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Tinder CEO Steps Aside In Parent Match Group Shake-up
Match Group Inc. Chairman and CEO Greg Blatt will become Tinder CEO as well, the dating company said late Thursday. Tinder's co-founder and current CEO, Sean Rad, was tapped to lead Swipe Ventures, which will "seek to expand Tinder's footprint through acquisitions, development of new businesses and investments in new and existing businesses," the Los Angeles-based company said in a statement. Match Group's brands include online dating sites Match and OkCupid, among others, and it also operates test preparation and tutoring company The Princeton Review. Shares of Match were flat in late trading after ending the regular session up 1%. Rad was ousted as Tinder CEO in 2015 following a sexual harassment lawsuit, but returned to the helm in August 2015. Shortly before Match's IPO in November 2015, he gave a controversial interview to a British tabloid about his dating life.
Copyright © 2016 MarketWatch, Inc.


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Stratis, the Blockchain-as-a-Service platform that provides C# developers with several tools to build their own blockchains, recently announced their roadmap objectives for the first two quarters of 2018. This accompanies a flurry of partnerships that has ramped up since the beginning of the year, including those with C# Corner, Gluon, and Beyond Global Trade (BGT).
So far, two verified ICOs—Gluon and BGT—have been created as a result of the Stratis platform, potentially paving the way for many businesses to easily launch their own ICOs.
This article will examine their recently updated roadmap. Let’s begin with a quick summary of last year’s achievements. If you’d like an in-depth introduction to the project, check out our Stratis guide.
Progress in Q4 2017
Much of Q4 2017 was spent pushing towards beta releases. Stratis has, for the most part, met their roadmap deadlines, with a few delays occurring due to security double-checks. The following is a brief recap of their progress last year:
Full Node Alpha with GUI
The first step towards implementing a C#-built blockchain network, this allowed users to run a full node with all capabilities and GUI support. Stratis hit their deadline for this. This milestone enabled users to stake coins, download the Stratis blockchain, and aided peer propagation. This was a major development in the project.
Breeze Wallet Supporting Stratis and Bitcoin Mainnet
In Q3 2017, Stratis developed the alpha version of the Breeze wallet on Bitcoin’s testnet. It had been delayed slightly, because the team had discovered a serious bug in testing. This did not seem to faze the community greatly, who were to happy that solid reviews were taking place.
This progressed to a beta version that supported both Bitcoin and Stratis testnets in Q4 that, by the end of the year, had developed into a fully functioning wallet.
Blockchain Generation Technology
In a very exciting development that is key to Stratis’ success, the team created the mechanism by which custom blockchains could be developed, called Blockchain Generation Technology.
Announced in December 2017, this feature lets teams deploy their very own blockchain, public or private, that includes wallets, mining capabilities and full node infrastructure— all using C#. Thus, it is now possible for developers to create their very own coin.
Stratis Identity App for iOS
The use of blockchain to securely store personal information—digital identities—is universally agreed to be a major application of the technology. Stratis had already created the Stratis Identity app for the Android Operating System and the last quarter of 2017 saw them work on one for iOS. This app lets you write your digital identity onto the Stratis blockchain.
The iOS has finished development, but is still waiting to be approved by the App Store.
Stratis Academy Community Section
While the specific material for the courses is still in the works, Stratis has completed the overall architecture that is the Learning Management System. This is the system by which course material is disseminated, evaluated, and recorded. It lays the groundwork for the creation of content. The team has expressed confidence in delivering the content on or before their deadline of Q1 2018.
Stratis Test ICO
Given that one of the key use cases of Stratis is to let developers launch their own ICOs, the launch of a Test ICO platform was a significant milestone for Stratis. This let users host their own ICOs on the Stratis blockchain, and the platform was built with C# and the .NET framework. It was deployed on Microsoft’s Azure cloud infrastructure.
Stratis 2018 Roadmap Update
There’s a lot more on the table in 2018 as Stratis will be taking many of their key developments into Mainnet Beta.
Their priorities for the first half of 2018 include:
- ICO Platform working release
- Full Node Mainnet Beta (Including GUI)
- Breeze Wallet Privacy Protocol Beta
- Smart Contracts Alpha release
- Sidechains Alpha release
- Course Content for the Stratis Academy
ICO Platform Working Release
Earlier this year, Silicon Valley software company Gluon, which brings intelligent solutions to the automotive market, announced that they would work with Stratis to become a flagship ICO that would launch using Stratis’ platform. Soon after, Beyond Global Trade, which operates in the manufacturing and design space, became the second flagship ICO to be launched on the Stratis blockchain.
This feature is expected to be ready in Q1 2018. This final release will build on the feedback received during the Test ICO platform run. No new wallet will be necessary. When this feature is fully ready, it can be launched directly from the Azure marketplace, without requiring assistance from the Stratis team.
Full Node Mainnet Beta Release & GUI Improvements
The Full Node Mainnet release will take the feedback from the alpha release and incorporate it into the beta release. It is currently in a testing phase. While unconfirmed by Stratis itself, some sources indicate that it is expected to be released in Q2 2018. The development of the Full Node is accompanied by an improvement to the UI experience.
Privacy Protocol in the Breeze Wallet
Privacy is a hot topic in cryptocurrency and Stratis’ decision to incorporate privacy features should please many. In Q4 2017, it went through internal testing phases. Q1 2018 will see the Mainnet Beta release of this protocol embedded into the multi-currency Breeze wallet.
Stratis Academy Course Material
In order to entice users onto private and public blockchains built by developers, something must be built. To build something, especially in a field as nascent as blockchain technology, developers must be educated in the particulars and the use of the programming language—in this case, C#.
This is the significance of the Stratis Academy, which prepares developers with all of the knowledge they need, and equips them with all of the tools they need, to build their blockchains. While it is agreed that there is too much hype in the space, it is also accepted that there is something undeniably valuable about the technology.
To help usher in this new era of information sharing and processing, individuals must be educated in the subject, like how developers were educated at the dawn of the internet. Stratis’s partnership with C# Corner, a millions-strong developer community, will help build this ecosystem.
Course material is actively being prepared and will be released during the first two quarters of 2018.
Smart Contracts Alpha Release
Expected to be released in Q1 2018, the smart contracts compatibility with the Stratis platform is an anticipated feature. The team has already put the architecture in place. In Q4 2017, they were working on gas expenditure and persistent storage related elements.
There’s good news: Stratis is slated to introduce this new form of smart contracts, which developers can readily use, at a Blockchain Expo in London on April 18, 2018. It will be hosted by Jordan Andrews, a smart contracts developer for Stratis.
Sidechains Alpha Release
Sidechains are a core element of the Stratis objective to offer a fully functional and end-to-end blockchain development platform. This will combine with the smart contracts release to allow developers to run smart contracts on sidechains. This release will let developers create sidechains instantaneously and allow funding from the mainchain. This is also expected to be released in Q1 2018.
Keep an Eye on Stratis
With Q1 2018 coming up soon, we can expect to hear more from Stratis in the coming weeks as some of the items on the roadmap reach their deadlines for completion. The first half of 2018 will see the implementation of many critical aspects of their objectives, giving us a better indication of how useful their project will be, how well it will be received, and how common it might become in blockchain development.
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BOSTON (WHDH) - The choice of food for David Pastrnak to promote was obvious.
The Bruins star visited Stop & Shop Tuesday to promote his new pasta, which raises money for pediatric cancer research at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, as well as the Jimmy Fund
“It worked out perfectly, it couldn’t work out any better with my nickname,” Pastrnak said. “I think pasta was a great option, you can put pasta in front of any children and they will love it.”
In a nod to Pastrnak’s uniform number, the boxes of penne — the winger’s favorite pasta — sell for 88 cents.
(Copyright (c) 2023 Sunbeam Television. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)


