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This news roundup marks the final edition of “This Week in Logistics News” for 2017. It has been a pretty incredible year for me covering logistics news and trends. My recent article highlighted some of the top news stories of the year, including the advancement of drone technology, the ongoing rivalry between Amazon and Walmart, President Trump’s influence on global trade, digital freight matching, advances in warehouse technologies, and e-commerce integration, to name a few. It’s been a pleasure bringing you the news this year, and I look forward to continuing to do so in the new year. We still have a few articles to publish next week, but for now, we’re signing off from the news as we count down to 2018.
And now on to this week’s logistics news.
- Walmart makes last-minute holiday push for procrastinators
- Target to Acquire Shipt
- Amazon expands same-day delivery and one-day shipping
- Supervalu expands Instacart program to all of its retail stores
- Walmart, JD.com, IBM, and Tsinghua University Launch a Blockchain Food Safety Alliance
- San Francisco made things much tougher for robotic delivery startups this week
- PepsiCo pre-orders 100 Tesla Semis
- FMCSA will grant 90-day ELD waiver for short-term rental trucks
- UPS acquires Sandler & Travis Trade Advisory Services
As we enter the final weeks of the holiday shopping season, Walmart is focusing its e-commerce efforts on in-store fulfillment rather than shipping items to customers. This is probably due in part to the surcharges levied on retailers by both FedEx and UPS. Walmart has qualified more items on Walmart.com for same-day in-store pick-up than during any other holiday season. The company said it sees demand for same-day order doubling during the final two weeks of the season. By offering more items for in-store pick-up, it allows procrastinators to skip the wait times associated with home delivery. With the e-commerce boom, and the delays it has caused for UPS and FedEx in delivering items, skipping these delays becomes incredibly important. Walmart will allow customers to shop online up until 4pm on December 23 for Christmas Eve pick-up by 6pm.
Target is buying home-delivery start-up Shipt for $550 million. The move is designed to help Target keep pace with Amazon and Walmart by speeding up same day delivery. Shipt is a crowd-sourced delivery platform; when a customer places an order, one of Shipt’s “shoppers” goes to the store, picks up the item, and delivers it. The service costs $99 a year for unlimited deliveries. As part of the deal, Shipt will become a wholly-owned Target subsidiary, but will still solicit business from other retailers. As a result of the acquisition, Target plans to offer same-day delivery at about half of its 1,800 stores by summer. Following the initial roll-out, Target plans to have all stores on board for next year’s holiday season.
Just in time for some last-minute holiday shopping, Amazon announced that it has expanded its same-day and one-day delivery service. Previously, both services were available to Prime customers in 5,00 cities; now they are available in over 8,000 cities. The program allows customers to order an item in the morning and have it delivered by 9pm that night. If the order is placed in the evening, it will be delivered the next day. The expansion of the program will give Amazon an advantage as it gets closer to Christmas as it can offer more competitive shipping times for its customers.
Supervalu is expanding its relationship with home delivery company Instacart. Previously, only shoppers at Cub, the largest grocery chain in the Twin Cities, and Shop N Save, which is chiefly in the St. Louis area, could use Instacart. With the expanded program, shoppers at all Supervalu brands, including Cub, Farm Fresh, Shop N Save, and Shoppers, can use Instacart. When customers shop online they can schedule delivery of their order in as little as an hour. The company is also expanding its click and collect program, which enables shoppers to order online and pick-up their items at the store. Like many programs, Supervalu has designated parking areas for click and collect customers, and shoppers do not even have to leave their car to retrieve their order. Delivery is free for the first Instacart order. After that, the fee is $7.99 to $9.99 for one-hour delivery, $5.99 for standard delivery (later than one hour), and $1.99 for click-and-collect.
Walmart, JD.com, IBM, and Tsinghua University have launched a blockchain food safety alliance in China. The initiative is geared towards improving food traceability and safety in China. The four parties will create a standards-based method of collecting data using blockchain technology to provide real-time visibility and traceability throughout the supply chain. The data will focus on origin, safety, and authenticity of food. The end goal, aside from improving food safety, is to get more suppliers and retailers to join the alliance.
The city of San Francisco wants to make home delivery much tougher this week for robotic delivery startups. Back in May, San Francisco Supervisor Norman Yee had proposed legislation to ban delivery robots of all types, saying they’re a public safety hazard. This week, the Board of Supervisors voted 5-1 in favor of handing down strict regulations on the cargo bots. Per the new rules, companies will be limited to three robots apiece, with nine total robots for the entire city. The robots will also need constant human monitoring, and must operate at a maximum speed of three MPH. Additionally, the robots can only operate in low population industrial areas. This last point basically defeats the entire purpose of the delivery robots all together. This is certainly not the direction the robotics startups were looking for.
PepsiCo is betting big on Tesla’s new electric Semi trucks, with an advanced order of 100 trucks. This is largest order of the truck so far, surpassing Anheuser-Busch’s order of 40 electric, autonomous-enabled trucks. Tesla unveiled the new trucks last month, with a price tag of $150,000 for 300-mile range version, $180,000 for the 500-mile range version, and $200,000 for the Founders Series. Initially, the trucks required a $5,000 deposit on pre-orders, but that figure has risen to $20,000. For PepsiCo, that is an upfront investment of $2 million for an unknown entity. PepsiCo’s order joins other companies such as Walmart, Anheuser-Busch, J.B. Hunt, and Sysco as Tesla’s pre-orders have topped 285 so far. PepsiCo intends to deploy Tesla Semis for shipments of snack foods and beverages between manufacturing and distribution facilities, as well as direct to retailers within 500 miles.
There have been many complaints and concerns voiced during protests over the electronic logging device (ELD) mandate, with many groups seeking delays in enforcement. Recent data shows that nearly 50 percent of owner-operators have not even selected an ELD yet. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced that is planning to grant a request from the Truck Renting and Leasing Association (TRALA) for a 90-day waiver from the ELD mandate for “short term” rental trucks. These are defined as being rented out for a period of 30 days or less. The group said this waiver gives its members until March 18, 2018, to get their rental trucks into compliance with the mandate.
And finally, UPS announced that is has acquired Sandler & Travis Trade Advisory Services (STTAS), the largest global independent provider of global trade management services. STTAS focuses on helping clients comply with constantly changing and complex rules, regulations, and laws focusing on international trade. The company operates in Asia, Europe, the Middle East, North America, and South America. The acquisition is geared towards expanding UPS’ footprint as a global trade services, freight transportation, and logistics service provider. The majority of STTAS’ employees reside in key trade areas, including Shanghai, Bengaluru, Aberdeen, Warsaw, Mexico City, Buenos Aires, and São Paulo. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
That’s all for this week. Enjoy the weekend and the song of the week, Europe’s The Final Countdown.


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Aussies lead the way in online retailing
Aussies are leading the way when it comes to finding new ways to boost their retail experience, with many preferring to utilise different forms of technology to make the process far more efficient.
It is clear that the increasing use of credit and debit cards is making it far easier for people to buy products without leaving the comfort of their own home and Aussies seemingly cannot get enough of online shopping.
A new study released by IBM showed that 40 per cent of Aussies would use websites to compare the cheapest prices available on specific goods, while 90 per cent believe social networks help them save time when purchasing items via the internet.
The research also indicated that 17 per cent of Australians would like to use more than three different types of technology in order to make shopping less strenuous.
"It should come as no surprise to retailers that digital technologies and the web are impacting the industry in a major way," commented IBM's retail and consumer products industry lead Ian Wong.
Have a question about debit cards? Ask the money gurus at Mozo Answers.

domain: news


text: I was somewhat optimistic that Apple would have fixed the iPhone 4 antenna issues with the release of the iPhone 4 on Verizon. However, the folks at iLounge tested out the new Verizon iPhone 4 and discovered that there are still "death grip" problems. Thankfully, a simple bumper case prevents your hands from making contact with the antenna and solves the problem (and gives your phone protection), so this will likely not be that big of an issue. I personally was never able to replicate the "death grip" problem on an AT&T iPhone 4 probably due to the fact that I had a relatively strong signal. It will be interesting to see if the iPhone 5, which is expected to be released this summer, will still have these antenna issues, regardless of the carrier.


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Build-A-Bear CEO says we’ll always have toys to scare away the monsters
Share Now on:
When Sharon Price John was named the CEO of Build-A-Bear Workshop in 2013, she was tasked with turning the DIY stuffed-animal retailer around. She talks to host Kai Ryssdal about what needed to change at the company, why she’s not worried about technology replacing teddy bears and that time she launched her own toy company.
Subscribe to the Corner Office podcast on Apple Podcasts.


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I am among the group that applauded when Nokia announced it would abandon Symbian as its primary smartphone platform in favor of Microsoft’s Windows Phone. I continue to believe it is a good strategic move and am anxiously waiting for the first Nokia Windows Phone device to emerge.
Unfortunately, there is always a human cost when two businesses consolidate. Although Microsoft and Nokia are not merging, Nokia is essentially virtually merged with Microsoft’s Windows Phone group in terms of research, development, and implementation. Bloomberg reports that as many as 6,000 Nokia jobs may be eliminated (38% of Nokia’s R&D staff).
There’s also the more difficult to identify reduction in productivity that occurs when a company is in a state of flux. Nokia employees won’t see the full extent of these changes until, perhaps, 2012. This will be, ironically, about the same time that the first Windows Phone based Nokia smartphone should start rolling out of their factories.


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Food Check-Out Week
Food Check-Out Day commemorates the calendar day when the average American family will have earned enough income to pay for the entire year's food supply. With a focus on affordable food in the United States, this campaign provides an excellent opportunity for county Farm Bureaus to show the value of local farmers. Kentucky Farm Bureau’s 2021 celebration of Food Check-Out Week is February 7-13.
Due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, we are modifying a few of our resources to have a more virtual approach. These materials can be found at the link at the bottom of the page and include digital graphics to use on social media, a sample media release, a sample county proclamation, and a list of various Food Check-Out Week promotional ideas.
Also, included in the link is our 2021 Food Check-Out Week Report. By filling out this form you aid our efforts in making this event more effective in future years.


