to Shanken News Daily’s Email Newsletter, delivered to your inbox each morning.


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This is INTERCOT's WebDisney,
The Definitive Guide To Disney Information & Disney Web Sites. WebDisney currently has 219 sites
in our online directory for your surfing pleasure!
March 11, 2008
Iger Anticipates $1B Online Revenue
The Walt Disney Co. expects to collect $1 billion in revenue from online content this fiscal year, a significant rise from estimates for fiscal 2007, CEO Robert Iger announced. Iger told analysts the company has been "fairly aggressive" in expanding onto the Internet to extend consumer contact with its most popular franchises and create new revenue streams. "If we're not there, (people) will just access someone else's content," he said in comments.


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By Lorrie Baumann
The British government settled its own controversy about the sanitation of cheeses aged on wood a decade ago, and government regulators there have come down on the side of permitting cheese makers to age their cheeses as they think best, says the Right Honorable Owen Paterson, British Secretary of State for the Department of Environment, Food & Rural Affairs. “It should be the cheese manufacturers who decide what to do. They’ve got a long history,” he said. “We believe very strongly that people should be responsible for their own production systems. What counts is the outcome.”
The outcomes that count should be that food should be safe to eat and it should taste good, and the British government has decided that the way to achieve that is to let the experts who are making the products decide how to get to that goal, and the government learned that through its own missteps in trying to regulate cheese production methods, he said. “Cheese is not suited to being produced on plastic. It sweats,” he said. “It’s a natural product, and it sweats.”
Paterson stopped in to promote British food at the Summer Fancy Food Show on his way to a meeting with U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, with whom he’s negotiating a trade agreement that he says he’s “mad keen” to get through as a step in opening up the American market to more food imports from the European Union. He says that British food producers are well positioned to capitalize on access to the American market. Americans ar already enthusiastic about British products and are already purchasing $3.5 billion/year worth of British food products — about 10 percent of British food exports. British food production is a $170 billion/year industry that employs just under 4 million people. “It’s by far the most innovated food sector in Europe,” Paterson said. As an example of how fast British food production is growing, he points to Walkers, which has gone from a small family bakery with 16 employees baking shortbread cookies to a large enterprise that currently employs 1,600 people in a business that’s based primarily on exports. And shortbread isn’t the only Scottish product that’s enjoying the world’s good opinion, he said. “The French drink more Scotch whisky in a month than the French drink French cognac in a year,” he said. “We’ve got more varieties of cheese than the French have.”
The British dairy industry has been deregulated and is poised for growth at a time when world demand for dairy products is growing hugely, Paterson said. “We’re ideally placed to take advantage of it,” he said. “I opened the world’s largest fresh milk dairy inn Aylesbury last week.” Britain is home to the only USDA cheese producer in Europe, which introduced the Kingdom brand of cheddar cheese in the U.S. late last year. The milk in Kingdom Cheddar comes from a small group of organic family farmers in South-West England, where cheddar cheesemaking first began in the 12th century. “We use old-world artisan techniques, conducted under today’s exacting organic standards, which makes for an exceptional product,” said Nicola Turner, Export and Marketing Director at the Organic Milk Suppliers Cooperative (OMSCo,) the largest organic dairy farmers’ co-operative in the UK. OMSCo manages the production of Kingdom Cheddar.
Paterson recommends the Kingdom Cheddar along with other British cheeses, which are made with a long history of cheese production, very modern plants with rigorous production standards and a great deal of innovation in presenting new varieties and flavors of cheeses onto the market, he said. “These guys are really motoring, and there’s potentially a huge market.”
Along with cheese, Paterson aims to provide new opportunities for British meat exports into the U.S. Americans are ready to eat British beef again, he said. “They love eating British beef when they come to London,” he said. Britain has the landscape and the beef breeds, including the Aberdeen Angus, to export high-quality grass-fed beef to an American public that will welcome it, he said. And after he’s gotten beef coming to America, his next step will be to follow up with lamb. “There are a lot of Americans of Scottish descent who are being prevented from exercising their ancestral right to eat haggis,” he said.


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YU and Cyanogen Go Through Breakup Says Lenovo
YU Televentures and Cyanogen seem to be going through a breakup it seems, as Lenovo is shouting that ZUK smartphones with Cyanogen are India bound. The 2014 YU and Cyanogen exclusive partnership left OnePlus in dirty muddy waters struggling to launch the OnePlus One in the region.
This could also mean that the company’s next handset seen running Android 5.1 may or may not come with Cyanogen. Lenovo is working on its online brand ZUK for a while and will be launching in India soon.
The ZUK Z1 running Cyanogen 12.1 based on Android 5.1 Lollipop and comes with 64 GB of storage for a price of Rs. 18500 approximately in China. However it is expected to hit the Indian market for roughly Rs. 19,999.


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Date Published: 1 March 2006
UK Food Standards Agency 2005 survey reveals a more health-conscious consumer
The Food Standards Agency is today publishing its sixth UK-wide Consumer Attitudes to Food survey. The annual survey reveals that an increasing number of consumers say they are taking an active interest in their food and diet, with more people checking food labels and trying to eat more fruit and vegetables.
The 2005 survey highlights a number of diet and health trends that have emerged since 2000, these include:
- A significant yearly increase in the number of consumers who are aware that we should eat at least 5 portions of a variety of fruit and vegetables each day. An additional one-quarter of consumers are now aware that we should eat at least 5 portions compared to respondents in 20001.
- An increase in the number of consumers who say they look at nutritional information on food labels, with an additional third of consumers saying they check food labels for the salt/sodium content2.
- An increase in the number of consumers who claim to be eating more vegetables, salads and fruit compared to a year ago3.
- An increase in the number of consumers claiming to never eat ready-made meals4.
- An increase, from 2003, in the number of consumers who claim to prepare/cook a meal from raw ingredients at least once a day5.
- An increase in the proportion of consumers claiming to sit down together for a main meal at least once a day6.
Gill Fine, Director of Consumer Choice and Dietary Health at the Food Standards Agency said:
" It's encouraging that the Agency's survey shows a growing awareness among consumers towards healthier eating. The rise in the number of people who say they are eating more fruit and veg, and checking their food labels shows a real shift in attitudes since the Agency first began these surveys in 2000.
_ It's also reassuring that consumers who are aware of the FSA, rate it as an organisation they feel they can trust and that there is a rise in the number in consumers who say they are confident in the role played by the FSA regarding food safety issues."
Along with tracking awareness of key food issues, the 2005 Consumer Attitudes survey also highlighted consumers' rising awareness of the FSA and its role in providing clear consumer advice. Figures of note include:
- Consumer awareness of the FSA now stands at a new high after increasing steadily since 20007
- A substantial increase, from 2001, in the number of consumers who believe the FSA is an organisation that they can trust8
- A substantial increase, from 2000, in the number of consumers who described themselves as confident about the Agency's role in protecting health with regard to food safety9
- A decrease in the number of consumers who feel that the FSA reflects the views of the food industry10
- An increase in the number of consumers who are more likely to cite the FSA as an organisation that they would use for information compared with previous years11
- A substantial increase in the number of consumers who believe that the FSA provides clear advice12
- A decline in the number of consumers expressing concern over BSE13
The Consumer Attitudes Survey is conducted annually by the Food Standards Agency to provide a better understanding of attitudes, knowledge, behaviour, and awareness among the public with regards to food standards and safety. The first study, in 2000 (published January 2001) enabled benchmarks to be set, and each additional study allows the Agency to track changes in behaviour and attitude, and measure trends. TNS conducted over 3,000 interviews among a representative sample of the UK population. Interviews were conducted face-to-face in people's homes between 5 September and 16 October 2005.