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Amazon Prime announced on Friday its plans to incorporate advertising into its Prime Video streaming service, effective early next year. This development places Amazon in direct contention with other streaming giants, intensifying the battle for viewership.
Beginning next year, current U.S.-based Prime members opting for an ad-free viewing experience will incur an additional monthly charge of $2.99, according to an official statement released by the company. Pricing details for ad-free programming in countries beyond the U.S. will be disclosed at a later date.
In comparison, users of rival streaming platforms like Disney and Netflix are accustomed to steeper fees. Disney recently unveiled its ad-free streaming package at a starting rate of $13.99 per month, a staggering 75% surge over its ad-supported counterpart. Meanwhile, Netflix commands a monthly fee of $15.49 for its ad-free plan.
Amazon asserts that the inclusion of advertisements, slated to air during movies and shows on Prime Video, will fortify the company’s commitment to delivering top-tier content. The move, Amazon contends, is a crucial step towards sustaining the augmentation of high-quality content investment over an extended period.
Subscribers to Prime Video will receive an advanced notification via email several weeks before the introduction of ads, along with instructions on how to opt for the ad-free alternative, should they choose to do so. Notably, live events featured on Amazon Prime, such as sports broadcasts, already encompass advertising.
It’s worth noting that an Amazon Prime membership encompasses not only Prime Video but also offers enduring benefits including free shipping for items on Amazon.com, access to groceries, music streaming, and more, with pricing structures remaining unaltered.
This announcement comes on the heels of a June allegation by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) accusing Amazon of purportedly enrolling consumers into Amazon Prime without their consent and making subscription cancellations a cumbersome process. At the time, an Amazon spokesperson vehemently refuted the FTC’s claims, deeming them false.
As competition among streaming services escalates, viewers are becoming increasingly discerning about which platforms offer the most favorable pricing and premium content. While the introduction of advertising options represents a calculated risk for Amazon Prime, failing to deliver content and pricing that captivates and converts users could prove equally detrimental.
The impact of Amazon’s new advertising tiers on Prime Video, and whether they will be sufficient to sway viewers or prompt Amazon to revise its strategies, remains uncertain. Amazon is staking its bet on the premise that limited advertisements during Prime Video content will fortify its investments in quality programming. The outcome, however, remains shrouded in uncertainty, leaving the streaming landscape poised on the edge of anticipation.
Source: AP News


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India, in recent times, has positioned itself to take up a leading role on the back of the promising performance of its many sectors, including automotive.
The Indian automotive industry ranks among the top three largest industries in the world with an annual production of 25.3 million vehicles, significantly above conventional automotive superpowers such as the US (17.5 million vehicles) and the EU (12.6 million vehicles). The sector directly contributes $97 billion to the Indian economy with automobiles contributing $58 billion and the automotive component sector contributing $39 billion. The sector received cumulative equity FDI inflow of about $33.53 billion between April 2000-June 2022. The Government of India has promoted it as a promising sector and expects the automobile sector to attract $8-10 billion in local and foreign investments by 2023. India already enjoys a strong position in the global heavy vehicles market as it is the largest tractor producer, second-largest bus manufacturer, and third-largest heavy trucks manufacturer in the world, according to IBEF reports.
Home to the largest expat population, comprising more than 3.4 million Indians, the UAE has traditionally enjoyed strong and long-lasting ties with India. These have been through multiple avenues of mutual interest, which have only grown stronger as many Indians have settled here, setting up businesses and explored economic opportunities in the process. In FY 2021-22, the UAE was India’s third largest trade partner, with total non-oil bilateral trade valued at $72.87 billion. The bilateral trade between these two countries is expected to hit $100 billion within five years, following the signing of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). The CEPA is a vital landmark in the UAE-India relationship, which promises to create better avenues for businesses on both sides and is sure to increase investment opportunities manifold. Initiated last year, the UAE-India startup corridor will help boost tech-enabled startups from both nations to scale their businesses and fortify their position. One of the focus areas will be automotive. At the backdrop of CEPA, India’s automobile exports to the UAE are poised to increase to $160 million in the next five years while engineering exports are seen growing 10 per cent in the first two years and 15 per cent in the next three years at $7 billion, $8 billion and $9.2 billion in FY25, FY26 and FY27, reports suggest.
Rising Demand for Electric Vehicles
A growing trend among motorists has been the popularity for electric vehicles (EVs) in the face of rising fuel costs and a heightened sense of sustainability. Today, EVs enjoy a 0.7 per cent market share in India and by 2027, this figure is expected to increase to 3.8 per cent. To push for the adoption of EVs, India is one of the few countries that support the EV30@30 campaign which aims to increase global market share of EVs to at least 30 per cent by 2030, an IEA report states.
Another success story in this case has been that of Tata Motors, which started early and addressed the initial barriers faced by the industry through leveraging the synergies of the companies which align with the EV ecosystem to their strengths. N. Chandrasekaran, Chairman, Tata Sons, echoing the global aspirations of the brand, said: “Our aspiration is not only to make batteries for Tata companies, but also for the global market.”
Boost to Green Hydrogen
Taking more inspiration from the home brand Tata Motors, I would like to quote Praveer Sinha, CEO and Managing Director at Tata Power, who reiterated: “We are on a journey where we see a humongous opportunity, especially in the renewable business. Whatever we are doing in India is just the tip of the iceberg.”
India’s aggressive climate goal of Net-Zero by 2070 calls for rapid transformation of our primarily fossil-dependent economy to 100 per cent renewable over the next five decades. The National Hydrogen Mission, which was launched in 2021, is slated to create an ecosystem for the production of green hydrogen.
As India’s primary energy demand is expected to double to 1,123 million tonnes of oil equivalent by 2040, the country needs to switch to less climate-polluting alternatives. The good news is that the country possesses 1.37 trillion cubic metres of natural gas reserves, enough to meet half the demand till 2050. To help reduce its dependence on fossil fuels and cut imports, India has recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the UAE on green hydrogen development and investment. The move will help India in its green hydrogen programme as the UAE possesses cutting-edge knowledge and methodologies in the area. The step is in line with India’s National Green Hydrogen Mission.
With India assuming the Presidency of the G20 and the 13th assembly of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) respectively, the nation is geared to following its goals. A 14-member delegation from the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), which participated in the 13th IRENA assembly from January 13 to 15 in Abu Dhabi, said that the Indian presidency of IRENA will further the country’s leadership in sustainability efforts.
A Shining Example
In the automotive sector in the UAE, BorgRollsWarner (BRW) is a brand that is respected industry-wide for quality parts for the commercial vehicle industry. With a focus on truck, trailer, light commercial vehicles (LCV), public service vehicles (PSV) and other specialist applications, BRW has established itself as one of the top aftermarket suppliers for commercial vehicle components. BRW maintains a high level of service, with maximum possible levels of availability coupled to an excellent range of OEM quality products.
In this regard, BRW products meet the quality certification from ISO 9001 - 2008, ISO 9002 – QS900 and ISO/TS/16949:2002, which reflects its commitment to quality and service. All BRW products are equivalent to OEM quality products and this has helped BRW to be recognised by leading companies as well as customers from all over the globe.
—Nazeer Veliyil is Group Chairman and Managing Director at BorgRollsWarner Middle East LLC