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Childhood obesity is on the rise and can be prevented, says ChicagoHealers.com practitioner Kristina Sargent.
Statistics show that 16% of children under the age of 18 are overweight and 30% are obese, ChicagoHealers.com points out. So in a class of 30, 12 of those students would be considered overweight or obese.
Mistakenly, many people believe that childhood obesity is a genetic problem. While children of overweight parents/grandparents are much more likely to become overweight, it is not genetics. A child’s eating habits are directly related to what the rest of the family is eating and they are therefore succumbed to poor food choices, Sargent explains.
Foods such as chips, cookies, soda, donuts, processed meats – chicken nuggets, French fries, and most breads, are lacking in nutrients. Yet these are foods that typical kids consume. These foods, high in fat and carbohydrates, create abdominal obesity or belly fat. High amounts of fat around the middle are associated with higher risks of diabetes and heart disease. Changing a child’s diet can drastically alter this so-called “genetic problem.”
Sargent provides the following example of what a typical day of healthy food consumption should look like:
• Breakfast: Kashi makes some chewy nut bars, one of those offers a little protein; add a glass of milk; or add an egg — hard boiled can be made ahead — to the appropriate serving size of cereal (see the side of the box and measure it)
• Lunch: Roll up lunch meat around a pickle or cheese stick, baked chips and an apple.
• Dinner: protein, vegetable and 1/2 cup of potatoes, rice or pasta
• Snacks: 1/4 cup nuts (almonds, cashews etc.), cheese stick and fruit, and Greek yogurt and fruit, baby carrots and hummus (1/3 C)
For more information, go to www.ChicagoHealers.com .


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Following in the footsteps of cross-country rival Beijing Automotive Group Co., China's Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation has announced the appointment of a new design head from a major global automaker. Beijing Auto hired ex-Ferrari designer Leonardo Fioravanti earlier this year.
SAIC announced on Monday that it has hired former Nissan designer Martin Uhlarik to head up its European design office. Uhlarik, 41, will also give design input to SAIC's China-only Roewe brand.
Uhlarik is replacing Tony Williams-Kenny, who left to become global design director for SAIC.
During his time at Nissan Uhlarik penned the redesigned 2010 Qashqai utility vehicle and the concept version of the NV200. Uhlarik was also responsible for the 2003 Evalia concept.
In his new position Uhlarik will mainly focus on SAIC's MG brand. Now sold in 35 countries, SAIC plans to launch the MG brand in mainland Europe by the end of 2013, according to Automotive News.
"Expanding our design studio will enable us to work on greater numbers of projects at the same time and improve our design capabilities across SAIC Group models destined for European and Chinese markets," said David Lindley, managing director of SAIC Motor UK, in a statement.
Uhlarik's first two products will likely be a Qashqai-rivaling SUV and a new sports car for the MG division.


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One of the biggest sneaker collaborations and renovations of the years finally gets a release date. Over the past few months and weeks, we have seen a number of looks at the Off-White™ x Air Jordan 1. Well, today the kicks get an official release date, set to invade stores on September 1st.
The kicks have already been seen on a host of celebrities and creatives such as A$AP Rocky, Travis Scott, Ibn Jasper and Don C. The kicks come rocking a classic “Chicago” color scheme of black, red and white, with a deconstructed approach. The kicks also boast unique graphic overlays as well as an oversized Swoosh, blue and orange stitching, Off-White™ branding and various words in double quotation marks. Have a look at the kicks in the image up top and get yours on September 1st. Stay tuned for release information and the official retail price coming soon.
Photos provided by @13THMESSENGER


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McDonald's latest honey trap creates a buzz
posted on 16th June 2019
17 June 2019 - McDonald's Sweden has created the 'world's smallest restaurant' - a replica drive-thru that's a fully-functioning beehive. It's designed to be installed on top of restaurants world-wide to draw attention to the plight of bees, and the plan seems to be working with massive online coverage. How many McDonald's are sited near suitable sources of pollen for bees remains to be seen - and wait for the first lawsuits from stung customers who blame the brand ...
Incidentally, It’s said that every third bite of food in the human diet relies upon bees. As well as the news item about McDonald's roof-top hives, then, here's a fascinating article from the BBC's Science Focus magazine on the contribution of bees to the Big Mac.
McDonald's says the initiative is designed to draw attention to the plight of bees, which are critical to the world's food supply but are facing a global decline. Industrial agriculture, parasites and climate change are the main drivers of the decline.
Christoffer Rönnblad, marketing director of McDonald's Sweden, said in a statement: "We have a lot of really devoted franchisees who contribute to our sustainability work, and it feels good that we can use our size to amplify such a great idea as beehives on the rooftops."


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Indian travellers can now scan and pay in NepalA reciprocal payment service for Nepalis visiting India has been delayed for unspecified reasons.
Indian tourists visiting Nepal were able to pay for the services through their mobile phones on Wednesday, for the first time since the ban on high-denomination Indian currency notes eight years ago.
This marks a milestone in cross-border digital payment between Nepal and India and is expected to give a much-needed boost to the country’s tourism.
Khalti reported that on the first day, they recorded more than 100 transactions.
“The highest single transaction we recorded on Wednesday, the first day, amounted to Rs9,000 through the QR-based cross-border payment system,” said Binay Khadka, the CEO of Khalti, a digital wallet for instant online payments in Nepal.
“We expect daily transactions to increase in the coming days.”
The cross-border digital payment service was put on trial at the start of the week. The formal announcement for the commercial operation was made on Wednesday.
The reciprocal service for Nepali citizens in India, however, has been delayed for unknown reasons.
Sources said Nepal’s central bank has recently formed a committee to study the transaction limits through digital wallets for Nepalis travelling to India.
The private sector, particularly, travel trade entrepreneurs has expressed happiness with the digital payment initiative between the two neighbours, which normally see a topsy-turvy relationship.
The new system eliminates hassles associated with currency exchange, eliminates the need to carry physical cash, and ends complexities associated with currency conversion or visiting banks for currency exchange.
For the service in Nepal, two digital wallets, Khalti and Fonepay Payment Service, have partnered with India’s NPCI International Payments to launch the cross-border payment service using quick-response (QR) codes.
“This strategic partnership empowers Indian tourists to seamlessly make transactions in the Nepali market by scanning Khalti QR code using their preferred digital wallets, such as PhonePe and BHIM UPI,” according to Khalti.
With Khalti's QR code technology, over 20,000 Nepali merchants can effortlessly accept payments from Indian tourists, enhancing their revenue streams, it said.
The payment services, currently, have been started from the two Indian digital apps.
“As UPI will rope in more apps, it will enable payments through other Indian digital wallets soon,” Khadka said. “This is just the beginning.”
The Post couldn’t independently verify the daily transaction limit for Indian citizens in Nepal.
However, according to NPCI, the UPI transaction limit per day is set at IRs100,000 per person.
Khadka said that as India’s PhonePe and BHIM UPI do not hold funds, payments are processed through banks. “So, the daily transactions are decided at the bank's end.”
But the progress from Nepal’s side is disappointing.
“For the first time, payment through QR code has been allowed for Indians travelling to Nepal,” said Gunakar Bhatta, executive director at the Payment Systems Department of Nepal Rastra Bank, the country’s central bank.
“We, however, are doing a study to set a daily payment limit for Nepalis in India through QR codes.”
Sources, however, said that the delay on Nepal’s part shows the central bank’s lax approach as it has been nearly a year since both countries started working to introduce the cross-border digital payment system.
But the launch of Nepal’s digital payment system in India anytime soon is uncertain, the source said.
On June 1 last year, Nepal and India signed a memorandum of understanding for cross-border digital payment to ease digital transactions for business people, students, and tourists from both countries.
Hundreds of thousands of Nepalis travel to India annually for medical and study purposes and have been facing hassles with currency conversion as they have to go to banks or pay big commissions to money exchanges at border points. For Nepalis holding debit cards, the transaction fee to withdraw from Indian banks is expensive.
Bhatta, however, said that it is uncertain when Nepal will launch its digital payment system in India. “There is no fixed date. But as soon as the study is completed, based on the recommendation, we will launch the digital payment system in India,” said Bhatta.
Since the ban on high-denomination Indian currency notes, Indian tourists have been facing difficulties paying for services in Nepal as they are allowed to carry notes of up to Rs100 denomination. Debit card usage is limited to mostly urban areas in Nepal.
The Indian government, in a surprise move on November 8, 2016, pulled INR500 and INR1,000 out of circulation “to unearth unaccounted wealth and fight corruption”.
As a tit-for-tat policy, Nepal’s central bank, subsequently, banned all Indian notes above INR100 in Nepal. The 2,000 rupee note introduced by the Reserve Bank of India on November 8, 2016, too, was banned.
The Reserve Bank of India, in February 2015, introduced the Foreign Exchange Management (export and import of currency) Regulations, allowing Nepali and Bhutanese citizens to “carry Reserve Bank of India currency notes of denominations INR500 and/or INR1,000 up to a limit of INR25,000”.
“The cross-border digital payment service is good news for the tourism industry,” said Binayak Shah, president of the Hotel Association Nepal. “We all know how Indian tourists are facing hassles over payments in Nepal despite being the citizens of a close neighbour,” he said.
“The credit card is not accessible in most of Nepal’s locality. As the QR system has reached almost all areas, this will greatly facilitate tourists.”
He said the government should also introduce a payment system in US dollars to pep up tourism.
Travel trade entrepreneurs said Nepal wants to host 2 million tourists annually and boost the economy through their spending, but on the other hand, it has set limits to bring money.
Nepal welcomed 1 million tourists in 2023 following record arrivals from India.
For the first time, Nepal received over 315,000 Indian tourists last year, who came to Nepal by air. Indian tourists coming via land routes are not taken into account as tourists and therefore no records are kept.
However, a survey of overland Indian visitors conducted by Nepal Tourism Board in 2017 shows more than 1.2 million Indians came to Nepal by land. The survey showed that the average length of stay of Indian tourists coming overland was 5.8 days. The average expenditure per visitor was Rs11,310.
On February 15 this year, the Nepal Rastra Bank and Reserve Bank of India signed and exchanged Terms of Reference for interlinking the Unified Payment Interface (UPI) of India and the National Payment Interface of Nepal.
The integration is aimed at facilitating cross-border remittances between India and Nepal by enabling users of the two systems to make instant, low-cost fund transfers.
Khalti said it is optimistic that “within a few days, Nepali citizens will also be able to make payments in Indian markets by scanning QR codes through their Khalti wallets.”