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From today, all Xbox players can enjoy more than 50 free-to-play games without an Xbox Live Gold membership, Microsoft revealed in a blog post.
Microsoft announced in January a steep price rise to Xbox Live, essentially increasing the cost of the service needed to play Xbox games online. Fans reacted not so very happily—and swiftly. Less than 24 hours later, Microsoft reversed its course.
Xbox Live Gold memberships would remain at the price they were listed at prior to the first announcement: $10 for a month, $25 for three months, or $60 for a year.
Microsoft said that players no longer needed an Xbox Live Gold subscription to play famous free-to-play online games like Fortnite, Destiny 2, Apex Legends, and Rocket League, upending a years-long policy.
Microsoft said the change would take some time to fully complete and just last month began rolling the feature out for members of the Xbox Insider program at the Alpha and Alpha Skip Ahead tiers.
Now, anyone can enjoy the free games. Here’s the complete list of playable games.


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Ford to cut jobs
On May 20, Ford Motor Company (F) joined the other automakers that have cut their salaried workforces in the United States to save on costs in the last couple of years.
This morning, Ford announced a 10% cut in its global salaried employee base. The move will affect nearly 7,000 workers worldwide, including 2,300 workers in the United States. In a press release related to the announcement, the company’s CEO, Jim Hackett, emphasized the importance of cutting costs and reducing bureaucracy in order to succeed.
Job cuts in the US auto industry
Last year, General Motors (GM), the largest US automaker, announced the closure of five plants in North America and a cut in its salaried staff. The company said the move was important for the improvement of its overall business performance. Of the five affected factories, four were located in the United States. General Motors received severe criticism from President Donald Trump, who threatened to cut all subsidies to the company.
In February 2019, American-Italian auto giant Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCAU) announced its plan to lay off nearly 1,371 employees from its Illinois assembly plant in the United States.
Similarly, electric carmaker Tesla (TSLA) has laid off nearly 7% of its full-time salaried employees. Tesla CEO Elon Musk said the move was important for the company’s survival to enable it to deliver affordable and sustainable products.
Why Trump bears responsibility
The automobile industry is cyclical in nature, so we can’t blame anyone for weakening US vehicle sales. However, America’s ongoing trade tensions with China and other European nations, which were triggered by President Trump, have worsened the situation for automakers to a great extent lately.
Rising trade tariffs between the two countries have taken a big toll on automakers’ profitabilities and affected their international market competitiveness, especially in China. Without sound profitability and strong vehicle demand, it’s nearly impossible for automakers to survive the huge cost burden. Hence, President Trump’s decision to escalate trade tensions could be blamed for automakers’ cost-cutting measures, including their job cuts.


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MELVILLE, NY, June 29, 2021– Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, today announced the RF14-35mm F4 L IS USM lens. This dramatic new lens brings 14mm, ultra-wide-angle coverage to full-frame EOS R-series users. On top of the ultra-wide capabilities, the 14-35mm zoom range is the broadest ever in a Canon wide-angle zoom for full-frame AF cameras. For many Canon users, one single lens can potentially handle all wide-angle needs, from vivid, creative ultra-wide imagery to traditional street photography.
The new wide-angle lens is designed for use within the expanding family of EOS R full-frame mirrorless cameras, including the upcoming EOS R3, currently in development. Whether you capture stills, video, or like many creatives today – both – this new wide-angle lens from Canon can help elevate users’ content game when capturing images or video in a wide variety of situations, such as landscape, architecture, and travel.
Preorder the Canon RF 14-35mm f/4L IS USM $1699 Continue reading “Canon officially announces the RF 14-35mm f/4L IS USM”
Along with the RF 14-35mm f/4L IS USM lens, Canon will allegedly announce two RF lenses in the near future. These optics would be the RF 16mm f/2.8 and RF 70-400mm f/5.6-7.1 IS USM lenses.
The Canon RF 70-400mm f/5.6-7.1 IS USM lens is a non-L lens. The aperture of the Canon RF 70-400mm lens has not yet been confirmed, but it is rumored for F5.6-7.1.
The Canon RF 16mm f/2.8 lens is also a non-L prime lens which has not appeared on the roadmap until now. This lens is probably for a full-frame sensor, but it may also be a very useful wide-angle lens for APS-C cameras. I don’t think this lens will have a macro function. Continue reading “Canon RF 16mm f/2.8 and RF 70-400mm f/5.6-7.1 IS USM Lenses Coming Soon”
Looks like the next lens from Canon will be the RF 14-35mm f/4L IS USM Lens. The lens hood is EW-83P. The details and announcement date is still unknown at the moment.
Nokishita confirmed that Canon will soon announce a new RF 14-35mm f/4L IS USM lens, which will be equipped with an EW-83P hood.
As you know Canon introduced the EOS R3 with a development announcement. So before the Tokyo Olympics we expect the Canon EOS R3 to be announced officially. This announcement will also bring many new Canon RF lenses. First one would be the Canon RF 14-35mm f/4L IS USM Lens. Continue reading “Coming Next : Canon RF 14-35mm f/4L IS USM Lens”
It is good to have Canon news for the upcoming EOS R3 mirrorless camera. But the company isn’t done yet as latest Canon rumors indicates that many lenses coming at one time in the second half of 2021.
As you know Canon introduced the EOS R3 with a development announcement. So before the Tokyo Olympics we expect the Canon EOS R3 to be announced officially. This announcement will also bring many new Canon RF lenses. Here are the details. Continue reading “Canon Rumors : Many Lenses Coming in the Second Half of 2021”
Here are the latest updates for Canon RF lenses. In this article you can find the RF series lenses expected to be released in the next two years. So this is the updated Canon RF Lens Roadmap for 2021 & 2022.
To date, Canon has offered great lenses for the RF mount and demonstrated how committed it is to a full frame mirrorless camera system. Canon Rumors has combined all the latest rumors about RF mount lenses in a neat list. Below you can find the other Canon RF lenses that is expected to arrive in 2021. There will be a total 17 new RF lenses coming in 2021 and 2022, including “ground-breaking” TS-R autofocus tilt-shift lenses for the RF mount.
Here is the updated Canon RF lenses roadmap that will be mentioned over the next two years.
The cameras that can use the RF mount are:
- Canon EOS R – $1,799 at Amazon, B&H, Adorama.
- Canon EOS RP – $1299 at B&H, Adorama, Amazon.
- Canon EOS Ra – $2,499 at Adorama and B&H.
- Canon EOS R5 – $3,899 at Amazon, B&H, Adorama.
- Canon EOS R6 – $2,499 at Amazon, B&H, Adorama.
Continue reading “Canon RF Lens Roadmap for 2021 & 2022”