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WAUSAU - A new furniture gallery at the Wausau Center mall hopes to bring back customers and jobs to the struggling shopping center.
After a soft opening earlier this summer that store officially opened Tuesday.
HOM Furniture cut the ribbon on its new Wausau store with the Greater Wausau Chamber of Commerce and members of the community in attendance.
Owner Rod Johansen said he's happy to be supporting the Wausau area. He said Marathon County was a prime location to grow HOM's distribution network in Wisconsin.
"We felt that Wausau was a market that could use additional resources, being out here kind of in middle of its own area," said Johansen. "Its kind of a retail trade center and so we look at those as places we would like to support."
Johansen said HOM will also support the community with new jobs it hopes to fill soon. On the HOM website, there are currently six open positions for the Wausau location.
Johansen said when he found out in July the Wausau Center was up for sale, he wasn't discouraged but saw it as a new opportunity.
"[If] Somebody getting involved in it that's going to be more interested in turning it into an asset and doing something with it; we're thinking that there will be some good opportunities," said Johansen.
HOM is hosting a grand opening sale through the rest of this week.
RHINELANDER - Donations to members of the military will fill the lobbies of local banks soon as part of a care package donation drive.
Rhinelander's Military Support Group kicked off its 19th donation drive this fall, partnering with People's State Bank for the third year.
"We have vets working for us, we have families of vets, a lot of our base is vets, that's just a strong community base for us," said commercial banking specialist Stacy Timm.
Nearly 7,300 items were donated in 2017 and 8,900 items were collected last year.
A brat fry earlier this month, raised just under 700 dollars to help send those donations to veterans and active duty service members.
Support group member LeRoy Eades said donations mostly go to Wisconsin service members who can't make it home for the holidays.
"A lot of them won't be home for Christmas, so this is just a little piece of Christmas we're giving to them," said Eades.
Peoples State will accept donations until Veterans Day on November 11. Donation drop-offs can be found at bank locations in Rhinelander, Wausau, Rib Mountain, Weston, Eagle River, Minocqua and Marathon.
ST. GERMAIN - Few things can ruin a Friday night fish fry in Wisconsin - except maybe a lack of fish.
"A lot of those Lake Erie perch are ending up on the plates of Wisconsin restaurants and Wisconsin suppliers, so when something happens to Lake Erie … then the restaurants and suppliers can feel that," said DNR Fisheries Supervisor David Boyarski.
Faced with a shortage of yellow lake perch, Cathy Kuske, DJ's Northwoods Family Restaurant manager, has found a way to combat the issue.
"When I ask the distributor how much they have, he'll tell me how many cases and I'll order twice as many cases as I normally do, just so we don't run out," said Kuske.
Disclaimer: All information deemed reliable but not guaranteed and should be independently verified. Rockfleet Broadcasting / Northland Television, Inc. and By Request Web Designs shall not be held responsible for any typographical errors, misinformation, or misprints.


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Topinka hands out millions to tech businesses
Further subsidizing certain companies in the state, Illinois treasurer Judy Baar Topinka was in the Quad Cities as part of her "'Technology Express', a three-day, 10-city tour throughout Illinois to explain how the Technology Development Fund can help create jobs and investment opportunities."
Three Illinois companies will receive a total of $7.5 million from the state's $50 million Technology Development Fund. The investments could bring new technology jobs and stabilize the state's economy, she told a group Monday in Moline.No mention was made of how many millions would be made available to the all-important blogger component of the state's future tech growth.
Beecken Petty O'Keefe and Co., an equity firm specializing in companies working in health care, and M.K. Capital, a Skokie, Ill., group investing in technology markets will receive $3 million each from the fund. IllinoisVENTURES, which helps fund numerous startup companies, will receive $1.5 million.


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Nick Cannon teams up with Office Depot to help kids
Giving out school bags
Nick Cannon is putting on his philanthropist hat. The America’s Got Talent host and the Office Depot Foundation will donate 10,000 new sackpacks to kids served by nonprofits and schools in Broward County. Nick will be at the “Back-to-School Celebration” beginning 10 a.m. Thursday at the OD at 6325 N. Andrews Ave., Fort Lauderdale.
During the event, Monster will be giving away assorted Ncredible items to the kids and Ncredible recording artist, 4 Count, is slated to perform live. A full line of Monster headphones, including the NCredible line by Nick Cannon, are available at nationwide Office Depot retail store locations and online at www.officedepot.com.
“It’s really great that the Office Depot Foundation is stepping up to help young kids in South Florida who are in desperate need of basic school supplies,” says Cannon in a release. “This is a cause that’s near and dear to my heart. I’m happy to have this opportunity to be a part of something really special – giving back to the children of this community.”
No word if wife Mariah Carey is coming or if she's hanging at home with the twins.
On Our Radar
- Sarah Jessica Parker popping in to Bloomingdale's Aventura
- 3 rare pre-embargo Cuban cigars to buy in Miami
- How to get the celebrity bikini body you crave
- Luis Guzman in Miami: Spanish is easier than French
- Miami artist Becky Rosa unveils massive public art installation at Wynwood gallery
- Antonio Banderas: I have an attachment to Miami
- Runway Reviews from Miami Fashion Week 2016
- Do you live in one of the most stressed out places in Florida?
- Gwen Stefani's having trouble selling tickets for tour
- Miami Fashion Week arrives with new celebs and a fresh vision


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Last Updated: Friday, February 08, 2013, 10:37
The Inspiron 15z has a 15.6-inch LED HD display with TrueLife technology.
Last Updated: Wednesday, January 09, 2013, 10:38
By the end of January, the company will offer a variant with 1080p resolution.
Last Updated: Tuesday, March 20, 2012, 18:57
The XPS 13 runs on second generation Intel Core i5 or Intel Core i7 processors, Intel HD 3000 graphics.
more videos >>


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Finger licking good may well gain a whole new meaning for hardcore KFC fans in China who can now have Colonel Sanders on their palms 247, if they so wish. In a rather unprecedented move, KFC and Huawei are joining hands to mark their 30 years' presence in China with the release of a limited edition KFC Huawei 7 Plus model last Friday July 7.
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The Starpharma Holdings (ASX: SPL) share price is having a reasonable day today. During 2021, however, it’s appreciated by nearly 27%.
The post Why the Starpharma (ASX:SPL) share price is up 27% in 2021 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia. –
While the Starpharma Holdings Limited (ASX: SPL) share price is having a reasonable day today – up 0.77%, it’s done very well so far in 2021.
At the time of writing, shares in the pharmaceutical company are trading for $1.96 cents each. While that’s only slightly up on yesterday’s close, it’s up 26.95% since the beginning of the year and almost 120% over the last 12 months. In fact, in February, the Starpharma share price hit an all-time record of $2.52. For comparison, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) has increased 4.36% year to date.
Let’s take a closer look at developments that have impacted the Starpharma share price in 2021.
What’s affected the Starpharma share price in 2021?
The biggest factor impacting the Starpharma share price in 2021 has been its Viraleze COVID-19 nasal spray. The product, which was launched in January, has been clinically shown to kill 99.99% of COVID-19 virus loads in a person.
After launching in January, the European Union approved the product for use in its jurisdiction in February. When the company announced the news, CEO Dr Jackie Fairley said at the time:
We know from consumer research conducted with the Boston Consulting Group, that VIRALEZE has strong appeal for European consumers across all age groups. The spray is easy to use and convenient – and works rapidly, without being absorbed into the bloodstream. If you are about to walk into the supermarket, you would use it. The same is true for public transport, elevators, planes, bars and restaurants.
Obtaining the CE Mark for the spray led to the Starpharma share price hitting its record high.
One month later, the company told shareholders it would distribute the spray in the UK through LloydsPharamcy. Despite what was seemingly positive news, the share price fell that day. One explanation as to why is that investors had already factored in widespread distribution of the product after EU approval, including in the UK.
While the Viraleze spray was the most attention-grabbing product launch announced in 2021 by Starpharma, it was not the only one.
In February, the company announced it was expanding clinical trials on an anti-cancer treatment developed with AstraZeneca PLC (LSE: AZN). In March, Starpharma declared to the market its breast cancer treatment, DEP HER2-lutetium, had achieved “positive” results.
As well, the company posted its half-year results for FY21 in February. Starpharma lost $10.4 million for the 6 months ending 31 December. The loss was 78% greater than the prior corresponding period (pcp). The pharmaceutical company attributed the large decline to an even steeper fall in revenue. For the period, operating income was only $638,000, which was down 89% on the pcp. The Starpharma share price edged slightly lower following the update.
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- Why the Starpharma (ASX:SPL) share price is tumbling lower today
- Starpharma (ASX:SPL) share price pushes higher on COVID-19 nasal spray update
- Why the Starpharma (ASX:SPL) share price is charging higher today
Marc Sidarous has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns shares of Starpharma Holdings Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Starpharma Holdings Limited. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.