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For half a century, Oliver Wight Class A has been recognised as the definitive standard for business excellence by organisations and industry commentators worldwide. And now, seven years after the leading business transformation specialist updated its Sixth Edition Class A Standard, Oliver Wight is excited to launch the brand new Seventh Edition.
The new publication re-sets the bar for organisations looking to achieve performance excellence, capturing 50 years of experience from Oliver Wight in helping some of the world’s best-known companies transform their businesses.
“The Seventh Edition is the prefect framework for any company in any industry regardless of its maturity to start an improvement journey,” says Les Brookes, CEO at Oliver Wight. “The focus is on to achieve sustainable business results – not just creating better processes, but increasing revenue and improving margin; it’s about delivering shareholder satisfaction and excellent customer service, reducing costs and attracting the best talent.”


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Cryptocurrency integration is once again on the rise. With the global market value for all cryptocurrencies sitting at $1.17 trillion as of March 2023, and with 420 million crypto users worldwide, digital currencies remain popular despite a recent slump. This is according to Jeremy Baber, CEO of Lanistar.
“Partners offering crypto payment gateways can offer a straightforward solution for merchants to adopt crypto,” commented Baber. “Gateways eliminate the need to keep a cryptocurrency wallet and convert digital currency into fiat money. This facilitates the broader acceptance of digital currencies, simplifying vendor provision of cryptocurrency payment options.”
Offering crypto as a payment method provides access to new demographic groups. Recent studies show that 40% of customers who purchase goods with crypto are new customers who are likely to spend double the amount of credit card users.
Merchants can introduce crypto payment gateways providing customers with a digital currency payment method without entering the


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(MENAFN - Khaleej Times) Consumers in Abu Dhabi are complaining about the rise in prices of some products at retail outlets. Certain products witnessed up to a 50 per cent increase in their prices within a short period of time.
Consumers like Fatmah Al Masroui told Emarat Al Youm that few products havewitnessedunreasonable increase in their prices. A pair of gloves she bought for Dh12.6 now costs Dh18.90 three months later.
Another consumer, Saeed Al Katbi, was quoted saying he noticed a 43 per cent increase in price of a food product.
Dr Hashim Al Nuaimi, Director of the Consumer Protection Department, Ministry of Economy, warned retailers that raising the price of a product without the ministry's approval was a violation punishable by fines up to Dh100,000.
He further emphasised that increasing price of a product will result in preventing retail outlets from selling them as well.
Al Nuaimi called out to all retail outlets to not raise prices unless they receive an official approval from the ministry regarding the new price. He also urged consumers to report local economic departments and authorities in case they witness any suspicious increase in the price, so the authority can take necessary action.


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Orcs Must Die! Unchained: Oziel Hero Overview
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A Seattle woman is suing handbag maker Coach Inc., saying the company wrongly accused her of selling counterfeit purses online.
A Seattle woman is suing handbag maker Coach, saying the company wrongly accused her of selling counterfeit purses online.
Gina Kim says in the federal lawsuit that she is a former Coach employee and had every right to sell legitimate Coach handbags she owned on eBay.
But when she tried, she received a cease-and-desist letter from the company demanding that she pay $300 to avoid being sued.
She also says eBay shut down her account at Coach’s request.
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The lawsuit seeks class-action status and says Coach has threatened other people without bothering to investigate whether the items being sold are counterfeit.
The lawsuit accuses Coach of violating the state Consumer Protection Act.
Coach and its lawyers did not return calls and e-mails seeking comment.


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Outsell, Inc. Ad Spending Survey: Online Advertising Penetration to Exceed 90% by 2008
Outsell, Inc., an information industry research and analyst firm, has released results of a national advertising spending. The results, summarized in The Annual Ad Spending Study: Where and Why Advertisers are Moving Online are based on a survey Outsell fielded to 1,200 advertisers in November 2005 who control an estimated $2.4 billion in advertising.
The Outsell study analyzes differences across advertisers and cover the markets they target—B2B, B2C, and healthcare. Topics include:
One major finding of the study is that the online channel is now used by 80 percent of advertisers, higher than previously reported. Outsell, in fact, projects more than 90 percent adoption by 2008.
Another major finding is the shift away from traditional media due to the unprecedented power that online advertising has provided to smaller businesses.
Download the 29 page report at www.outsellinc.com/. (registration is required)
6/21/2017 » 6/22/2017
7th Digital Marketing for Financial Services Summit
11/9/2017 » 11/10/2017
2017 Search Industry Forum by SEMPO


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World News: 17:00 GMT Tuesday 13th February 2018. [Vera via Globe Newswire via SPi World News]
MELVILLE NY and PALO ALTO Calif Feb 13 2018 GLOBE NEWSWIRE -- Today at the One Canon press and analyst event in Hollywood FL Canon Solutions America, Inc a wholly owned subsidiary of Canon USA Inc with over 78000 customers ann ounced ...
Globe Newswire: 17:00 GMT Tuesday 13th February 2018
SPi News is published by Sector Publishing Intelligence Ltd.
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Five Ways Satya Nadella Has Changed Microsoft
Picture this. In February 2014, when Satya Nadella took over from Steve Ballmer to head Microsoft Corp, the company was losing steam, its products like Windows 8 had been a disaster, the employees were engaged in a constant battle for supremacy. Stakeholders - from partners to consumers and developers were somewhat losing faith on the company. Analysts and enthusiasts were also looking for a change. They wanted to see a refreshed Microsoft in the subsequent months.
Two years later, in February 2016, when we ask the question, which CEOs have changed the way a company functions, the first name that comes to mind is Microsoft’s Satya Nadella. Nadella will soon complete two years of heading Microsoft Corp.
Unlike former CEO Steve Ballmer, who believed, “If you want to use Microsoft you have to buy everything from us,” Nadella changed the company’s attention to cloud-based software platform, making its products and services available to all, bringing a more informal culture within the company and making some key shifts in the company which investors seem to applaud. We bring out some areas where Nadella has changed Microsoft in the last two years.
#1. ‘Consumers first’ approach
For years, Microsoft believed it has its supremacy over others and didn’t bother to change with the market transitions. It refused to acknowledge that devices like the iPhone and Nexus were actually focused on ‘customers’. Nadella, a smart tycoon, realized customers use products only when they love them just like they did to Apple’s iOS or Android devices. Hence, Nadella changed Microsoft to a strong user-focused company with the changes in Windows 10 showcasing a renewed focus on the user and on the PC OEMs that support much of Microsoft’s remaining desktop power.
Nadella said, it now wants to serve consumers irrespective of what device they use. It wants people to use its mail service not only on a Windows computer but also on an iPhone. This is a huge change from the days of Steve Ballmer, who tried to use popular products like Microsoft Office to save Windows by keeping them separate.
#2. The hip and cool kid
Microsoft is back to being the hip and cool kid, thanks to Satya Nadella. Analysts often said that Steve Ballmer had an imposing presence, despite being a true professional, having boundless energy. But Nadella had a different image. Instead of being all clad in a suit, he wore a pair of jeans, hooded jacket and a monk-like smile - all that Microsoft needed to become the nimble, focused company that responds quickly to customers and carrying out new innovations.
“In an industry dominated by people like Mark Zuckerbeg, Tim Cook and Larry Page, Microsoft needed a CEO who looks and acts cool and Nadella fits the bill, believe experts,” said tech analyst Gaurav Kumar.
At the same time, as the company works to reinvent its image. Its press conferences are more informal and interactive with more jokes. The senior executives now come across cool, funky people trying to shape future, believe analysts.
#3. Playing well with rivals
Nadella believes that cooperation and not confrontation is the way to go in today’s business scenario. Ballmer’s distaste for cooperation with Apple and Google proved to be a wrong strategy by the company which garnered less than 5% of the mobile market. Nadella is a visionary. He had released Office for the iPad and Android devices, as well as a free Outlook app for both rival platforms in his first year in office.
Nadella ended long-running feuds with once-bitter rival Salesforce.com, also forging partnerships with them. As part of Microsoft’s Cloud Storage Partner Program, users of Apple iOS devices can fire up Word, Excel or PowerPoint and pull in documents and data from other cloud providers. This would mean users of non-Microsoft devices can access data stored by Microsoft competitors and edit and save within Microsoft apps. Box Chief Executive Officer Aaron Levie, who spent years criticizing Microsoft’s closed approach and lack of innovation, is now openly championing the software giant.
“What Microsoft has been doing under Satya’s leadership is recognizing that to be incredibly relevant in the next generation of enterprise and consumer, they need to make sure their individual products are able to stand on their own and compete on their own without being propped up by the complete integration of them all,” Levie said in an interview on CNBC.
#4. ‘It’s an open world’
Where Ballmer called the Linux open-source operating system a “malignant cancer,” and Bill Gates snubbed open source, Nadella proclaims, “Microsoft loves Linux.” As noted tech editor Ivor Soans noted in a First
He announced that Microsoft supports a variety of open source software applications on its cloud and that 25 percent of Microsoft’s Azure cloud is already Linux along with CentOS, Oracle Linux, Suse, and Ubuntu. Nadella clarified that Microsoft needs to develop its own platform while playing well with others.
Now, Microsoft has open sourced the artificial intelligence framework it uses to power speech recognition in its Cortana digital assistant and Skype Translate applications. The framework is called, Computational Network Toolkit (CNTK), and can help machines do things like understand speech and determine logical connections between photos. Developers are likely to leverage it to advance deep learning networks.
#5. Research matters (for future)
Following the footsteps of Google and Facebook, Nadella’s Microsoft is strengthening its research team to remain relevant and futuristic. While Bill Gates started Microsoft’s research arm in 1991, the division, aptly named Microsoft Research, didn’t interact with the company’s commercial product staff, something that led to missed opportunities.
For example, the research arm pioneered digital mapping in 1998, but no one thought to commercialize it until 2005, when Google Maps was launched. Now, Nadella is using its expertise to boost the company’s product teams for the first time.
The team (which Nadella has realigned) is now working on products like Azure, Skype, and Office, according to Bloomberg report, which added, The new, commercially-oriented research unit is called MSR NeXT, and it’s working on some futuristic projects.
Read more: Nadella Inspires “Data Culture” At Microsoft
Overall, Microsoft’s financials have gone well. In the recent quarter, Microsoft had $25.69 billion in revenue and 78 cents a share in earnings, better than the average forecast of analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters of 71 cents a share in earnings and $25.26 billion in revenue.
“Currently, businesses favor Microsoft because it offers more flexibility in terms of moving software around, say from a company’s own data center to the one it has outsourced to Azure,” said Frank Gillett, an analyst at Forrester Research.
The future is bright for Microsoft and we continue to view the company as an attractive investment, stated Michael Berger, Founder and President, Technical420.com. He mentioned in an article in Moneyshow.com, “Going forward, we expect to see Microsoft to report better than expected earnings in the March and June quarters now that the headwinds associated with the move from XP to Windows 7 are behind them.”
As cloud services rapidly expand, Nadella will have to demonstrate that its products are equal to, or better than, those of its competitors in both quality and price.
- Adobe Acquires Cloud Marketing Firm Marketo
- Cloud Is Critical For Driving Semicon Industry's Growth
- What's BitLocker’s Role In Encryption And Compliance?
- How Tech Is Helping Rethink Customer Engagement
- Key Technologies Redefining Human Resources
- Oracle To Showcase Its SaaS Innovation With AI In India
- New Security Flaw Grips Most Modern Laptops: F-Secure Researchers
- SUSE Builds Momentum With New Offerings, Market Expansion
- Using Cloud ERP To Automate Finance
- Tech Mahindra-Microsoft Use Blockchain To Curb Spam Calls