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Three Startups Selected For DEMO Africa Innovation Tour In Ghana
DEMO Africa, in co-function with MEST Africa, is putting in efforts to making the Ghana, Accra Innovation Tour a success. From a group of 9, Complete Farmer, DevLess, and RedBird were selected as the three startups that pitched for a chance to vie for the West Africa representative at the DEMO Africa launch event this October in Morocco.
As an Agritech startup, Complete Farmer brings about significant and innovative agribusiness solutions to clients to up the productivity scale, increase profitability and help them gain the competitive upper-hand across the agricultural chain of value.
DevLess is into the provision of user-friendly data storage for web and mobile applications, as well as application object that reduces the number of code developers write to handle the complex functionalities that apps come with.
In the health sector, RedBird is a tech startup that liaises with pharmacies and endorsed chemical outlets to bring them verified rapid test technology that will help chronic and acute conditions. This enables such businesses to expand their enterprises, equally giving patients a comfy way to keep tabs with their health, regardless of their locations.
Philippe Greinacher of MEST Africa, Abdul-Latif Issahaku of MTN Ghana and Danny Kofi-Armah from Viamo are the three respected personnel that would comprise the panel of judges, to which the representatives of the competing startups pitched their products. But out of the nine that showcased, Complete Farmer, DevLess, and RedBird emerged winners of the Accra edition. The other seven competitors were Joluud, Trucker, Qualitrace, Damansah, Bidii Build and InvestXD.
In his remarks, the MEST Accra Incubator Community Manager, Sylvan Lewin expressed that MEST is proud to collaborate with DEMO Africa, with who they have a shared mission of assisting and empowering entrepreneurs from Africa. According to him, his “Community had a remarkable time playing host to the Ghana edition of the DEMO Africa Innovation Tour, and we are excited to see a trio of MEST companies compete in the next round. We are eager to work with DEMO Africa again to further bring more African talent into the global limelight”.
In a faceoff, the Ghana triple threat will compete with Nigeria and Ivory Coast to stand a chance to represent West Africa at the launch of the conclave, which holds 18th and 19th October, in Morocco. The regional startups that pull through will automatically qualify for the round of 30, where competitors will be provided with resources worth more than USD 150 K including USD 120 K software tools from Microsoft and USD 15 K from AWS to help them expand their businesses.
DEMO Africa is one of the flagship initiatives of Lions@frica that is geared towards connecting African startups to the global ecosystem. The DEMO Africa stage presents a platform for the most innovative companies across Africa to launch their products and announce their solutions to the world.


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The bulk of liquor sales in the province of Ontario is done through the government retail agency, the LCBO, which brings in a good deal of revenue to the public coffers. The current leader of the provincial opposition, a loathsome little troll who never heard of a privatization idea he didn't like, would eventually like to privatize it if he ever gets elected. Given that this sneering nitwit takes all his life lessons from his mentor, a former premier who gutted the province, did away with regulations, caused tremendous damage to the province and turned people against each other (and actually has the deaths of citizens to his name), I'm inclined to never, ever vote for that party while it's being held hostage by neo-con jackals.
Here in Ontario, there's a healthy number of wineries based out of the north shore of Lake Erie and the Niagara peninsula. I was in an LCBO store in December, and the unusual names of these two bottles side by side amused me.


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Facebook has updates its Pages Manager app for Android and iOS.
With the latest update, Facebook basically wishes to give app users the same features admin usually find on the web version of the admin panel.
Now users will be able to manage admin rights directly from the app, including adding new admins and modifying roles, and even create new pages. Other new features include:
- Get improved insights right on the app
- Upload multiple photos in one post
- Edit cover photo
- Create and event hosted by the page (iOS only)
- Facebook Allows Admins to Monitor Competition with ‘Pages to Watch’
- Foursquare Will Now Ask for Your Feedback on Places
More from Facebook
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Facebook announced it's introducing cost cap, a new bidding type that will help advertisers maximise their cost efficiency by getting …