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Digital marketers adapt due to pandemic-fueled demand
RENO, Nev. — Sandy Rowley was at a loss in more ways than one.
It was early April, and Rowley, founder of RenoWebDesigner.com, had just lost nearly 90% of her business.
Cash-strapped companies throughout Reno-Sparks were cutting costs due to the pandemic, and digital marketers like Rowley were left wondering how long the sales crash would last.
“I freaked out for a little bit,” Rowley said. “There was a lot of stress, a lot of concern.”
Those feelings were quickly tampered, considering that for several weeks this spring, consumers cooped up at home could only be reached and engaged through their various digital screens.
“Watching the news, they’re saying all of the businesses are closing,” said Rowley, who specializes in SEO, social media marketing and web design. “I was like, well, they’re going to have to go online — it’s the only thing that’s going to help them right now. A lot of people and businesses realized they needed to find a way to have an online platform of some sort.”
Not long after her client base drastically shrunk, Rowley began to see more and more inquiries ping her inbox. She also cut her rates by 20% in an effort to bring back old clients and reel in new business.
“I got half of them back,” Rowley said. “But, I had to go back to the drawing board and say, ‘OK, how can I help them?’ Because if they’re not making enough money, they can’t afford me.”
Along the way, Rowley started using SEO for her business to target other large cities on the West Coast, a strategy she said has yielded more inquiries and website traffic from outside of Northern Nevada.
Moreover, she’s seen an increase in large manufacturers looking to work with experienced, independent consultants with more affordable rates than large ad agencies.
“That’s been exciting,” she said. “I haven’t landed any of these huge corporate deals yet, but just the fact that they’re calling me is nice. So, I’m ramping up to figure out how I can close more of those corporate deals, because most of my clients are small manufacturers or considered small business.”
WORKING NIGHTS AND WEEKENDS
Cailey Gibson, founder of Collab.ink, a Reno-based digital marketing consultant for startups and small businesses, is also seeing demand increase as the pandemic drags on.
This, Gibson said, is despite the fact that she was prepared to take a break from sales at the onset of COVID.
“People were scrambling and trying to get everything sorted out, and I didn’t want to be one of those people who’s insensitive and going to market to you while you’re struggling,” Gibson explained. “But, it turned out that actually what a lot of people needed was marketing. And so I had a lot of people reach out to me — during the beginning of the pandemic and even now.”
After all, many small businesses and startups in Reno-Sparks have long earned their keep through brick-and-mortar operations built on attracting customers to come in, gather, mingle and spend money.
The pandemic changed all that.
“I’ve got a lot of clients who have been brought on because they just weren’t sure where to begin with digital marketing,” Gibson said. “They were very word-of-mouth or relied on foot traffic in their stores. And everything’s needed to go digital and they just don’t know where to begin.”
As such, Gibson said her client list has doubled since March, and her revenue has about doubled, as well.
“I’m working nights and weekends right now,” said Gibson, who is also a co-founder of a company called Anika Works, which helps match nonprofits with resources.
Likewise, Ignited Results, a Reno-based digital marketing agency, has seen its client base double during the pandemic, said Jon James, founder and managing partner.
“Everything has gone virtual, which is good for us,” said James, noting many of the company’s clients are considered to be “thought leaders.” “We’re saying to those clients, ‘we’re building up a big social media following for you, you should have webinars, you should be having online discovery sessions.’ And that has now become normalized. It’s good for our clients’ business and critical for what we offer to clients.”
In fact, after an initial 20% dip in revenue, Ignited Results’ sales are up about 30%, James said.
He added that the company has been narrowing its niche as an agency that works with thought leaders in the business world. However, with COVID causing constant shifts, James knows that being open to moving into different markets is crucial.
“If we talk two months from now, we might be in a completely different hyper-niche space,” James laughed. “That’s something we’re thinking about right now as a team.”
Construction could begin next year and require about 500 to 600 workers, with a permanent workforce starting at 150 to 200 people with potential to expand.


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1 - 1 of 1 press releases
1) Sentry Protection Products and GenieGrips® Form Partnership to Sell Products in the US
Release Date 3/10/2022 Exhibitor Sentry Protection Products
Lakewood, Ohio, March 2022 – Sentry Protection Products has partnered with GenieGrips® Pty Ltd, Australia to sell its forklift safety products in the U.S. To highlight this venture the companies are exhibiting together at this year’s MODEX 2022 show in Booth #8247. GenieGrips® offers ...


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AMEYAWDEBRAH.COM – Dubai Hosts The World’s Longest Running Festival
Blending deals and discounts with fun, food and fireworks, Dubai Shopping Festival returns with a spectacular line-up of the best the city has to offer
The 28th edition of the world’s longest-running festival starts on 15 December 2022 and runs until 29 January 2023
Over 800 participating brands at 3,500 outlets will offer 25% to 75% reductions throughout the 46-day festival across Dubai’s malls and shopping destinations
The Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) returns with the very best the city has to offer, including unmissable deals, a kaleidoscope of entertainment experiences, mouth-watering food, and mega prizes. The 28th edition of the world’s longest-running retail festival runs from 15 December 2022 until 29 January 2023 across an action-packed 46-day calendar.
Read More @ ameyawdebrah.com


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Android has come leaps and bounds since its inception in 2003, evolving into one of the most widely used mobile operating system in the world. Despite dominating a large portion of smartphones and tablets, the brains behind Android are now planning their next big venture, this time into vehicles. Google has just announced that they are already working on the next generation of the Android OS, and this time, they will across your mobile devices and also your car.
The new OS is dubbed Android M and will be a follow up to the current Android Lollipop. By being built directly into the dash of a car, users of Android M will be able to access Google’s many services such as Maps and Music. Essentially, it gives you the Android experience of a mobile device while on the road, literally. The new OS is also expected to function as a stand alone OS, which means that you will not need to plug in your smartphone or tablet to access its functions.
Google has already expressed an interest in integrating cars into their Android ecosystem. Android Auto was announced at Google I/O earlier this year, but the nature of it was rather different. It functions as an extension of mobile device, reflecting a customized version of the display of your Android device onto the dashboard display. This means that you are still controlling your Android device, albeit through your car. What Android M does is remove the need for an Android device, basically turning your car into one. Furthermore, competition in this field was already heating up with Apple announcing its Car Play feature this year as well.
The idea of Android M functioning autonomously in cars sounds good in theory but it may receive some opposition from manufacturers. Being a built-in OS, Google may request access to a car’s readings, whether its sensors, fuel gauge or even cameras, something that may not sit well with manufacturers. Even so, there is the potential of actually improving car maintenance and other benefits that can be garnered through the sharing of these readings. It all depends on the execution, and if done right, Android M will have the potential to be the go to mobile OS for cars if successful, becoming what Windows is to PC’s. With Android L freshly released, we expect a release in at least a years time.


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Verizon Picks up Nokia's New Flip Phone
Nokia today announced the Nokia 2720 V Flip feature phone for Verizon. Styled after the Nokia 2720 offered by AT&T and T-Mobile almost 12 years ago, the 2720 V Flip is a modern 4G LTE feature phone. Running KaiOS, the phone offers Google Assistant and the ability to download select apps from the KaiStore. The phone also supports HD Voice, and Wi-Fi mobile hotspot. The main screen is 2.8 inches and the outer display is 1.3 inches. The phone has extra-large keypad buttons and display text can be enlarged up to 100%. An emergency button sends a message to five contacts, giving details of your location, after which it rings selected contacts until they answer. There's also a 2 megapixel camera on the back, just below the hinge, a 3.5mm headset jack, and a memory card slot. Nokia claims the removable 1,500 mAh battery can last 26 days on standby. The Nokia 2720 V Flip will be available available May 20th for $80 at VerizonWireless.com or using the My Verizon app.
source: HMD Global
Feb 9, 2022
Samsung today announced its lineup of flagship phones for 2022: the Galaxy S22 series. The top-end S22 Ultra sees the biggest changes as it essentially absorbs Samsung's Note series with an integrated S Pen stylus and a more Note-like shape and design, instead of the Contour Cut design of the other models.
Feb 18, 2021
Google has released the first preview version of Android 12 to developers. As a developer release, it focuses on APIs and other developer-focused aspects, rather than necessarily representing the final look and feature set for consumers.
Jun 17, 2021
In a major win for Bullitt Group, T-Mobile will offer the CAT S62 rugged Android phone this summer. T-Mobile hasn't had any truly rugged smartphones in its lineup since it discontinued the Samsung Galaxy S8 Active in mid-2019.
Sep 16, 2021
T-Mobile has started selling the CAT S22 Flip, a unique phone that blurs the line between smartphone and flip phone. The S22 Flip has the size and design of a typical rugged flip phone, but its 2.8-inch main display is a touch screen that provides access to the full Android interface, including third-party Android apps.
Sep 16, 2021
Verizon today launched the TCL Flip Pro for prepaid customers. The same phone launched recently on US Cellular as the TCL Flip , and earlier this week as the Alcatel Go Flip 4 on T-Mobile.