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As the Greek financial crisis plays out on the streets and in the council chambers of Europe, it’s hard to look beyond the day-to-day drama to the longer term. But that’s what we’ve tried to do in our new Future Perspectives report, which we have published this week. And the results are surprising. The crisis will end, because ecomnomies don’t continue is a state of permanent crisis. To do that, Germany will have to export less, and the peripheral economies will have to export more – and there’s a lot of opportunity in that economic re-balancing.
The report has developed five scenarios for the future of the eurozone, ranging from its survival in its present form to a return to national currencies. From this it forecasts three big changes, looking out to 2020.
One: New powerhouses will emerge. Italy will be one of the big winners of the pos-euro crisis economy, just as it was in the ‘dolce vita’ economy of post-war Europe. If it leaves the euro, it will renege on its debts, and massively devalue. That will massively boost the economy, enabling it to rapidly catch-up with its more prosperous Northern neighbours. Meanwhile, countries such as Poland – with big populations, low debts, and strong growth – will emerge as the powerhouses of Europe.
Two: Germany will have become a consumer society – and rely less on exports. That will mean boosting retail and leisure spending, property development, and industries such as financial services, where it has not been very innovative. Paradoxically, while the UK is trying to re-balance its economy to become more like Germany, Germany will need to become more like the UK.
Three: There will be huge opportunities for companies that read these trends right. New markets will open up in Germany as retail, leisure and property grow – all areas where domestic German companies are not very strong. In Spain, youth unemployment will come down dramatically, meaning that young people will start spending. In Italy, a growing economy will see a huge rise in female participation in the workforce – changing the shape of consumer demand. We’ve done some analysis of the impact of that change on the Italian economy, and reckon that it’s worth around €48 billion a year – or 3% of Italian GDP.
Four: Europe’s banks will be the big losers. Debt will be written off, sooner or later, and as a result, most will end up in public control.
In short, businesses will have to redraw their mental maps of what the European economies look like, and where the opportunities will be found.
Andrew Curry is a Director of the Futures Company in London, Matthew Lynn runs Strategy Economics. The report, The future of the eurozone, is published as part of The Futures Company’s thought leadership programme, Future Perspectives. We are also publishing this week a report on doing business in slow-growth economies, called Quickening the pace, which will also be available from the website. The picture at the top of tjhis post is published by Wikimedia Commons.


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Royal Mail (LON: RMG) has been fined a record £50 million for breaching competition laws.
Ofcom, the communications watchdog, handed out its largest-ever fine on Tuesday following an investigation into a complaint made by Whistl over the increases to wholesale prices.
Ofgem said that the group’s actions “amounted to anti-competitive discrimination against customers, such as Whistl, who sought to deliver bulk mail”.
Ofcom’s Competition Group Director, Jonathan Oxley, said: “Royal Mail broke the law by abusing its dominant position in bulk mail delivery.”
“All companies must play by the rules. Royal Mail’s behaviour was unacceptable, and it denied postal users the potential benefits that come from effective competition,” he added.
Royal Mail plans to challenge the fine, saying that it “strongly refutes that it has acted in breach of the Competition Act”.
“For an allegation of abusive price discrimination to be established, the law is very clear. The relevant prices must be actually paid. And, the party paying such prices must be placed at a competitive disadvantage as a result. In this case neither of these essential elements exist,” the group added.
Whistl has said that it may seek compensation from the firm.
Royal Mail received a fine in April this year £12,000 for sending 327,000 nuisance emails to customers who opted out of receiving the emails.
“We take the privacy of our customers extremely seriously,” said the group.
“We are very sorry that we let some of our customers down on this occasion. Following this incident, we have tightened up our processes and governance measures still further.”
Royal Mail’s former boss, Moya Greene, stepped down in June.


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Figures published last week by the Economics & Professional Services unit of the Israel Export and International Cooperation Institute,(IEICI), Israeli exports to India totaled US$370 million in the first quarter of 2015, double the exports in the corresponding quarter last year.
IEICI economists, who analyzed the figures, said that Israeli exports to India had risen in all sectors, including telecommunications equipment, measuring and control equipment, industrial equipment, etc.
The IEICI added that this rise indicated improvement in the economic situation in India, now rated as Israel's sixth largest export destination, compared with 15th place in the first quarter of 2014. Shauli Katznelson IEICI Deputy Director General for Economics & Professional Services noted that "Since the increase is common to all sectors, not focused in a single sector, the impression is gained that India is recovering in accordance with the forecasts that India's economic growth in 2015 and 2016 will be faster than China's."
Israeli exports to the US totaled $2.9 billion, up 13% in the first quarter, compared with the corresponding quarter in 2014, led by the pharmaceutical sector, in which exports rose 47%, compared with the corresponding quarter last year, with exports of goods in other sectors also posting increases.


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What would you do if you found a bag filled with 3kg of diamonds worth millions? You might have thought twice about returning it, unlike one honest tourist from China.
According to Shenzhen daily, Chinese tourist Fu Zhuli was at recent jewellery fair in Hong Kong when she decided to take an ice-cream break.
While at a cafe, she noted that two men had left their table without a black bag which they had left at the foot of their table.
She picked up the bag and found that it contained thousands of soybean-sized diamonds estimated to be worth some HK$250,000,000, about $40,000,000 (RM 103,000,000). In all, the bag weight about 3kg.
After waiting at the table 'guarding' the bag for two hours, one of the men came running back into the caf, with his shirt soaked in sweat and his face pale from exertion.
After chastising him for leaving behind something so valuable, she handed the bag back to him.
Although she says many of her friends later chided her for not keeping the bag for herself, she maintains that she never thought of keeping it for herself, as her husband works in the Police and told her to always return lost items.
Full article: http://www.malaysia-chronicle.com/i...nds-worth-$-40-million&Itemid=4#ixzz2c5UGQYcA
Follow us: @MsiaChronicle on Twitter


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(CTN News) – A food allergy medication called Xolair has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for those with severe food allergies.
It was reported that Xolair is the brand name for omalizumab, a medicine given by injection to prevent or lessen the symptoms of allergic reactions when it comes to accidentally being exposed to allergens in food. Xolair is the name brand for omalizumab, which can be given by injection.
A safety net such as this is used to prevent a person from getting allergic reactions if they are accidentally exposed to an allergen, not as an emergency treatment, according to USA Today.
Depending on the weight of the patient as well as their response to an allergic trigger, the treatment can be given as early as 1 year olds and taken every 2 to 4 weeks as long as their weight remains stable.
It is also important to note that people with food allergies need to avoid certain foods that can cause a potentially fatal reaction, such as peanuts, cashews, hazelnuts, walnuts, milk products, eggs, and dairy products, even when they are taking Xolair,
Since Xolair helps reduce the reactions caused by food allergies.
The result of the treatment is that the patient is now able to be exposed to higher amounts of the food without getting a major reaction, however, it does not completely eliminate the reaction that occurs as a result of the treatment.
Consequently, this medication will not be able to eliminate food allergies or allow patients to eat food allergens freely, but it will reduce the health impact if food allergens are accidentally eaten,” Dr. Kelly Stone told the FDA when the medication was approved.
Dr. Stone is an associate director at the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research and is responsible for pulmonology, allergies, and critical care.
It isn’t the first time Xolair has been used to treat food allergies, even though the FDA recently approved it.
AP reports that it had been used as an “off-label” treatment by Dr. Ruchi Gupta, director of Northwestern’s Center for Food Allergy & Asthma Research.An adult or child taking Xolair will pay between $2,900 and $5,000 a month for it, but it is covered by insurance, according to the AP.