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Mumbai-based Mswipe Technologies, a startup that offers cost effective point-of-sale (PoS) solutions on mobile phones, has raised an undisclosed amount in a first round of funding from Matrix Partners India. The company went live with its Mswipe PoS terminals four months ago and claims to have already deployed the terminals with 4,000 merchants across the country.
The Mswipe terminal enables merchants to accept debit and credit card payments using their Android, iOS or other feature phones. “Other than conventional brick-and-mortar stores, the solution enables card acceptance by insurance agents, home delivery services providers etc. Merchants have access to their transaction records on their mobile phones as well as a host of online reports,” MSwipe founder Manish Patel said in a press release yesterday. The company has partnered with Prizm Payment Solutions and Axis Bank to provide merchants a comprehensive card acceptance service. It currently employs 40 people. “Mswipe is an early leader in creating a low cost, mobile POS infrastructure in India,” Matrix managing director Rishi Navani said.
The Mumbai-based Matrix Partners, which takes a multi-stage investment approach here, renewed its focus on early stage startups last July when it launched a seed stage investment programme that targets startups in the Internet and mobile segments. Mswipe is possibly part of the seed programme portfolio, though the press release did not specify whether it was a seed stage or Series A stage deal. The firm raised a $300 million second India fund in April 2011, taking its total India-dedicated funds under management to $750 million. Some of its deals from 2012 include Twist Mobile, LimeRoad, Mewar Orthopaedic and Enhance Aesthetic.
Image credit: Mswipe


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The Boston Consulting Group (BCG), Boston, Mass., surveyed 1,000 executives and managers across many industries to examine the status and expectations of artificial intelligence (AI) adoption. The analysis revealed that “use of AI can reduce producers’ conversion costs by up to 20%, with up to 70% of the cost reduction resulting from higher workforce productivity.” AI was particularly useful in generating more sales when used to produce products tailored to specific customers with faster delivery times.
The survey revealed that transportation and logistics, automotive and technology companies are at the forefront of AI adoption, while process industries (such as chemicals) lag behind. Companies in the United States, China and India have taken a lead in adoption over their counterparts in such countries as Japan, France and Germany.
While companies in emerging nations such as China tend to be enthusiastic about these benefits, those in many industrialized nations, such as Germany, have a more conservative view. Because German companies have also fallen behind in developing detailed plans for AI adoption, their status as laggards is likely to persist.
The survey results also indicate that industrial producers must significantly ramp up their implementation efforts if they are to achieve their ambitions for AI. Technology alone will not make it happen. To tap into the full potential of AI, companies must consider at an organizational level all of the necessary enablers.
This report also contains critical insights on the adoption of next-generation supply chain technology, including blockchain for supply chains, building the future supply chain workforce, last-mile logistics, leadership in the digital future, cybersecurity and predictive analytics.


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Australians over the age of 50 have the highest levels of wealth and disposable income, outspend millennial’s in entertainment, auto, health, travel and almost every other category – but are largely ignored by brands, according to new research.
The WPP AUNZ report called Secrets & Lies – Ageless and Booming – also reveals that a whopping 94% of the over 50s dislike the way organisations and marketers communicate with them.
Rose Herceg, chief strategy officer and Futurist with WPP AUNZ said the new study shows Australians aged 50+ are clearly booming in number, and lifestyle, and embracing life with ambition, purpose, and money in their pockets.
But this ‘ageless’ outlook by the over 50s is poorly understood by marketers who often misfire with the demographic.
Herceg said: “More than a quarter of all Australians are over 50, they have 46 per cent of our disposable income, and 50 per cent of our private wealth and yet it’s almost impossible to find organisations and brands that understand this high value audience.
“This is all the more startling when you consider the unrivalled opportunity that lies in their enormous purchasing power.
“It appears that marketing has an ageing blind spot – and as a result, many may be missing out on a significant new target.”
She added: “As an industry, we need to deconstruct every outdated idea about people over 50.
“We need to realise that they’re connected, they’re calling their own shots and they don’t like being labelled.”
She concluded: “To ignore them is folly – and misrepresenting them with bland imagery or assuming they are winding their lives down risks rejection.
“That could be a very expensive communications mistake to make in what is a highly challenging, and ever-changing marketplace.”
Herceg said that contrary to popular belief, the over 50s are not slowing down, disconnecting or opting out. Instead the new Ageless & Booming report shows:
- The over 50s spend about $40 billion more than millennials and Generation X each year on consumer goods purchased online
- They spend an average of 27 hours online each week; two hours longer than Millennials and Generation X
- 77 per cent regularly research and buy products online
- They also purchase a huge 64 per cent of all cars, 55 per cent of all travel, 50 per cent of all alcohol and more than half of new clothing, household items and furnishings
Herceg said that despite this incredible purchasing power, as an industry, less than 5 per cent of the briefs received from marketers specifically target the over 50s.
Herceg continued: “It appears that most brands and marketers fail to understand that the over 50s audience is a new kind of mass consumer, just as interested in ‘new’ as everyone else.
“So instead of continuing to ignore them, we need to get smarter and start targeting them with the vibrant and optimistic messaging that reflects their outlook on life.
“We need to engage them with the rigour and vigour they deserve.”
The new research also shows that despite what many may assume, the over 50s are not blindly loyal, with 89 per cent of the over 50s open to trying new brands, while a further 79 per cent having moved on from brands that are no longer fulfilling or meaningful.
Herceg explained: “Change is in the generational DNA of the over 50s.
“We know they’ll happily move on from products or services that no longer meet their needs, and they are happy to forge new relationships with brands and people.”
To help brands forge these relationships and better connect with the over 50s, WPP AUNZ has identified a six-point action plan for marketers which includes the following recommendations for marketers:
- Get forensic and make sure you understand the data around this powerful demographic; their consumer behaviour, purchasing habits and intentions. There’s a significant new market to explore
- Invent new ways, new models, new products and new brand positions to connect with this audience
- Ensure you are reflecting the vibrancy and optimism of the over 50s; they’re gearing up, not down
- Recognise the change, and evaluate what role your brand or organisation can play for an audience that’s changing their lives
- Differentiate between 50 and 80. The over 50s are not a homogenous group. Investigate their various sub-segments and target them accordingly.
- Model diversity. Ensure your organisation values the skills, expertise and voices of the over 50s
As a result of the research and the recommended action plan, WPP AUNZ itself is currently evaluating how it can better market to the demographic, and is also investigating ways it can represent age diversity better within the organisation.
Herceg concluded: “Those of us in the marketing industry have so far failed to fully appreciate and embrace this audience.
“But there’s still plenty of time. We are urging a rethink across the industry.
“After all, those organisations and brands that accurately relate to, and connect with, this audience will win their attention and gain a bigger share of wallet in an otherwise shrinking Australian market.”
Ageless & Booming is the third and latest research report in a series called Secrets & Lies, which analyses the difference between what Australians say and what they think or do.
In this guest post, founders of The Daily Aus Sam Koslowski and Zara Seidler discuss why in order to stay in the game and keep its user, social media giant Facebook needs to do more to combat hate speech… For young Australians, Facebook is on the decline. Unless the platform better responds to its user’s […]
A brave move has paid dividends for Baskin-Robbins Australia who recently announced they won the award for Best Digital Initiative at last week’s QSR Media Awards. Baskin-Robbins Australia’s Master Licensee, Palm Oasis Ventures took a risk in launching a digital winter campaign targeting a new millennial and Gen Z demographic when it partnered with Netflix to launch season 3 of the streaming giant’s most popular show, the sci-fi horror series, Stranger Things.
Leading eCommerce website development agency, Convert Digital, has achieved the coveted Magento Gold Status from Adobe. This accomplishment has been reached following the agency’s continuing work with the Magento 2 platform - platform that is incredibly robust and offers unrivalled flexibility and scalability.
Influencer marketing agency Born Bred Talent has partnered with the Starlight Children’s Foundation to mobilise their talent roster and support the Stream Raiser campaign, contributing over $95k in donations thanks to virtual fundraising efforts. With a combined reach of 6.2 million across Instagram, TikTok and Twitch, 9 Australian influencers contributed 76% of the $124k raised […]
In 2020, the ‘new wave’ of youth consumers have inspired the world with their activism and fundraising, so eGEN is proud to have partnered with UNICEF, Loserfruit and friends to help gamers fight COVID and help the world’s most vulnerable children. The world’s most famous strawberry will be joined by her Click crew for a […]
Silverbullet Data Services Group (Silverbullet), has become one of only four businesses globally to achieve Adobe Specialisation in EMEA for Adobe Audience Manager. Adobe Specialised Partners are acknowledged as the most skilled technical practitioners throughout the global partner ecosystem. Specialisations are earned after organisations achieve a level of certified expertise in an Adobe solution and […]
Food company General Mills has partnered with Zyper, a marketing platform that connects brands with their superfans, to build virtual fan communities for General Mills’ brands. As part of the agreement, General Mills will use Zyper’s software to initially identify the Betty Crocker and Fibre One brands’ top one per cent of fans on social […]
Facebook is continuing its Facebook Australia Groups Impact Fund, today announcing $500,000 in funding for the program. The grant was originally designated for bushfire recovery groups, however, has now been extended to local communities across the country who might be facing hardship. Facebook said it is on the lookout for groups that have a positive […]