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You don’t usually think of Minecraft as a realistic game, but the developers have been hard at work adding RTX ray tracing to the game for the last eight months. It’s finally out of beta today, and it really works with the blocky look of Minecraft.
Microsoft has announced that it will acquire the Minecraft franchise, and its Swedish developer Mojang, for $2.5 billion. Microsoft asserts that it ‘plans’ to continue distributing Minecraft across PC, Xbox, PlayStation, iOS, and Android, but obviously the game’s cross-platform future is called into question by this acquisition. Markus ‘Notch’ Persson, and Mojang’s other two founders, will not be staying with Mojang/Microsoft and will “move on to start new projects.”
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So here it is…
Our first line-up announcement for Electric Fields 2017 – and what announcement it is!
We couldn’t be more excited to announce the inimitable Frightened Rabbit as our headliners. They’re a truly special pillar of the Scottish music scene, releasing their wonderful fifth full-length album in 2016, and sounding as heartfelt and powerful as ever before.
We’re also completely humbled to be bringing two of the biggest Scottish bands, well, EVER, to this year’s event. The Jesus And Mary Chain bring their new album to life in March and we couldn’t be more pleased to celebrate such a milestone with them.
Then there’s Arab Strap, fresh from a resounding return at the end of last year, and sounding as wry, heart-wrenching, and joyous as ever before.
We’re also very excited to add another splash of spiralling Scottish talent to the line-up, with And Yet It Moves, Crash Club and Brat and the Bonemen also announced – and we’ve still got over 100 more artists to be announced!
As well as a smashing musical lineup, Electric Fields will this year be expanding its food and drink offering with a curated Food Village, and a dedicated tent hosting EF’s very own Ale and Craft Beer Festival. This year will also feature comedy, spoken word and film with Q&As from some very special guests. For the young one’s the “Our Kids Electric” area returns with a whole host of entertainment and workshops and of course, the legendary adventure playground is a hop skip and a jump away!


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Sullivan Tire and Goodyear Celebrate Anniversaries
Paul Sullivan, vice president of marketing for Sullivan Tire Co., says there is no doubt what the key to the company’s 60 years of success has been. Or rather, who. It’s the “wonderful people,” past and present.
Sullivan’s father, Bob, started the business in 1955. In the early days, he had seven full-time employees.
Sixty years later, Bob’s eldest son, also named Bob, presides over close to 1,500 employees from the company’s base in Norwell, Mass. Sullivan Tire is the 12th largest independent tire dealership in the U.S., with 67 retail stores, 15 commercial outlets, three retread plants, 11 distribution centers and two warehouses.
“It’s a family business,” says Paul. “You live it 24/7 with your family.” And by family he means more than Sullivan family members. Paul says one of the goals of the company is to make sure employees get ahead professionally and personally.
“We believe in our people and our customers.”
Sullivan Tire held a number of promotional sales efforts tying into the anniversary this year. That included an internal “60 days of prizes” for all employees, with winners announced on an online portal every day. Paul says this also served the purpose of “getting them used to going online.” A cruise to Bermuda and a diamond pendant were just two of the prizes handed out.
Four of the 10 siblings are still active in the business: Bob, Paul, Billy and Joey.
Five third-generation Sullivans are waiting in the wings. So are two sons of John Donovan, vice president of sales, who has been with the company as long as Paul has: 46 years.
The same year the late Bob Sullivan started Sullivan Tire, Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. began its aerial coverage of college football with the Goodyear Blimp. In that first game, the 1955 Rose Bowl, the undefeated Ohio State Buckeyes defeated USC 20-7.
In the years since, Goodyear’s airship has covered some of the biggest match ups in college football history. That includes the Oct. 29, 1983, game between host Boston College and Penn State in Foxboro, Mass.
Sullivan Tire, which was a supporter of Boston College, rented an executive suite and invited Goodyear executives to the game. The Eagles “weren’t that good in the ‘70s,” says Paul Sullivan, “and then in 1981 along came Doug Flutie. All of a sudden, people began to take notice.”
The mighty Penn State Nittany Lions were expected to win, “and low and behold, BC won 27-17!”
Getting together for the Boston College-Penn State game was just a continuation of the relationship building that has kept Sullivan Tire and Goodyear partners for 43 years. “We fly the Goodyear flag proudly throughout New England,” adds Paul.


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Devil May Cry collection coming for series' tenth anniversary?
Capcom has dropped some serious hints that they may be doing an HD remastered collection of the three PS2 titles for the series' tenth anniversary.
The collection will feature Devil May Cry, Devil May Cry 2 and Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening and it has also been listed on Spanish retailer XtraLive although Capcom has not confirmed its existence.
They are holding a fan art competition for Devil May Cry over on the Capcom Unity blog to celebrate the as part of the celebration of the series 10th anniversary.
The competition closes on the 29th of July but they also have a big announcement planned for next week's San Diego Comic Con.


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In December, Tesla CEO Elon Musk took to Twitter and hinted that the automaker was “working on a charger that automatically moves out from the wall and connects like a solid metal snake.”
Today, Tesla published the video of this snake-like robot in action.
Is it necessary? Absolutely not, but it’s just a prototype after all. As of now, there aren’t any announcements that this charger will make it past the testing stages, which (let’s be honest) is probably a good thing.