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There’s something of a bait and switch going on in the retail end of the seafood business. Thanks to complex fishing supply chains and the light touch of food-safety regulators, the fish you buy from your local store may not be what you think it is. For instance, that red snapper fillet on the ice may not even be from the snapper family. Some of the fish on display may have come from collapsed stocks or were caught by slave labor, among other unconscionable practices.
If that’s not bad enough, now research suggests the fish may contain more contaminants—notably mercury, a neurotoxin that damages brains of fetuses and young children—than you realize.
A new study found a “complex pattern of contamination hidden from consumers” among Patagonian toothfish—better known by its marketing-makeover name, “Chilean sea bass”—bought in American grocery stores. Samples sometimes contained higher mercury levels than most countries consider safe, exceeding the 0.5 parts per million limit for imports into Canada and Australia, and sometimes even the 1.0 ppm limit in the EU and US. Typically, this was either because it was actually another species, or the toothfish came from a region with relatively higher mercury contamination.
And while consumers who buy fish certified by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)—the leading independent labeling system for fisheries that meet certain standards for “sustainable fishing or seafood traceability“—might think they’re in the clear, they may well not be. Using DNA testing, the scientists found that nearly a quarter of the Chilean sea bass certified by the MSC to have come from the South Georgia fishery, near Antarctica, was actually from unknown areas, likely closer to Chile, where mercury contamination levels tend to be higher. Three out of 25 samples of MSC-certified Chilean sea bass were another species altogether. (At the time of writing, MSC had not responded to Quartz’s request for comment.)
Chilean sea bass isn’t the only problematic species. Nearly three-fifths of the fish labeled “tuna” in restaurants and grocery stores in the US isn’t actually tuna, as we’ve reported. In New York City, for instance, it’s often tilefish (pdf, p.15), one of the four kinds of fish the US government says should be avoided due to high mercury levels. Studies in Europe have shown similar problems with cod.
As the recent Chilean sea bass and other studies show, though, it’s near impossible for consumers to know what species they’re actually eating—and, therefore, to avoid high-mercury fish. Some examples:
The US’s food regulator advises women who are pregnant or nursing to eat at least eight ounces of seafood per week. It also tells them—along with young children and women who might at some point become pregnant—to avoid fish with high mercury levels. Yet it’s often left to the consumer to determine what fish is safe. As the Environmental Defense Fund’s Tom Fitzgerald explains, the US government runs toxin tests on less than one percent of the billions of pounds of fish imported into the US each year. If labeling can’t be trusted, vulnerable consumers could easily ingest more of the noxious toxin than they’re supposed to.


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From Sky's 3D Sir David Attenborough to National Geographic's holographic VR experience at SXSW, Event looks at the latest technology
Heinz's anniversary pop-up, William Hill's interactive window displays, O2's new virtual reality experiences, TripAdvisors's London Eye sleepover and a UK
Bookmaker William Hill has created a series of window takeovers in its betting shops nationwide, ahead of the Cheltenham Festival,
Bookmaker William Hill celebrated the launch of its biggest ever prize competition by touring a lorry loaded with cash around
With The Grand National taking place this weekend and Ascot on the horizon, Event has taken a look at some
Bookmaker William Hill has been working with The Fresh Group to create experiential activity around this year's Cheltenham Festival (10-13
Reading-based marketing and design agency Red Face Design has contracted Little Fish Event Management as its official event partner.
William Hill has signed England cricket legend Andrew Flintoff as its newest sporting ambassador as the betting brand seeks to
William Hill has been reprimanded by the advertising watchdog for breaching ad regulations that prevent gambling being linked to seduction.
Executives from William Hill, CBS Outdoor and BBC Worldwide are to mentor 10 early stage companies that are developing technologies


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Tweet sent by Andy Rubin includes photo partially revealing his iPhone/Pixel challenger33
A tweet disseminated today by Rubin includes a photograph that shows him holding his new phone. The images on the screen confirm that the phone is powered by Android, and the handset appears to sport thin bezels and rounded edges. A message that Rubin included with the tweet says, "I'm really excited about how this is shaping up. Eager to get it in more people's hands..."
The Geekbench benchmark test in January let us know that the new phone will be powered by the Snapdragon 835 chipset carrying 4GB of RAM, with Android 7.0 running the show. It certainly sounds like a high-end device. The latest speculation calls for a 5.5-inch pressure-sensitive screen (similar to 3D Touch) to grace the handset.
Earlier this month, Rubin's company apparently lost $100 million in funding from Sprint parent SoftBank. But the latest word is that Essential Products was able to replace SoftBank with other well heeled investors, and a new round of funding is expected to close soon.
source: @Arubin via AndroidCentral
This story is part of:Andy Rubin's new phone - Essential (10 updates)


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San Francisco, Calif., Jan. 18, 2011 – TalkFree, a leading international VoIP and mobile VoIP carrier, has surpassed 1.5 million downloads of its mobile VoIP dialers. This comes on the heels of announcing record call completions, SIP-terminated voice minutes, mobile VoIP calls and minutes of use for the sixth consecutive quarter. For the year ending in 2010, TalkFree completed over 280 million calls and exceeded 1.5 billion SIP-terminated voice minutes over its network.
TalkFree was founded in 2003 as an international VoIP service provider. In 2009, the company launched 1LegCall, its first mobile VoIP dialer, and began marketing it through its vast network of resellers operating primarily in Middle Eastern and African countries. 1LegCall was specifically engineered for Nokia cell phones, the most popular brand in these markets. In the first month, thousands of migrant workers and citizens in developing nations downloaded the software and started making calls. Since then, in just six business quarters, TalkFree’s mobile VoIP traffic volume has grown by more than 800 percent.
Follow the link below to read the full press release:
TalkFree surpasses 1.5 million mobile VoIP app downloads


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The company will continue to support its customers by extending deadlines for scheduled services and warranties
Mahindra will extend every consumer-centric support it can through its digital platforms and warranty extensions through these difficult times. Customers can follow all happenings from the company on Twitter and e-mail for any queries. With the current state of disruptions due to the coronavirus epidemic, Mahindra has assured its customers that scheduled services missing deadlines will be honored as the company feels right. Also, all warranty renewals too will be extended beyond their deadlines. Toll-free services are being kept working by the limited employees working remotely to make it as smooth as possible for the customers. Mahindra also kept road-side services active as effectively as they can. The company has urged its customers to use the ‘With You Hamesha’ (WYH) mobile/web application for any requirements. Although most customers are restricted to their homes, many working through essential services still might need these services.
The WYH application can be used through Android/iOS mobile devices or on the web platform. The extended warranty service or Shield in Mahindra speak, can be extended on the application. Road-side assistance services and chat support are also available on WYH. Additional information on the application includes service history, costing, dealer locator and SOS requests. Veejay Nakra, Chief of Sales & Marketing, Automotive Sector, Mahindra & Mahindra mentioned “In such times, technology has proved to be a boon in assisting the needs of our customers…hope these initiatives will help assuage any concerns they would have regarding their vehicles”. The ongoing crisis already has taken a massive toll on production and sales for all manufacturers. These initiatives will keep the customers assured that the brand will not be neglecting these scheduled service and renewal deadlines.


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Q1 Results: Havells Expects Demand For Products To Rise In Second Half Of 2019-20
The consumption slowdown has impacted Havells’ businesses in India but the factors behind them are temporary, says chairman.
Havells India Ltd. expects demand for its consumer durables to improve in the latter half of the current financial year, the company’s Chairman and Managing Director Anil Rai Gupta said on Monday.
“The consumption slowdown has impacted our businesses in India but the factors behind them are temporary," Gupta told BloombergQuint in an interview. Government spending fell due to the general election, he said, adding that the government should pump up its purchases.
Revenue of the company’s electric consumer durables segment jumped 24 percent year-on-year to Rs 623.5 crore in the quarter ended June.
Havells India Q1 Results 2019-20: Key Highlights (YoY)
- Net revenue rose 4.5 percent to Rs 2,712 crore.
- Net profit fell 17 percent to Rs 174 crore.
- Operating profit fell 14 percent to Rs 276 crore.
- Margins at 10.2 percent vs 12.4 percent.
Watch the full conversation here:


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The report revealed Sunday revealed the extraordinary lengths Uber undertook to establish itself in nearly 30 countries.
Uber Reserve, which allows users to book rides up to 30 days in advance and automatically adjusts reservation times based on flight information, is expanding to 39 U.S. airports.
It’s the sixth annual detailing of some of the most interesting and unusual items passengers mistakenly left behind.
Uber, which had mandated masks since May of 2020, said Tuesday that both riders and drivers will no longer be required to wear them.
Both Uber and Lyft later said that surge pricing had been disabled and the companies would work to refund any customers who experienced "unintended charges."
Uber driver DaVante Williams was stranded with a teenage passenger for hours on the snowy I-95 and is being praised for going “above and beyond” to get her home safe.
The new audio recording is one of three new safety initiatives Uber is starting. The company will also roll out audible seat belt alerts and RideCheck Enhancements.
Uber has pledged 10 million free or discounted rides for those seeking to get the coronavirus vaccine, saying it wants to ensure transportation is not a barrier.
In a statement, Uber said Kalanick is leaving the board to focus on his new business and philanthropic endeavors.


text: On April 6, the Xiaomi community officially announced that the MIUI 12.5 stable version will be released in full on April 30. The first batch of models released are: Mi 11, Mi 10, Mi 10 Pro, Mi 10 Extreme Commemorative Edition, and Mi 9 SE. The MIUI 12.5 stable version will be released in full on April 30. The second batch of MIUI 12.5 stable version will be released at the end of May this year. The models include: Xiaomi 11 Ultra, Xiaomi 11 Pro, Redmi K40 Pro, Xiaomi 10S, Redmi K40, Redmi K30 Pro, Redmi K30 5G, Redmi K30i 5G, Xiaomi 10 Youth Edition 5G, Redmi K30 Extreme Edition, Redmi 10X, Redmi 10X Pro, Redmi K30S Extreme Edition, Redmi Note 9 Pro, Xiaomi CC9 Pro, Redmi Note 9, Xiaomi CC9, Mi CC9 Meitu customized version, Redmi Note 8 Pro, Mi 9, Redmi K20 Pro, Mi 9 Pro 5G. It is reported that the highlight of MIUI12.5 lies in the upgrade of privacy functions. It is a further step on the basis of the original MIUI12, introducing clipboard privacy protection, integrated fuzzy positioning, privacy isolation sandbox, browser privacy protection, and application ecological privacy protection measures.