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The gap is closing.
Apple is in for one hell of a fight. For the first time since the Once-and-future Steve returned from Pixar, the revolutionary computer giant has a legitimate rival. Two of them, in fact. Lenovo and Samsung have both zeroed in on Apple. They want the iPhone's market share. They want the iPad's market share. And they've got a blistering array of shiny gizmos to back those dreams up.
Buy Now: Sony PlaysStation VR In Stock Here
Samsung has sold more than 2 million Galaxy Tabs in just three months, and 2010 saw Samsung's highest revenue ever. The Galaxy S has sold 10 million units, and a sequel is due out in the first half of this year. We're also likely to see a new Galaxy Tab very soon.
In a way, Samsung's approach to the smartphone market may be wiser than the one Apple has taken. By launching the Galaxy S on every carrier Samsung has succeeded in making a tremendous initial impact on Android. Which will be the dominant OS around 2012.
Now that the iPhone has spread to Verizon, Apple has much better odds of holding off that changing-of-the-guard. But Apple's command of the US smartphone market will end, and it seems like the same thing is destined to happen to the tablet market. Things don't look much better overseas.
Lenovo is firing with both barrels at Apple's inroads to China. I spoke with a Lenovo rep at CES 2011 about the LePad- he said very clearly that it was designed to dominate the Chinese tablet market. Which is one justification for its late-2011 entry to the US market. Lenovo is already the PC king of China. But I think they envision themselves as an Apple of the East. They've got the swagger- the next year will show us if they have the sense of innovation.
Don't Miss: iPhone 8: Everything You Need to Know
While Apple has another two or three years at the top of the pile, this current period of Apple-philia is likely a high-water mark. I'm not predicting imminent doom, but the days where the entire industry will turn on an Apple press conference are numbered. Unless they can create a new market (ala the iPad) every four or five years, Apple seems destined to one day join the "pack" they strive so hard to stay ahead of.