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S&P 500 Has Biggest Monthly Gain of 2021 in October
The S&P 500 rose close to 7 percent for the month as strong earnings reports and progress toward a spending deal in Washington helped investors shake off a number of concerns.
Wall Street’s climb makes October the best month this year.
Oct. 29, 2021, 3:19 p.m. ET
Data delayed at least 15 minutes
By: Ella Koeze
Strong earnings reports, talks in Washington toward a big-ticket spending deal and a continued decline in coronavirus infections came together in October to make it the stock market’s best month this year.
By Friday, the S&P 500 was on track to end the month with a gain of about 6.7 percent — its best showing since November 2020, when stocks jumped more than 10 percent as drug companies reported strong results for their coronavirus vaccine candidates. The index was slightly higher in midafternoon trading, and on track to close at another record.
The rally came as investors shook off a number of concerns that had dogged Wall Street just a month ago. In September, worries that high inflation, slowing growth and supply chain logjams would lead to economic misery for American companies and consumers, pulling the S&P 500 down about 4.8 percent. It was the benchmark index’s worst month of 2021.
But improving prospects on several fronts fueled the rebound. Earnings reports from the country’s biggest companies overwhelmingly came in better than investors had expected, driving gains in a number of individual stocks. Of the 244 companies in the S&P 500 to report third-quarter results as of Thursday, 82 percent have done better than Wall Street analysts had forecast, according to the data provider Refinitiv.
A number of large technology stocks, whose sheer size gives them an outsize influence over benchmarks like the S&P 500, rallied as well. Microsoft rose more than 16 percent and Alphabet climbed more than 10 percent in the month after reporting solid financial results. And a deal to sell 100,000 of its electric cars to the rental company Hertz pushed Tesla’s stock value beyond $1 trillion for the first time.
As oil prices continued to rise, energy companies also profited. On Friday, Exxon Mobil and Chevron both reported a third-consecutive quarterly profit of more than $6 billion. Their shares rose 9.5 percent and 12 percent in October. Energy companies were the best performing shares in the S&P 500, rising so far this month.
Not every report was so upbeat. On Friday, shares of Amazon tumbled 3.1 percent after the company reported its slowest sales growth in almost seven years as the pandemic-fueled surge in online shopping eased. Apple also dropped 2.1 percent after its quarterly results fell short of expectations. Still, thanks to gains earlier in the month, both stocks ended October higher.
Investors were also encouraged by signs of progress among Democrats in Washington toward an agreement on a spending plan. On Thursday, President Biden said the party was coalescing around a $1.85 trillion economic and environmental spending bill — although it remains far from certain that an agreement will take shape.
If it does, though, it would pave the way for approval of a separate $1 trillion infrastructure spending bill that has bipartisan support, and hopes for the surge in infrastructure spending lifted shares of construction and materials companies that will benefit from it.
It helped too that the coronavirus surge driven by the Delta variant began to quickly fade, with the number of cases in the United States falling by more than half by the end of October.
Understand the Supply Chain Crisis
First, demand for home goods spiked. Money that Americans once spent on experiences were redirected to things for their homes. The surge clogged the system for transporting goods to the factories that needed them — like computer chips — and finished products piled up because of a shortage of shipping containers.
Now, ports are struggling to keep up. In North America and Europe, where containers are arriving, the heavy influx of ships is overwhelming ports. With warehouses full, containers are piling up at ports. The chaos in global shipping is likely to persist as a result of the massive traffic jam.
Wall Street has been concerned about rising prices for months, and though inflation remains high, several recent measures of price gains eased concerns about the continuing increases somewhat. The Producer Price Index, a measure of wholesale prices that is likely to filter through to consumers in the following months, rose less quickly than expected in September, and on Friday the Personal Consumption Expenditures price index, which is the Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation gauge, also signaled that prices were increasing less quickly than they did over the summer.
Fast rising prices could prompt the Fed to begin to pull back on its support for the economy, including by eventually raising interest rates. That could hurt risky investments like stocks. So it also helped that some economic data highlighted ongoing risks to the economy, something that might keep the Fed from moving too quickly, said Fiona Cincotta, senior financial markets analyst at Forex.com.
For example, thanks in part to supply-chain bottlenecks, the U.S. economy grew just 0.5 percent in the third quarter, the weakest growth since the recovery from the pandemic began, the government said on Thursday.
“If you raise interest rates too quickly, the economic recovery could come to a standstill,” Ms. Cincotta said.
The Fed has made it clear it is not planning to raise its benchmark interest rate — the strongest tool it has to affect the economy — anytime soon, but the central bank is expected to begin winding down a bond-buying program that has been in place since early in the pandemic. That program has helped keep cash flowing through the economy.


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IN WHAT is surely no surprise to followers of the up-and-down affair, Expertise Events has confirmed that the 2010 Brisbane Motor Show has been cancelled.
In a statement posted on the event's website, the company said that while it had bent over backwards to build interest, a lack of manufacturer and dealer support had ultimately lead to the event being canned.
"The Motor Show is admitting defeat," the statement reads.
"Despite changing the date at the request of the industry, listening to the market and lowering space fees by providing a walk-on stand package which saves over $100,000's of dollars in stand build, reducing the number of days from ten to five and producing a comprehensive entertainment program that no other show in the country has ever contemplated, there is just not enough content to stage a show that meets the public expectations."
The announcement follows a release just last month declaring the event "on track" for its June opening - a date that left less than four months between the Brisbane show and Sydney's significantly larger Australian International Motor Show in September.
Gary Fitz-Roy, Managing Director for Expertise Events, said that although many manufacturers had promised support, most had not officially signed on.
"We were promised by major dealers that the brands would be represented, however in the last three months and each week there has been a delay or a new excuse," Mr Fitz-Roy said.
Manufacturers that had signed contracts included Hyundai, Honda, Holden, Ford, Land Rover, Kia, Isuzu Ute and Peugeot. Mr Fitz-Roy acknowledged the support of these manufacturers.
"My Team and I are gutted at having to make this decision after coming so far and so close, however we know deep down it is the only decision to make," he said.
One of the more notable appearances at the show was to be the Sonata-replacing 2010 Hyundai i45, scheduled to launch in Australia next month.
Is there more to this story? The Brisbane Motor Show is staged by the retail automotive industry body, Motor Trades Association - Queensland (MTA-Q). The Sydney Motor Show by a joint venture between Victorian industry body VACC and the national manufacturers' body FCAI.
With the national motor trades association MTAA currently fractured (and at loggerheads), and with MTA-Q aligned with VACC and MTA-NSW, there may have been other pressures on the Queensland body to cancel the event besides lack of manufacturer support.
We'll watch this space.


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KARACHI: The federal government is contemplating to offer soft loans for the transporters to upgrade the country’s dilapidated logistics network for central Asia connectivity.
However, the stakeholders have opposed the proposal of soft loans, urging the government to reduce duty and taxes on imported and locally produced goods carrier to facilitate the transporters in upgrading their logistics network.
Presently, around 0.6 million goods carrier are being operated for inward and outward cargo movement in the country. However, there are not more than 1000 goods carrier, which fulfil the international requirements to operate for transit trade.
This was also admitted by the prime minister’s commerce adviser Abdul Razak Dawood in an exclusive talk with Daily Business Recorder after meeting the CEEJ members in Islamabad early this month. “The government is cognisant about the issue hence we are contemplating offering loans to the transporters to update the country’s dilapidated logistics network,” he said.
The government has planned to transit goods under the TIR Convention and tested it successfully when the first-ever truck from Uzbekistan reached Pakistan under the TIR Convention in 48 hours. However, the country’s dilapidated logistics network is unable to fulfil the requirements for transiting goods under the TIR Convention.
Talking to Business Recorder, Arshad Jamal, chairman APCAA and licensed logistics service provider confirmed that around 0.6 million goods carrier were registered for inward and outward cargo movement in the country, out of them, not more than 1000 could meet the international requirements for transit trade.
He said that soft loans for the transporters to upgrade their goods carrier fleet for central Asia connectivity could not serve the purpose but would create additional financial burden on the transporters.
He was of the view that if the government reduced the duty and taxes on imported and locally produced goods carrier then the transporters could be able to upgrade and also expand their goods carrier fleet as per international standards, exponentially.
To a question, he said that over 60 to 70 percent drivers had ‘fake driving license’ which he termed another serious challenge for Pakistan to yield fruits through transit trade.
“Even Afghanistan doesn’t allow Pakistani drivers to transit goods under APTTA, due to the said reasons, shifting the cargoes to Afghan carrier for further transportation.
The government has to take serious measures on war-footing basis, if they want to turn table in their favours through transit trade agreements with Central Asian countries otherwise it would be beneficial to one side,” he added.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2021