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In India, Xiaomi’s 11i series is causing a stir. This series has shattered all earnings records, according to the firm. Please explain why Indians are so enthusiastic about this phone. What makes the Xiaomi 11i series so unique…
The Xiaomi 11i series was first introduced in China in October 2021 as the Redmi Note 11 series, but it has just lately arrived in India, where it is definitely a hit. Xiaomi India’s official Twitter account said today that the series has broken a new milestone, with more sales in a week than the Mi 10i on the first day of sale.
Mi 10i earned Rs 400 crore in three weeks
This is quite an achievement considering the Mi 10i is already a popular gadget and was one of the cheapest 5G phones when it was released. The phone sold for a record-breaking Rs 400 crore in just three weeks, and it now appears that the Xiaomi 11i series will do even better. The good results are compared to the ‘Hypercharge Revolution,’ which is a fair comparison given the Xiaomi 11i HyperCharge, which is currently one of the fastest charging phones on the Indian market.
In 15 minutes, the battery is fully charged.
The 120W fast-charging capability is no joke, claiming to charge the device’s 4,500mAh battery from 0% to 100% in 15 minutes. In the meantime, the Xiaomi 11i – which is more inexpensive – has 67W turbocharged support. The Xiaomi 11i series is well-liked not only for its battery, but also for its price and other features.
Specifications of the Xiaomi 11i
You’ll get a MediaTek Dimension 920 chip, which is quite powerful. The display is a 6.67-inch FHD+ flat AMOLED panel with a refresh rate of 120Hz, a peak brightness of 1200 nits, and touch sampling at 360Hz. A 108MP+8MP+2MP triple camera array at the back and a 16MP shooter at the front are available for photography. The Xiaomi 11i Hypercharge is priced at Rs 26,999, while the Xiaomi 11i 6GB + 128GB is priced at Rs 24,999.


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Digital Copyright by Jessica Litman, Prometheus, $25, ISBN
THE digital era has already changed copyright law forever, says Jessica
Litman, in Digital Copyright.
Traditionally, in the US at least, the law has given personal and
non-commercial users free access to copyright material. Now rights holders are
demanding that every use be potentially chargeable, even the copy made briefly
in your computer’s memory when you read a Web page.
They have backed up their position with a wave of copy protection
technologies and lawsuits, the most recent of which resulted in a ruling against
the music-sharing service Napster.
Litman, a …


text: Home prices have been up quite a bit. In fact, they’re up 45% since the low point that they hit in 2011. You know, the Great Recession had a material impact on home prices in this country, but we’re now starting to get back to levels similar to, or close to, what we saw prior to the recession, and that’s good for homeowners. Homeowners look for the money’s out of their house to be able to improve their home, and in fact our data indicates that, using our retail spending monitor which shows the spending on all forms of payment. Building, hardware and garden stores are actually up about 7.4%. They’re outpacing almost every other discretionary category as people decide to remodel their homes. People are remodeling their homes for a number of reasons, and part of this is related to the supply of homes that we have. There’s just not enough homes on the market today. There’s a number of reasons why that is the case. We don’t have enough construction workers. Builders aren’t building homes as fast, and it’s creating an imbalance between supply and demand, and so that’s why prices continue to rise. Now, building, hardware and garden stores again have been outpacing retail spending and I’ll take out less autos and gas just to look at a overall retail category, have been outpacing that for a number of years now, so this is not a recent phenomenon. It’s been going on for about four years, and that’s very positive for this particular sector. One of the areas that we looked at was the regional changes between building, hardware and garden stores sales. Not surprising, where sales and homes have continued to rise, we also see a rise in the building, hardware and garden space in terms of their sales growth. A lot of that is happening on the west coast of the United States. Further analysis of our data indicate the demographic spending of building, hardware and garden, and we see if you look at those people over the age of 50, they represent about 60% of the overall spending in this sector. Now why is that? Baby boomers are upgrading their homes, they’re choosing to live in their homes longer, and in many cases retiring in those homes.


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Tomorrow UMi will release a limted quantity of UMi Zero smartphones to international customers with immediate shipping for $199.99.
We review the UMi Zero, a mid-range phone dressed as a flagship with a wallet friendly price tag!
After posting details of a rumoured retail price for the UMi Zero yesterday, UMi representevies got in touch and gave us the final official pricing details.
First real photos of the UMi Zero published and what do you think of that $250 retail price?
The UMi Zero is one hell of a stylish phone. What’s more, it doesn’t end there — the phone also comes with some cutting edge tech!
Leaked press images from a UMi presentation have been sent to us which focus on the UMi Zero ’Superbody’ construction and high quality materials.
One of the most ‘foreseeing’ Indian companies, XOLO today launched the first of its Hive UI enabled smartphones in the XOLO Play 8X-1000 and the KitKat powered Play 8X-1200.
Among the best looking phones from Micromax, the Canvas Knight is all set to get a bit more powerful, or at least optimized thanks to an Android v4.4.2 update.
After being a victim of numerous leaks, Micromax’s Canvas Gold A300 is finally official, and in style, with a 2GHz 8 core CPU and Android KitKat.


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The HEPC (Handloom Export Promotion Council) conducted a workshop on September 30th to promote Indian Handloom Brand, launched and promoted by our Honorable Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi. In order to promote handloom industry in India alongwith the exporters, HEPC is conducting this workshop all over India.
Arch students and faculty members attended the workshop at The Fern Hotel. The workshop was very interesting and informative. The first session started with the Presentation on Export Benefits by Mrs. Reena Sawhney, HEPC, New Delhi. It elucidated about the various promotional schemes started by the government of India and the Government of Rajasthan to promote the Handloom Sector with a focus on attracting the exporters to invest in the handloom sector and making it profitable to them. The schemes not only looked for the exporters’ interests but also for the interests of the weavers. The schemes like Mahatama Gandhi Bunkar Yojana targeted on the health and welfare of the weavers.
Further in the workshop the students learned more about the Indian Handloom brand with the presentation by Ms. Ruchi Yadav, Deputy Director, WSC, Jaipur on Indian Handloom Brand, its procedure & benefits. The Indian Handloom brand is an initiative by the Ministry of Textiles, India, for branding of high quality handloom products. It is a trademark that would differentiate high quality handloom products and help in earning the trust of the customers by endorsing the quality in terms of raw materials, processing embellishment, weaving design and other quality parameters. It promotes high quality, authentic designs with zero defects and zero effect on environment. Students also learned about the handlooms that are listed under the Indian Handloom Brand.
Next the workshop incorporated a lecture by Mr. Satish Raina, Joint DGFT, Jaipur on how to enter into the exports. While interacting with the students, he explained how digital India has happened and eased out the work of documents and has added more credibility to the same. It is because of the digital India campaign, that all kinds of registrations can now be done through internet and people can avoid paper work or regular visits to the government offices.
At last there was a Presentation on “Color Trends and Visual Merchandising” for export market by Dr. Ruchika, NIFT, Jodhpur. The presentation clearly explained visual merchandising, why it is important, present trends in the industry and also threw light on the upcoming trends.
All in all it was an amazing experience for the students to gain so much knowledge and be prepared for the future opportunities in the field of Design and Export.
Four days of Glitter, Shine and Recognition, with our student Enakshi Bishnoi winning the first prize and receiving Award from Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Smt. Vasundhra Raje and Union Minister of State in Finance and Corporate Affairs, Sh. Arjun Ram Meghwal, JAS 16 indeed became a memorable experience for Arch Family and brought back the memories of the Jewellery Designing legacy started way back in the year 2000 !
ARCH Design Dhara is a powerful initiative taken by the Arch Academy of Design towards spreading awareness of critical & strategic design thinking, & research based higher education pathways to raise employable skills amongst the youth.
The first ARCH Design Dhara, was a mobile TRAVELLING EXHIBITION on wheels, which was flagged off by Smt. Vasundhara Raje, the Honourable Chief Minister of Rajasthan on 16th June, 2014.
The event was inaugurated by Bollywood Actor, Zayed Khan.
Welcoming him, ARCH founder and Director Ms. Archana Surana shared with us, “Design Dhara 2017- a Design & Craft Mela to create Awareness about Design Education amongst students & to give them an opportunity to learn with the skilled craftsmen. Students will get to understand the “Career Opportunities after Design Education” directly from the ace designers, entrepreneurs, HR Manager. Along with there will be live demonstrations on different crafts by Artisans.”
Zayed, was impressed seeing the crafts and products developed by the students at ARCH. He was spellbound seeing the beautiful jewellery collection. On this occasion he also launched Backstitch- ARCH’s Monthly Design Magazine and the poster of Design Story Photography competition lit by Arch to start from 1st September, 2016. He interacted with the students from different schools, colleges and media personnel and also introduced the audience with his latest app “ImKnotShy”.
The 3 day Fair saw different Artisans & Craftsmen displaying their skills related to Puppetry, Weaving, Pottery, Laser Cutting, Button Masala, 3D Pritning, Block Printing, Wood Cut, etc and Designers like Ms. Anuradha Singh, ADG Jawahar Kala Kendra and Mr. Paresh Founder-Neos Angles coming in and interacting with the students from different schools and other people visiting the event on the topic “Design in Everyday Life”.
Speakers shared insights about Design and Entrepreneurship wherein a state like Rajasthan and Jaipur- the world craft city is known for its Jewellery, Handicrafts, Textiles and Prints & Tourism world over has immense opportunities not only for learning but to start your own enterprise.
The campus had been decorated as a mela with Colorful banners, Selfie points and live workshops going on. The fair is a perfect example of learning with fun!
The students took Special interest in the Laser Cutting, 3 D Scanning and Photography. Sharing more about it, ARCH Director Academics- Prof. Benoy Thoompunkal said, these facilities have been introduced at Arch Business Incubator, a first of its kind initiative in Rajasthan, where you get a chance to convert your creativity into an expandable business opportunity.
During the Fair, Arch Academy witnessed footfall of more than 1500 students & guests from top schools, colleges and universities of Jaipur.
Design Dhara was full of colours, interaction and display of various skills ranging from Weaving to 3D Printing, from Jewellery Making to Block Printing, Arch Design Dhara has it all!
Design Dhara is ready to go to more cities in Rajasthan!!