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Covid-19 and Made in the USA
A look into how the Covid-19 crisis is changing America’s Manufacturing
Entering week 6 of government-mandated stay at home orders, millions of Americans have filed for unemployment, non-essential businesses are required to stay closed. With everything that is going on involving the Covid-19 pandemic, it is easy to get caught up in the hysteria of dread.
My family is at the brunt of it all. We operate a small, family-run, furniture manufacturing shop that is located in queens. The shop has been shut down since the beginning of the pandemic and we’ve all been wondering when the state of the country will go back to normal, or the new normal. When our lives can start again, and the factory is going to start producing again. The concern is not just for ourselves and the state of the company, it is for the workers. The 80 employees that are supported by the business. If the shop is not able to open up soon, what will happen to them? And with no income coming in, how will the shop be able to support them?
Made in America is a term that is under a lot of pressure now. Manufacturing in the United States has been on a steady decline, as it has become too expensive to produce in this country and more profitable to produce in countries like China and India. But Made in the USA is what allowed this country to prosper. American Made products that circulated our economy within our country, allowing Americans to support Americans without having to compromise price and quality. Made in the USA has been threatened for a while now, and it is up to us as Americans to defend it. American Manufacturing is a tradition in this country that provide millions of jobs for the American people. Being unable to produce goods at the moment, what will the state of the dwindling American manufacturing look like once the country is able to fully open up again?
Contrary to the popular anxiety, there is actually a lot of evidence that suggests the Manufacturers will be able to prosper when the country is finally able to open. Despite being closed down for months, once the shops are able to open up again there will be product orders waiting for them, and jobs ready to be started.
The economy is climbing back up. When the pandemic hit the United States panic swept the nation. Causing a rapid dip in the economic landscape of the country. However, now that the dust is settling, the economy is starting to get back on track. It is not fully recovered, and it won't be for a while, but the Dow and S&P have been moving up since March 23rd. Which is a really good sign and suggests the country will be able to recover with less damage.
In the past months, Americans have also grown weary of our dependence on foreign manufacturing for goods, and essential products. Since the start of the virus, it has been difficult for Americans to get the goods they need that are produced in foreign countries. Some of the most important items on this long list are ventilators, face masks, and penicillin.
Back in the beginning of March the largest threat to America was the possibility of China withholding exports of penicillin and raw antibiotics to America. Which would leave many Americans sick and suffering from treatable diseases. It is surprising to see that China was able to gain a monopoly over such an essential drug. The American people were shocked at our inability to produce or supply essential products. How does the world's largest pharmaceutical industry and the 5th largest pharmaceutical exporter not produce an essential drug like penicillin?
When discussing the shortage of medical supplies in New York (specifically masks, hospital gowns, and face shields), governor Cuomo stated “It is unbelievable to me that in New York state, in the United States of America, we cant makes these materials. And that we are all shopping China to try to get these materials. And we’re all competing against each other.” His stance continues “It is the cruelest irony that this nation (The USA) is now dependent on China for production of many of these products.”
Americans Agree with Cuomo, they want America to be less dependent on foreign economies for the production of our goods, but especially our necessities. The dark impact no one expected, of the fall of the American manufacturing system, was revealed during the Covid-19 crisis. While most people were focused on the increase of outsourcing effect on American Jobs, the true crippling effect of the lack of manufacturing was the reliance on unreliable countries.
Bringing manufacturing back to America is more complicated than the American people wanting it to happen. The state of the United States economy, minimum wage rates, government restrictions, and technology all play factors in the reviving of the American manufacturing industry. All four of these aspects that tribute to production in America have shifted over the past decade, making manufacturing in America more beneficial. Since 2004, America has seen an increase in manufacturing. The key attributes of American Manufacturing are innovative technologies. Companies that brought the most secure manufacturing jobs to America, were companies that produced innovative machinery that cut the cost of manufacturing.
In order to continue to grow American Manufacturing, we must adjust to the economic climate. Understand what America produces and figure out how to produce it better. The production of these technologies will open up jobs in the engineering fields, as well as the manufacturing fields that are able to use these innovative machines in manufacturing. We must be more efficient and intelligent creators if we want to produce in America. Bringing back American manufacturing will take dedication to innovative ideas and creative problem-solving skills that will launch us into the future. We cannot look at American manufacturing as what it once was, but as what it could be. The future of industry in America relies on the creative minds that look to the future of this country.
The United States needs to become more self-sufficient if it is going to continue to prosper. The Covid-19 crisis revealed our weakest link. We must acknowledge the error and learn from it. So that in the next crisis we can be fully prepared for it.


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Yahoo wants to make messaging more intimate by adding true emotion to emails and texts
Wed 25 Mar 2015
Researchers at Yahoo Mail are developing ways to employ sensors in smartphones and other wearable devices to change the way we communicate emotions and sensations via text and email messages.
States of mind and stress levels are the types of intimate emotion Yahoo is looking to transmit with the launch of the new service. Sentiment has been found to be particularly hard to pick up on across email and text, and messages are often misinterpreted. Yahoo hopes to solve this problem by taking advantage of technology already available in mobile devices, including heart rate monitors, orientation sensors and speed detectors.
“We’re only really using three or four sensors properly now,” said Yahoo Mail chief Jeff Bonaparte.
“With more sensors, we could pretty soon understand 1,000 different points of information from an email. I want to know what someone else is experiencing right now,” he continued, adding that “messaging will go in that direction […] far more emotionally connecting.”
However, many have raised concern that this software could lead to sticky situations with users betraying their true emotions involuntarily.
In an interview with The Times, Bonaforte said that the technology could for example direct a smartwatch or fitness band to pulse when stress levels peak. He also suggested a smartphone could cool in your hand if you receive a message from someone in a cold location.
“If my wife was emailing me about going to the doctor, should my watch indicate that her blood pressure is higher?” he said. “Messaging should get more intimate – that’s what we strive for.”
A new feature launching next month with the AppleWatch plays with this potential. Digital Touch will allow users to record their heart rate and send it to their connections. The recipient’s smartwatch will constrict to let them know the data has been received.


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H&M Top Ranked For Environmental Efforts
Since 1995, H&M has been working actively to reduce the use and impact of hazardous chemicals. With the help of our Chemical Restrictions, we limit the use of chemicals that are potentially harmful to health or the environment. In addition, as a leading actor with a well reputed chemicals management approach, H&M teamed up with other fashion and sport brands during 2011 to help lead our industry to zero discharge of hazardous chemicals.
Now our engagement within this field is recognized in a current report, Sustainable Apparel´s Critical Blind Spot, by the Chinese NGO Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs (IPE). This is the second report IPE issues on the subject of brands work on pollution in their supply chain in China and brand’s responses to IPE’s questions on this topic. H&M’s dedicated work in China is regarded as a very good case in the industry and we are ranked at the very top of the list.
- This is both evidence of the results we are achieving with the work we are doing in our supply chain and a good case of proactive stakeholder interaction, says Helena Helmersson, Head of Sustainability at H&M.
In their report, IPE declares that H&M is not only using environmental information disclosed by the Chinese government to manage their supply chain. IPE also states that since the release of their first report H&M have made excellent progress and proactively looked into all the cases that IPE raised. H&M have now set a bench-mark for good practice by providing IPE with a quarterly report on results and follow-up actions. IPE hope that other brands could follow these good examples and look forward to more leading work from H&M in the future.
Read the full report here.
Please learn more about how we manage sustainability in H&M´s most recent sustainability report: www.hm.com/consciousactions2011


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LOS ANGELES, Nov 22 — Kendall and Kylie Jenner are celebrating curves with their first plus-size clothing collection.
The sisters’ Kendall + Kylie fashion brand has unveiled an inclusively-sized series for the lifestyle label Ashley Stewart, kicking off with a Holiday 2019 collection. Two further product drops are scheduled for 2020.
The debut Ashley Stewart X Kendall + Kylie collection — which is now available on AshleyStewart.com — spans tops, bottoms, dresses, jumpsuits, jackets and accessories, all of which will be available to purchase in sizes 10-24.
“Ashley Stewart’s core mission has always been to advocate for women, which includes providing her with equal access to the fashion styles they love, so we’re proud to be the brand to launch Kendall + Kylie’s first ever inclusively sized collection to the Ashley Stewart family and our ever expanding community base,” said James Rhee, Chairman and CEO of Ashley Stewart, in a statement.
Supermodel Kendall and makeup entrepreneur Kylie first got into the fashion game in 2012, when they launched a debut collection for Pacsun. Today, their Kendall + Kylie line is stocked in more than 1,200 stores worldwide and online, with partners including Selfridges, Nordstrom and Revolve. — AFP-Relaxnews