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Cryptocurrency heists have cost users $1.89 billion this year alone, according to fresh data. The findings come hard on the heels of another recent report that found similarly high losses in the Web 3.0 sector.
Crypto enthusiasts can draw some comfort from the knowledge that crimes affecting their digital investments at least seem to be on the decline. Money Mongers added that last year’s total losses came to $3.5 billion.
Each tally straddles nearly 300 recorded incidents of cybercrime targeting cryptocurrency, indicating that, while digital heists may not be going anywhere, last year’s record takedown of Ronin for $625 million may prove to be an anomaly.
Web 3.0 cybersecurity firm Immunefi published research of its own earlier this month that placed total losses for the sector to crime in 2023 at nearly $1.4 billion. That includes last month’s cyberattack on Mixin crypto platform that cost it around $200 million.
The reports suggest that blockchain-based industries are far from secure investments.
“Apart from regular users, [cryptocurrency] also caught the eyeballs of hackers and cyber attackers,” said Money Mongers. “As a result, several crypto exchanges, crypto companies, blockchain networks, and others face crypto hack attacks from time to time.”
The research company says that, since 2011, there have been more than 1,200 such attacks on crypto targets, causing net losses of $12.36 billion in digital currencies. That includes 193 exchanges like Ronin that have been hacked over the same period, with 2018 the worst year on record with $1.1 billion in thefts.
Bitcoin and Ethereum are the highest profile targets, and when these thefts are adjusted for changes in value from the time of the crimes being committed – cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and subject to frequent price changes – the grand total stands at north of $40 billion in losses, Money Mongers added.
Other major hacks included Poly Network, which lost more than $600 million in 2021, and Binance Smart Chain, which suffered losses of $566 million last year.
More from Cybernews:
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When the new $4.6 billion chip plant is up and running, it will have a payroll of $88 million a year and contribute about $200 million to the local economy, an Advanced Micro Devices Inc. official said today.
Ward Tisdale, AMD’s (NYSE: AMD) manager of global community affairs, provided those figures and more during an event sponsored by the Saratoga Economic Development Corp., which operates the Luther Forest Technology Campus, where the plant will be located, and the Saratoga Chamber of Commerce.
AMD announced this week that it was spinning off its manufacturing into a new company, The Foundry Co., that it was forming with Advanced Technology Investment Co. (ATIC), based in Abu Dhabi.
If approved by regulators and shareholders, and if New York agrees to transfer its $1.2 billion incentive package promised to AMD to the new entity, The Foundry Co. would break ground in the spring.
AMD said the new company’s payroll will hit $88 million by 2012, when the first chips are being produced.
It will take 1,600 construction workers to build the plant over a two-year period.
Tisdale told the 300 people attending AMD’s talk at the Holiday Inn in Saratoga Springs that another 5,000 jobs are expected to be created in the region as a result of the chip plant being built.
As for the jobs at the foundry, Tisdale said 200-300 would be engineering, 300-500 would be fab technicians and 200 would be administrators.


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Circuit City will relaunch Feb. 15 "with a dynamic, social-focused e-commerce site, along with various concepts of innovative retail stores," the company announced at the 2018 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas on Monday.
The company also announced a partnership with IBM Watson commerce, which incorporates AI and other new retail technologies into its web platform, the company said in a press release. The website allows various ways to shop — via room layouts, category or brand, according to Dealerscope.
The new Circuit City management shared plans for a concept store, designed with the Taylored Group, which will be spaces of about 10,000 square feet and feature demo areas and displays as well as community areas for hanging out, education and other activities, according to Dealerscope. Circuit City’s plans — neither timing nor place — for its brick-and-mortar rollout were not disclosed, according to the report.
It’s been almost two years since Circuit City CEO Ronny Shmoel, on the verge of opening a Circuit City location in Dallas, pulled the plug on the brand’s comeback, saying he "wanted to get it right." Shmoel acquired the brand in 2015 from Systemax, which had been running it as an online-only afterthought after acquiring it through a 2009 bankruptcy auction.
In the two years since that abrupt delay, Shmoel seems to have re-envisioned retail itself. The planned stores sound like a hybrid of Apple’s community-focused gathering places and Best Buy’s practical demo spaces. And the e-commerce site sounds like it may be capable of offering something that has mostly eluded online shopping — a delightful discovery-laden experience.
Shmoel's new Circuit City isn’t just going up against Apple and Best Buy, however — it’s also up against Amazon’s own strong electronics sales, which grew 4% year over year to an estimated $8.5 billion last year, according to marketplace analytics firm One Click Retail. The e-commerce giant’s electronics sales are being pushed in part by its surging voice shopping. Toward the end of the year, Amazon's voice assistant Alexa gained traction and helped move the needle on smart home goods too, according to One Click Retail. Alexa-enabled devices including Nest thermostats and video doorbells, and the TP-Link Smart Plug (the No.1 item in home improvement) helped drive 71% growth in Amazon's home automation sales, One Click Retail found, with leading brands like iRobot and Philips integrating Alexa compatibility into their latest models.
And there’s still Best Buy, which has been effectively executing a turnaround and which is widely seen as the bane of Circuit City’s existence in the 1990s and a major reason for its downfall.
For any retailer, it's a high-touch, low-margin business, Stephen Baker, vice president and technology analyst at global information company The NPD Group, told Retail Dive in an interview late last year. "If you go back a few years there were a lot more. Everybody runs into issues at times, but they’ve been good, big and important to the business," he said. "They think about it and think about ways to get support. If you look around, they are by far the largest consumer electronics retailer in the U.S., and it’s going to be a long time before anybody has enough juice, Amazon included, to catch up."


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Increasingly hotels have realised their interest lies in keeping their guests fit as more than half of all travellers exercise. Victoria Burrows on this growing trend and its effect on the business.
Today’s international travellers want their hotel to supply an increasing array of the facilities they rely on in their daily lives. This is particularly so when it comes to fitness. Especially for business travellers, being able to combat jetlag through a revitalising run on the treadmill, de-stress after a meeting with a stretching session on a yoga mat, or maintain their long-term strength-building programme while away from their gym at home is a expectation when travelling. Hotels are increasingly realising the importance of providing an exercise zone that’s easily accessible, offers guests a range of fitness options, and is interconnected with their day-to-day fitness activities.
“We’ve seen some of the major brands increase the size of their fitness spaces as they’ve realised fitness is becoming a driver of revenue. All except the lowest-end brands are embracing this trend,” says Jeff Josephson, director of Global Hospitality and Multi Housing at gym equipment company, Core Health & Fitness. “The multipurpose products, such as dumbbells and dual adjustable pulley systems, are becoming mandatory in these fitness centres to augment the cardio offerings.”
It’s not only the size of the space and variety of machines offered, but also the layout of the space that fitness centre managers need to make sure is up to standard.
“Gym space is so valuable,” says David Chioe, director of hospitality, Asia Pacific, at Life Fitness. “It’s not only the size but about how to best utilise the space to make it comfortable and inviting, and so that it makes exercisers feel good.”
Along with making sure guests have an enjoyable experience at the gym, hotels also need to ensure that the gym is efficient.
“Getting the most out of your exercise equipment requires realising the maximum number of workouts per machine,” says Virginia Johnstone, who handles the public relations for fitness solutions company Precor APAC. “In the space-constrained hospitality industry, an exerciser’s preferred cardio machine might be in use during peak hours. While some guests may choose an alternate and completely different cardio machine, others may walk out, leaving empty cardio machines behind.”
To combat this, Precor has developed the Adaptive Motion Trainer (AMT) 885, which guests can use for running, stepping, climbing, and bicycling.
“It improves the odds of delivering exactly what your guests want and boosts the number of workouts per cardio machine. It’s perfect for gyms with limited floor space,” says Johnstone.
The AMT 885 is suitable for any fitness level, from beginner to seasoned athlete, and is billed as allowing users to burn up to 1,200 calories per hour. The machine’s pre-programmed workouts mean that users could exercise every day for 20 years without ever repeating a routine.
Using technology hotel gyms can boost the appeal of their gyms. Guests expect to remain fully connected while they workout, and gym equipment is today offering users the ability to synch their everyday fitness plans with their activities at the hotel gym.
“This movement is known as networked fitness, and what this means for the facility owner is a more dedicated exerciser and a more discriminating consumer,” says Johnstone. “More and more exercisers want a tech-friendly facility to accommodate their lifestyle.”
The first step is fast and unrestricted internet access.
“The top trend in the fitness spaces for connectivity is having a clear mobile phone signal and easy access wifi,” says Josephson. “Guests are controlling their own content and data on their own devices. The properties that recognise this are providing their guests with a more connected experience with enhanced wifi.”
Gym equipment companies are creating their own apps that work anywhere in the world with their brand of equipment brand. Precor, for example, offers its own networked-fitness solution called Preva which allows exercisers to track their fitness progress at the gym with on-console software or on-the-go with the Preva mobile app. Core Health & Fitness also has its connected fitness solution, Life Fitness. Exercisers login to the connected Life Fitness cardio equipment in the hotel gym with an app or a pin code which allows them to instantly access the personalised workouts created in advance and track their workout results. Users can also tailor their on-screen display settings.
“The enhanced user experience keeps exercisers engaged and keeps them coming back,” says Chioe.
Connected fitness solutions can also make gym operation and management smoother. Gym managers can now monitor workout equipment usage on-site or remotely from a computer or mobile device. This helps to alert staff as soon as possible of any malfunction. Core Health & Fitness say that they may send a certified field service technician to address potential equipment issues sometimes even before gym managers know there is a problem.
“From staffing perspective, the equipment usage data helps a manager to schedule staffing appropriately during busy hours and reduce staffing costs when the gym isn’t busy,” says Chioe. “Plus, by scanning the QR code on our strength equipment, users are recommended an optimal seat position based on their height and also an instruction video on how to use the equipment. All these help utilise staff resources more efficiently.”
Life Fitness is also an open platform that gives developers access to their equipment codes, allowing them to create apps and websites tailored to their hotel. The open platform also allows existing workout apps and websites, such as Runtastic, SoFit and Lose It!, to be integrated with the equipment.
“Tens of millions of exercisers use fitness apps each day, and the number is growing exponentially,” says Chioe.
Hotel gyms need to make sure they are ahead of the fitness technology curve.