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Buddha Mind Monastery will have a vegetarian festival Saturday and Sunday, July 21 and 22, to promote vegetarianism.
The festival is designed to promote vegetarianism by demonstrating the benefits of a vegetarian diet and discovering a variety of methods to prepare and display nutritious, fulfilling vegetarian meals, organizers said.
The event will be at the monastery, 5916 S Anderson Road.
On the first day of the festival, presenters will demonstrate how to make vegetarian dishes, how to successfully order vegetarian food in restaurants and how to economically shop for vegetarian substitutes in local markets.
On the second day, the monastery will host a "Veggie-Joy" cook off, followed by an international vegetarian buffet. Presenters will include the owner of Grand House Restaurant and a locally famous vegetarian chef from Houston.
For additional information, call 869-0501, or visit email@example.com or www.buddhamind.org.


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An insane week to finish an insane month of Google adjustments is easy methods to sum up this web optimization video recap. Google completed rolling out the November 2021 core replace on Tuesday afternoon, November thirtieth. So you recognize, 60% of SEOs stated they didn’t see adjustments with that core replace. Then a day later, on Wednesday, December 1st, Google started to roll out the second product evaluations algorithm replace of the yr – with new guidelines and adjustments. Google additionally informed us they’re eliminating the cellular first indexing deadline (I forgot to speak about this, so learn that information under). Google admitted there are some uncommon circumstances a web site can go into Google algorithm limbo or hell. I posted the massive Google December webmaster report – it was an insane month. Google stated web site pace shouldn’t be why your rankings dropped or elevated in a major approach. Google stated your URL adjustments from a yr in the past shouldn’t be why your rankings are nonetheless down at this time. Google stated human readable sitemaps are actually not obligatory for web optimization. Google nonetheless doesn’t index components of a web page. Google stated hyperlinks to or from small websites are advantageous. Google Adverts efficiency planner added a bunch of options. Google Service provider Heart has a brand new aggressive visibility report and a report to point out which badges you’re eligible for. Google Purchasing Adverts displayed unfavorable costs for some adverts routinely. Google is rolling out an expandable snippet carousel. Google can be displaying a language carousel in some international locations. Now you can filter healthcare suppliers by the insurances they settle for within the U.S. Google has some neat Chanukah easter eggs, with donuts, menorahs and dreidels. And I’m humbled to say it has been 18 years of me writing about search – it’s the 18th anniversary of the Search Engine Roundtable. And if you wish to assist sponsor these vlogs, go to patreon.com/barryschwartz. That was the search information this week on the Search Engine Roundtable.
SPONSOR: This week’s video recap is sponsored by Loud Interactive, a Chicago-based web optimization agency led by Brent D. Payne.
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A new report says that Changge county has called upon retired People’s Liberation Army (PLA) personnel in China to come and work at the world’s largest iPhone factory in Zhengzhou in order to help get production back up and running.
SCMP reports that the government has written an open letter to retired PLA personnel “urging” them to “answer the government’s call” and “take part in the resumption of production” at Foxconn’s “iPhone City” plant in Zhengzhou.
The report says the call is part of a wider campaign in the province “to help recruit fresh assembly line workers for Foxconn’s Zhengzhou compound” where “tens of thousands of panicked workers have fled” in recent weeks due to a COVID-19 outbreak and strict lockdown measures.
According to SCMP, the open letter has since been removed from the social media platform WeChat without explanation. The report cites experts who say the measures “reflect concerns that further disruptions in production could accelerate Apple’s pace of diversifying production outside China.” Earlier today it emerged Apple’s suppliers are planning another large factory in India.
Foxconn employs 300,000 workers at its enormous plant, where all of Apple’s best iPhones including the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro are assembled. Apple recently warned that its main Zhengzhou factory was working at a “significantly reduced capacity.
“COVID-19 restrictions have temporarily impacted the primary iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max assembly facility located in Zhengzhou, China,” the company stated, warning that it expects to see “lower iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max shipments than we previously anticipated and customers will experience longer wait times to receive their new products.”
The stark outlook make the latest Black Friday iPhone deals even more appealing, with stock likely to dwindle as we get closer to the holiday season and November’s main sales events.


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In this era of growing popularity of cryptocurrencies, security is constantly gaining importance. It seems obvious, but still many market participants fall into traps set by fraudsters.
The statistics do not fare well
According to a report from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), consumer losses related to crypto fraud have increased by as much as 10 times year-over-year. The total value of fraud between October 2020 and March 2021 exceeded $80 million. The number of people who were victims of them amounted to almost 7 thousand.
The agency reports that the most popular way to attack digital assets was to impersonate a well-known figure, with a high level of public trust, present in the blockchain space. These types of personalities would come out with an offer to send cryptocurrencies to a designated address, suggesting to wait to send them back, in larger amounts. Consumers have reported losing around $2 million to individuals posing as at least Elon Musk. Another popular tactic involved posting fake investment tips on forums, resulting in victims logging into fake websites, again resulting in lost funds.
Increased attacks in 2020
Even more interesting data is shared by VPN Atlas, which looked not so much at fraud as at the hacking activities themselves. They show that in 2020, blockchain hackers stole nearly $3.78 billion in 122 independent attacks. What’s worrisome is that the total number of attacks in the crypto space for last year, accounts for as much as 33% of all incidents recorded since the day the sector was created. The most common target of hackers was decentralized applications based on the Ethereum network. In 2020, they experienced 47 successful attacks resulting in the loss of $436.4 million.
Cryptocurrency exchanges were not without flaws, having suffered as many as 28 breaches with total losses of $300.2 million.
The number of hacks on cryptocurrency wallets has become alarming. These potentially most secure sites recorded 27 successful attacks. Total losses in this area exceeded $3 billion.
Ensure your security by choosing the right wallet
However, it is important to understand that the types of crypto wallets are many. In addition to the hot wallets present on exchanges, we also have private desktop wallets, as well as hardware wallets. Using the latter is definitely the best way to secure your funds. If you are interested in such a wallet, be sure to take a look at the article titled “Cryptocurrency hardware wallets”, where we discuss in more detail how they work.


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Eurotunnel shares suspended
Eurotunnel, the company which operates the sub-Channel rail link between Britain and France, said today it had asked for its shares to be suspended pending a statement from the company.
'Pending an important announcement that is expected during the course of today, Groupe Eurotunnel SA has requested that trading in all of the group's securities be provisionally suspended on Euronext Paris and the London Stock Exchange,' it said in a statement.
The timing of the statement depends on the French AMF market watchdog, a Eurotunnel spokeswoman said. Asked whether the statement was related to a second stage in the company's planned capital increase, she said she could 'not deny nor confirm' that.
Eurotunnel completed the issue of €800m ($1.25bn) in subordinated debt and had been planning a second €900m issue of share warrants.
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Just after the midterm elections General Motors will be ramping up its communications machine in a bid to advance its Initial Public Offering (IPO), a move which will gradually remake the automaker into a private entity. In advance of that effort, expect GM to reveal what is coming
Just after the midterm elections General Motors will be ramping up its communications machine in a bid to advance its Initial Public Offering (IPO), a move which will gradually remake the automaker into a private entity. In advance of that effort, expect GM to reveal what is coming down the production pike for its four surviving brands, a move designed to show investors that the company has a strong future in this ultra-competitive industry.
That effort is already taking place as the company has been telling everyone that new products are on the way. Not just what Buick and GMC will be getting or what Chevrolet, contributor of 70 percent of GM’s American sales will be doing next, rather what its luxury brand, Cadillac, will be offering.
In recent years Cadillac’s image has been transforming, taking on chief European competition instead of merely competing with Lincoln for American luxury car honors. Its CTS portfolio is hot and now consists of a coupe, sport wagon and V-series models to go with the sedan. In the CTS, GM has proven that it can build a model competitive with Mercedes, BMW and Audi, not exactly a halo model, but doing more to positively impact its image than anything else.
The SRX crossover has been a surprise hit for Cadillac, downsized in 2009 to sit on the same platform underpinning other smaller crossover models sold by GM. Though the first generation model was a capable performer, the second generation model has been a strong seller. Leasing has helped to fuel sales, but apart from that the SRX is a looker.
GM greenlighted a replacement sedan for the STS and DTS earlier this year, a car based on the XTS Platinum Concept. We also know that a smaller Cadillac, one that will slot below the CTS line is in the works, bringing the brand back into territory it miserably failed in before, dating all the way to the 1980s-era Cimmaron.
But, this isn’t the 1980s and this certainly isn’t the old GM. A new way of doing business is evident which means that Cadillac will enter territory it hasn’t competed in before, namely taking on the upper echelon models sold by Mercedes (S-Class) and BMW (7-Class). Yes, a true “halo” model is on its way, a large sedan designed to burnish its image at home and abroad. Not much is being said about this low production model, but if it comes to pass it will just about complete the Cadillac transformation.
There is one more model in the Cadillac cavalcade designed for a radical change and that is the Escalade. GM hasn’t said much about this SUV which has kept Cadillac afloat in good times, but seems dated and out of place in recent times.
The easiest path for GM to take with the next generation Escalade is to give it the Lambda treatment and build it on the large crossover platform powering the Buick Enclave, GMC Acadia and Chevrolet Traverse. That will be the path taken if funding becomes an issue and if EPA fuel economy concerns dictate such.
GM has never been shy about marketing and with Joel Ewanick at the helm, the Cadillac brand is set to take on the world’s finest automotive brands.