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Social slot machine gaming has declined on the Zynga platform as of late. Still, the social gaming company has been able to report record revenues. This was the first time that it has been able to turn a profit at all since 2010. Right when some people wanted to count them down and out, the company rebounded by posting great numbers.
A lot of the concern for the company stemmed from the fact that they had less than appealing numbers in terms of social slot machine games. There were fewer players on those games, and that should have been something that contributed to the general decline of revenues in general for the company many people assumed. However, that was not necessarily the case. Instead, the company was able to post the best numbers that they have ever had.
The success is being attributed to the fact that the company has always been “mobile first” oriented. In other words, they have focused on how to put their content on the smartphones of their users rather than just out on the Internet as a whole. That matters to a lot of people because many people turn to their phones well before they turn to their computers these days.
Harpan Solitare and Peak Games were two companies acquired by Zynga in the past year, and that has helped to boost those revenues as well. In short, Zynga appears healthier than ever as social gaming remains something that is here to stay for the long term.


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ALBANY, GA (WALB) - An Albany dealership is asking for the public's help with recovering three stolen cars.
Surveillance video shows three people breaking into the Albany Honda dealership on Saturday.
General Sales Manager Dexter Cutts said they kicked in a service door.
Cutts explained they went into the showroom and stole several keys, then used the stolen keys to take two new Honda Civics and one Honda Accord. Each was worth about $25,000.
Cutts hopes someone in the community will recognize the three in the video.
"If you see something, say something. Let us know and we'll be eternally grateful for any help we can get from the community," said Cutts.
He said someone also damaged a Ford Fusion.
Cutts said the damages and losses added up to over $80,000.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the Albany Police Department or the dealership.
Copyright 2017 WALB. All rights reserved.


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We hear about cyber attacks on a depressingly regular basis, but what exactly are some of the implications of an attack?
Probably the most important factor for many businesses is the financial impact of a breach. With nearly half of all UK businesses suffering some form of breach over the past 12 months, the cost to the national economy is in the billions.
According to UK government data, the average cost of the worst cybersecurity breaches is now between £65,000 and £115,000, including the impact of cleaning affected systems. The financial cost of a cyber-attack can already be substantial but with the new GDPR and NIS directives recently coming into force, large fines can also be imposed if a breach is proven to have been the result of inadequate defences and policies.
Large organisations may be able to take such a hit, but for small and medium sized businesses the results can be devastating and in the worst-case scenario could even force them to close.
As more and more businesses operate online the disruption caused by attacks will cause the financial costs to rise further over the coming years.
Being seen to be vulnerable to attack and unable to protect customer data can be just as damaging to an organisation as the financial impacts. A loss of confidence amongst current and potential customers can result in long term negative consequences for a business. The negative effects can escalate resulting in a loss of customers to competitors and potentially the loss of future contracts and income.
Ask yourself this; would you use a company’s services if it is unable to safeguard your sensitive data and what if they lied about it or tried to cover it up?
In the case of the recently reported Ticketmaster breach the company was allegedly warned in April that it had been breached, but only went public in June.
During the infamous breach of October 2015, the company suffered a major data breach as a result of poor security. Despite this TalkTalk continues to do well and has even seen its customer base increase. Why is this?
Former head of TalkTalk Baroness Dido Harding said at this year’s Infosec 2018 event, “It is best, to be honest with customers.” By going on national television and showing that they were trying to fix the issue their reputation didn’t take as quite as much of a battering as you’d expect. As Harding said; “Looking to do something was better than doing nothing.”
TalkTalks reputation did take a battering amongst the security community, however, as it had suffered less serious breaches in the past and had failed to take adequate action to prevent another.
"The vast majority of boards want to be able to abdicate responsibility by asking their security professionals 'are we ok?'," Harding said, "and you mustn't let them ask that question. You wouldn't ask 'are we physically OK?'. You'd ask a different question; you'd say 'what are the risks? What are the risks I'm happy to accept, and what are the risks that I'm really worried about that we need to be pushing to mitigate?'"
As a result of the breach the Information Commissioners Office (ICO) fined the company £400,000 and under the new GDPR legislation, the company would likely have been hit with a much larger fine.
As well as being liable to massive fines under legislation such as GDPR and NIS an organisation can become exposed to legal claims from affected customers.
Business partners could also sue for a breach of contract as a successful attack can be used to prove negligence as the affected party failed to put in adequate measures to protect sensitive data.
Commercial contracts may also include provisions that impose obligations on companies to comply with data protection legislation. Likely resulting in claims for damages and in some cases, contracts could be terminated.
The financial and legal impacts are often the things that make the headlines but we rarely hear about the human costs. A breach can result in stress, job losses and all the things that entails. In short, peoples’ lives can be ruined by a cyber attack and in extreme circumstances even lost.
Many of these consequences can be avoided if organisations do the basics, do them regularly and correctly.
For further reading visit –
By using CyberScore™ and carrying out regular scans you can reduce the risks. It allows you to:
Want to learn more about how CyberScore™ can help secure your business? Visit our website at www.xqcyber.com and if you want to give yourself the very best protection against cyber security threats try our CyberScore™ software for free now.


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Our 2021 Core77 Design Awards juries have been hard at work determining honorees in our 18 unique categories, and the time has almost arrived to reveal who takes home the coveted winner's trophies! We want to honor the generous spirit of designers in this time by celebrating this year's Core77 Design Awards winners in a live virtual event happening Thursday, June 17th At 4 PM EST.
This past year was an especially important one for design in that practitioners were called to action in an unprecedented fashion, using their skills to not only create more efficient design systems, but even in some cases to save lives. Join us as we reveal this year's winners and celebrate their achievements—hear some of our jury captains also discuss meaningful takeaways for their design practices since 2020, and provide commentary on why they saw these projects as the best of the best.
We can't wait to celebrate alongside you all virtually in just a few weeks! The festivities begin June 17th at 4 PM EST—RSVP now to save your spot and receive reminders of the date.


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Transported have worked in partnership with Boston Borough Council to commission Neil Baker of film company Electric Egg to create a series of “portraits” of the stalls and stall holders of Bargate Green Market in Boston. The artwork celebrates the traders and through them, Boston’s history as a trading town.
Neil Baker, a Lincolnshire based artist and graphic designer, spent three months visiting the market, observing and talking to different stall holders. Neil’s work makes reference to the wares they sell, the heritage of trading in a town like Boston, the sights and sounds that he witnessed and the characters he encountered. The final designs take the form of eleven banners, each bespoke to the different stalls of the Bargate market, which will be displayed at the market every Wednesday from October 2015.
Market trading has had a significant role in Boston’s history and way of life since it first became a major trading town in the 12th century, and although what is bought and sold at markets has changed dramatically in the last nine hundred years, the importance and vibrancy of the markets have not. The town’s trading history is particularly relevant as Boston Borough Council discuss applying to join the modern Hanseatic League, an international trading partnership that has helped to increase tourism and economic ties for other trading towns such as Kings Lynn.
Neil said: “I was very excited by this project, to work on such a large scale series was an exciting prospect especially with such a diversity of subject matter, from the traditional commodities of fresh produce on sale by Chris the greengrocer to L&B auctions bizarre array of items offered up for sale that include everything and the kitchen sink.”
Leanne Willis, Boston Borough Council said: “Boston Borough Council are operating closely with Transported focusing on the importance of the historic market town. The market is already a recognised tourist attraction in its own right but there are still people within the locality that will be surprised at the diverse and attractive range of goods that the market has to offer. Neil Baker, artist has been working closely with some of the current market traders to try to artistically portray the personal feel that the market has whilst also reminding of the importance of the history behind Boston Markets. I am hoping that the art piece will encourage the public to visit the Bargate Green Market and to continue to be proud of their local people & local businesses.”


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Shouqi customers will be able to access Europcar’s car rental services directly from Shouqi’s website and will be able to purchase all-inclusive packages outside of China throughout the Europcar Worldwide Network, according to Europcar.
In the same way, Europcar customers will have access to Shouqi’s services through Europcar’s website and will be able to either rent a car, if they own a Chinese driving license, or book a chauffeur service in China through three offers: classic, business, or persons with reduced mobility.
Shouqi Car Rental runs a fleet of more than 30,000 vehicles, approximately 500 stations, and covers more than 70 domestic cities in China. It is a subsidiary of the Beijing Tourism Group.
“As a global leader in the car rental industry, Europcar has 3,600 stations distributed around the world, with the business covering over 140 countries,” said Jack Wei, Shouqi Car Rental’s chief operating officer. “The cooperation with Europcar is a key strategic move of Shouqi Car Rental to explore the global car rental market and provide its customers with more comfortable and convenient car rental services worldwide through a more standardized process and more considerate auto service overseas.”
“We are delighted to partner with Shouqi, one of the leading car rental services in China and to make this key strategic move for both of our companies,” said Caroline Parot, CEO of Europcar Group. “We share with Shouqi the same corporate culture of strong focus on customer service excellence and client satisfaction. This partnership is an important next step in our strategy of expanding our international footprint and to provide a global mobility network to our customers.”


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NVIDIA has announced that it is officially ending 3D Vision support with its next driver release, meaning 3D Vision had an 11-year run from its debut back in 2008.
3D Vision debuted in 2008 with the release of 120Hz capable LCDs (as well as certain CRT monitors, 3LCD and DLP projectors) with a 3D Vision kit rolling out with 3D glasses that in the end, didn't gain thatm uch traction outside of a small market of people. Still, an 11 year run is some major time on the market for 3D Visiion and its successor with 3D Vision 2, and now it's coming to an end.
NVIDIA explains: "Following the posting of the final driver from Release 418 in April 2019, GeForce Game Ready Drivers will no longer support NVIDIA 3D Vision. The NVIDIA support team will continue to address critical driver issues for 3D Vision in Release 418 through April, 2020. Those looking to utilize 3D Vision can remain on a Release 418 driver. Our software that enables the use of 3D gaming with 3D TVs, 3DTV Play, is now included for free in Release 418. It is no longer available as a standalone download. Our 3D Vision Video Player will continue to be offered as a standalone download, for free, until the end of 2019".
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Five years ago, a company called UberCab made a splash in San Francisco by letting you hail a car with your smartphone. Since then, the company, now known as Uber, has spread like wildfire through the globe. Uber currently operates in 58 countries and is valued at over $60 billion.
But the road hasn't been easy.
While its valuation has continued to climb and it has attracted more and more investors, Uber has also fought rivals and regulators as it has transformed from a black-car service into a sprawling logistics company gunning for a future of self-driving cars. It has confronted threats from the taxi industry and even its own drivers.
It has also waged war against Didi Chuxing, its rival in gaining ride-hailing dominance in China. After a prolonged and exorbitantly costly battle, however, Uber China is now surrendering to Didi in a $35 billion megamerger.
In 2017, Uber has weathered controversy after controversy: A #DeleteUber campaign that cost the company 200,000 customers in a single weekend. Allegations of sexual harassment and gender discrimination by multiple former employees. A bombshell report of drug use and groping at a company event. Uber's own investors speaking out, a lawsuit from Google, and Travis Kalanick himself caught on camera in a heated argument with an Uber driver.
After a stunning, two-week string of blows that has upended the world's most valuable startup, we look back at how the company got to where it is today. See the insane and successful journey of Uber and its CEO, Travis Kalanick, as it has moved from an idea to a worldwide phenomenon.
June 1998: Scour, a peer-to-peer search-engine startup that Kalanick had dropped out of UCLA to join, snags its first investment from former Disney president Michael Ovitz and Ron Burkle from the VC and private equity firm The Yucaipa Companies.
Source: Business Insider
October 2000: Scour files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy after being sued by several entertainment companies for around $250 billion.
Source: The New York Times
April 2007: Kalanick sells RedSwoosh, a networking-software company he'd founded in 2001, to Akamai for $23 million and becomes a millionaire. He says he started RedSwoosh as a “revenge business” to turn the 33 litigants who sued Scour into customers.
Source: Business Insider
See the rest of the story at Business Insider
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