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Long Beach, Calif – The 6th annual CANstruction will be held from October 10th – 20th at MADE by Millworks on Pine Avenue in downtown Long Beach. The event is put on by Food Finders each year to help collect canned goods for local shelters and food pantries.
The year’s theme is “One Can, Two Can, Who Can? You Can!” where the competing teams were challenged to build Dr. Suess themed structures out of canned goods.
The 2019 participants are:
- P2S Engineering / MHP Structural Engineers / Swinerton Engineers
- M4 Aerospace Engineering
- Long Beach Water Department
- Studio 111 / Retail Design Collaborative
“Food Finders is excited to be the beneficiary of the 6th annual Long Beach CANstruction”, said Patti Larson, Executive Director of Food Finders. “Last year’s event generated a 10,000 pound plus donation of canned goods, and this unique event will continue to heighten awareness of food insecurity in our community and will play an important role in helping to feed those in need in our own backyard.”
Although CANstruction is an event designed to give back there is an element of competition to it. The teams are encouraged to put forth their best effort because a panel of judges will be judging them and awarding prizes for: ” Structural Ingenuity”, “Best Use of Labels”, “Most Cans”, “Best Meal” and “Juror’s Favorite”.
The sculptures will be displayed at MADE by Millworks until October 20th. Long Beach residents are encouraged to bring canned goods with them when checking out the sculptures to participate in the voting process. Bins will be placed next to each sculpture so that visitors can choose the “People’s Choice” winner.
For those interested in supporting Food Finders check out their website: http://www.foodfinders.org/.


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The competition watchdog is launching an investigation into reports that some fashion importers are asking retail websites to charge Australians more or block them from buying certain brands.
SmartCompany reported last week that fashion importers, including the International Fashion Group and Some Agency, had reached agreement with fashion brands to stop cheaper online sales from international sites.
These deals have now caught the attention of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, which says it will look at whether they constitute anti-competitive behaviour.
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A spokesperson for the ACCC told SmartCompany, “we are committed to having a look at it and online is a priority.”
Chairman Rod Sims urged any online shopper who suspected they were being charged more for an item because of their location to contact the ACCC.
”We are extremely committed to having a close look at this,” Sims told Fairfax.
”We will make sure that the established players aren’t doing anything against the [law] to block consumers from getting the benefit of the extra competition that they can get through buying online.”
Sims warned companies found to be engaging in these practices could face heavy fines.
”In some instances we might issue an infringement notice that requires them to pay $6,600 per offence … but we could also instigate legal proceedings and, depending on the circumstances, the size of the company, and how much detriment was caused, they could be looking at fines of millions of dollars.”
SmartCompany has contacted IFG and Some Agency but did not receive a reply prior to publication.
Russell Zimmerman, executive director of the Australian Retailers Association told SmartCompany it was not uncommon for brands to protect their value and price point.
“Recent reports local importers reaching agreements with international brands is really an issue for the importer and the brand,” says Zimmerman.
“Retailers are competing in a global environment with their overseas counterparts and the Australian market is exposed to both Australian and overseas shopping environments.
“Research shows Australians who shop online prefer to buy from Australian websites, which is a real opportunity for Australian retailers.
“In order to do this, Australian retailers need relief from operating costs they face as a result of rents, wages and the low value import threshold, which are some of the highest costs in the world.”


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- Date : 20/02/2018
- Read: 3 mins
- Read in हिंदी: जीएसटी से लगेगी मुनाफाखोरी पर लगाम?
GST is set to change the pricing of products and services; and companies must adhere to these, or will have to face consequences.
The historic Goods and Services Tax (GST) is going to bring significant changes to India’s indirect tax system. While there are few aspects yet to be finalised, the government is taking necessary steps to ensure a smooth transition to the new system. This includes curbing undue profiteering by companies under the new regime.
Here’s what you should know about anti-profiteering in GST
Profiteering and Anti-profiteering in GST
Unlike other countries, the GST in India has a multi-tier tax structure. In addition to this, the rules might seem a bit complicated to the average person. Hence, it is possible that some companies might try to make a quick buck under the new regime. The government has decided to invoke anti-profiteering measures to crackdown on those who misuse the new laws.
The Directorate General of GST Intelligence (DGSTI) is a new unit set up by the government to oversee tax compliance in the country, once GST has been implemented. Latest reports say that there will be a minimum of one DGSTI unit in each state in the country. They will replace the Directorate General of Central Excise Intelligence (DGCEI) units, which are already present in many states. The primary goal of the DGSTI is to collect information regarding GST evasion and catch hold of evaders. It will also offer advice to GST authorities on loopholes in the price structure of goods and classification of commodities.
Related: How well do you understand GST
Under Section 171 of the GST Act, companies have to transfer any reduction in tax to their consumers. This must be done by reducing the prices of goods and services proportionately. The government can deploy an authority to check on whether the lower tax rates have brought about lower prices. By setting up the DGSTI, the Indian government has made it clear that any case of anti-profiteering in GST by companies would lead to severe action.
To sum it up:
Profit is essential for businesses, but anti-profiteering in GST could land them in serious trouble. So, when the GST rolls out this monsoon, it is better to pass on the price cuts to the customers rather than risk being pulled up by the DGSTI, and facing the consequences that come with it.


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|Business News - Markets reports and financial news from Sky20:59 |
Sky business news provides up to the minute reports on markets, share prices and the world economy, alongside expert business commentary.
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1. Maplin in last-ditch bid to secure 'solvent sale'20:59[−]
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3. Safety scare forces major meat supplier to collapse16:08[−]
4. Departing Tesco UK chief named N Brown chairman15:25[−]
5. Great Ormond Street may keep Presidents Club cash14:46[−]
6. Finger lickin' crisis: KFC runs out of chicken13:42[−]
7. Chancellor ditches red box for mini-Budget13:02[−]
8. Carillion investors 'fled for the hills' before collapse12:10[−]
9. Bosses 'in dark ages' on pregnant women's rights10:24[−]
10. £2bn of old paper £10 notes still in circulation04:25[−]
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CyberGuard Technologies protects SDI Displays against security threats
Loughborough-based SDI Displays, a manufacturer of retail and visual merchandising equipment, has invested in a suite of cyber security technologies to ensure its business and data are protected against cyber threats.
The multi-million pound company creates, manufactures and installs point-of-sale and retail display solutions for some of the UK’s biggest brands and retailers, including Marks & Spencer, Tesco, Dyson and Heineken.
After the opening of a new joinery facility in 2018, and recently completing projects with Dior, Boundary Mill, Top Shop and Oasis, SDI Displays’ Managing Director, Ian Wright, wanted to protect his business. He explained: “Any business that thinks cyber-crime won’t affect them is burying their head in the sand. As a business we rely more and more on IT for communication with our customers and suppliers, so it has become ever more important to protect our data and IT systems. With the wider and more common threat of cyber-attacks and ransom requests, it soon became apparent that we needed something more secure and proactive, rather than being reactive.”
Having been in business for 40 years, SDI Displays’ head office hosts a full-scale manufacturing plant and offices where its 110 employees are based. Recognising the need to take its cyber security to the next level to stay ahead of attackers, SDI Displays turned to CyberGuard Technologies, a division of OGL Computer, its technology partner for over a decade. CyberGuard Technologies undertook a thorough security audit before recommending a number of changes to strengthen the SME’s business, protect its entire supply chain and ensure the company remained fully operational at all times.
Having previously used a Kaspersky anti-virus, which does not stop employees from downloading and installing software that could be harmful, SDI Displays installed Carbon Black Defense as it could make the SME aware of malicious content, via proactive monitoring. Carbon Black Defense also offers endpoint protection, looking for known viruses and malware along with inspecting files and identifying threats by analysing user behaviour. It alerts SDI Displays to employees trying to download and install malicious content, through them requiring authorisation from a second source.
CyberGuard Technologies also installed a virtual recovery solution that backs up the company’s data and information in case of a disaster. SDI Displays has yet to use it, but knowing it’s there is important for the company’s business continuity/recovery plan. If there is a server outage for whatever reason, SDI Displays can be back up and running within 24 hours.
Colin Dennis, Head of Cyber at CyberGuard Technologies, commented: “While many smaller businesses don’t think of themselves as a prime target for cyber-attacks, they are in fact a growing target as hackers believe they will have weaker IT systems in place and could be used to bring down larger organisations through their supply chain. This is why more and more SMEs are implementing security measures previously only ever considered, or entirely overlooked.”
“A next-generation anti-virus, like Carbon Black Defense, is essential as it proactively monitors everyday IT communications so employees can no longer be an insider threat. Cloud recovery is another key safety measure as it offers reliable recovery of business data, minimising the effects of an unfortunate or unforeseen disaster and giving savvy companies like SDI Displays complete peace of mind.”
CyberGuard Technologies – Raising Visibility, Managing Threats
CyberGuard Technologies (an independent company within the OGL Computer Services Group which has been in the technology business for over 40 years) provides the very best in IT security for UK businesses looking for premium IT performance in a protected, secure environment. Our cyber defences protect against the potential devastation of an attack from cyber-criminals including defending your finances, identity, reputation, data and your customers’ confidential information.
We protect our customers from end-to-end through; Security Testing, Managed Detect & Respond Services, Security Awareness Training and Cyber Certification, and provide reassurance in the event of an attack through fast and effective Cyber Incident Response, built upon sound threat intelligence gathered by our own team of cyber analysts coupled with intel from various global sources.
For more information: www.cg-tech.co.uk