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Update: Nintendo has said it is aware of the claims of the modding group, but that it has no reports of its hardware being circumvented to play pirated games.
"Nintendo is aware that a hacking group claims to have compromised Wii U security," a Nintendo spokesperson said to GameSpot. "However, we have no reports of illegal Wii U games nor unauthorized applications playable on the system while in Wii U mode.
"Nintendo continuously monitors all threats to its products’ security and will use technology and will take the necessary legal steps to prevent the facilitation of piracy."
Original Story: A group of hackers claim they are now able to circumvent the Wii U's copy protection, and that it is now possible to play pirated Wii U software from USB media.
The team purports that it has "completely reversed the Wii U drive authentication, disk encryption, file system, and everything else needed for this next generation key."
The protection-circumventing device is dubbed an "optical drive emulator," and the hacker group claims it can play Wii U and Wii games from USB media, is compatible with all current Wii U models and regions, uses an "embedded Linux system," and does not require soldering.
It is currently unknown if Nintendo will be able to disable the device with a firmware update or in subsequent model revisions. Nintendo updated the original Wii hardware multiple times over its lifespan to deter similar hacks.
Previous exploits for the Wii involved modifying the machine's DVD drive, and the group claiming it has managed to break the Wii U's protection is also responsible for one of the most popular drive chips for the original Wii.
GameSpot has contacted Nintendo for comment.


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The Member Lounge at Epcot – on the second floor of the Imagination! Pavilion – will remain open throughout 2018. To date more than 180,000 members have enjoyed the lounge. The area is open daily between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. and features seating, complimentary soft drinks, Wi-Fi, charging stations, and more.
Starting September 10, DVC Member Services is expanding its operating hours to 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. ET on weekdays and 9 a.m. until 7 p.m. on weekends.
Special member events including yet-to-be-booked parties at Disneyland on November 15 and Epcot on December 4 and 11 are also on the books for DVC members. And members can also purchase discounted tickets for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party.
DVC members can also still take advantage of two special tickets offer for Walt Disney World, including a discount of at least 25 percent off the price of a Disney Platinum Annual Pass, in addition to a 7-day Magic Your Way base ticket for the price of a 5-day ticket.


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AddApptr adds some secret sauce to ad monetization, launches MAYO
Hamburg, June 21, 2018
AddApptr, a leading monetization solution for premium publishers, is launching its latest product to help app publishers increase ad revenue:
MAYO (Machine Learning Automated Yield Optimization) is an algorithm-based solution that will further increase the revenue AddApptr generates for app publishers.
“We see machine learning-based algorithms as the future of optimizing advertising revenues in apps,” says Patrick Kollmann, CEO and Co-Founder of AddApptr. “We are proud to launch this product after many months of work and testing. MAYO will be rolled out throughout our portfolio of thousands of apps over the next few months. Machine learning will take over many areas of digital advertising, and there are few areas where the benefits are more obvious than in yield optimization. Managing billions of transactions daily is a task where machine-based approaches can optimize and scale far more efficiently than any manual approach ever could.”
AddApptr has been beta-testing MAYO over the last few months, reaching an uptick of up to 50% for the participating apps. AddApptr has always been unbiased and fully transparent in its approach to finding the best advertisers and demand sources for publishers, so adding a product based on machine learning to the already solid suite of optimization solutions is fully aligned with the company’s strategy.
AddApptr CTO Martin Wapenhensch elaborates: “Fully automating our optimization process has been on the roadmap for a long time. After investing a great deal of time and effort, we managed to integrate the machine learning logic into our existing product, giving us the best of both worlds. We were also able to keep the majority of computing on our proprietary servers, meaning that the increase in revenue comes with zero additional data usage for publishers and consumers, and also doesn’t increase the number of requests for demand partners. It’s really a very smart bit of engineering, and the entire team is extremely proud of it.”
There is high demand for the new product from publishers, and AddApptr plans to roll out MAYO quickly.
AddApptr is an independently owned and operated global mobile ad tech company dedicated to optimizing revenue for app publishers.
The company offers a fully managed service for premium publishers.
AddApptr’s services include yield management, SDK integrations, account management, reporting and billing services, tech support as well as a dedicated team of expert contact partners.
AddApptr’s unique solution combines every major programmatic ad marketplace in a single SDK. State-of-the-art in-app header bidding and machine learning-based optimizations ensure the highest advertising revenues for app publishers.
Thousands of companies are already successfully monetizing their apps with AddApptr, including several of the largest media companies in the world.
As a Google Certified Publishing Partner (GCPP), AddApptr offers its app publishers maximum support and access to Google advertising platforms.
AddApptr was founded in 2012 by Patrick Kollmann and Alexander von der Geest in Hamburg, with additional offices in Paris, London and Warsaw. The AddApptr team consists of experts with years of experience in the mobile and advertising industry.
For more information, please visit www.addapptr.com.


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// Top exec from Mars Food, Fiona Dawson, appointed to M&S board as non-executive director
// She will also join the M&S nominations committee
Marks & Spencer has announced the appointment of Fiona Dawson to the board as a non-executive director, effective from May 25.
Dawson is currently global president at FMCG giant Mars Food, where she first started her career as part of its graduate trainee scheme before climbing the ranks to her current position.
Her leadership roles at Mars have included global retail president, Mars UK general manager, and UK and European marketing vice president.
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At M&S, Dawson will join the nominations committee at the same time as joining the board.
The high street stalwart cited Dawson’s “strong track record” in sustainability, health and wellbeing, women’s entrepreneurship, and human rights.
Dawson’s appointment to the M&S board also comes on the back of her track record of business turnarounds, coupled with the retailer’s push to become more grocery and food-focused – especially online through its partnership with Ocado – as part of a wider transformation scheme.
“We operate a highly engaged board committed to the transformation of M&S, one of the UK’s most loved brands, and Fiona is another very strong addition to our team,” M&S chairman Archie Norman said.
“She comes from the Mars school of management and the culture and commercial dynamism that goes with that.
“She has turned around businesses, run and built factories and understands what is required to drive change.
“As a former president of the IGD, and through leading a major supplier, she knows the UK and global food retail industry better than anyone.
“She has operated at the cutting edge of consumer marketing and her background is in growing iconic, heritage brands.
“As a business leader Fiona has been a trail blazer as the first ever female general manager at Mars UK, helping steer not just Mars but also the broader food industry through challenging health and regulatory issues.
“Fiona has epitomised the Mars’ culture of driving growth with a strong moral compass.
“Her focus on coupling societal change with performance, underpinned by a strong corporate culture, make her a superb fit for Marks & Spencer.”
Dawson’s appointment follows on former Bupa chief executive Evelyn Bourke joining M&S as non-executive director earlier this year.


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J.D. Power, a global marketing information services company best known for their automobile quality and reliability ratings, recently began publishing a series of articles that looks at the current status of, and consumer opinions on, various automotive trends and technologies. Here’s a summary of the findings on a few of the subjects that will most certainly play a role in shaping the future of the service and repair industry.
Over-the-Air (OTA) Software Updates. Most of us don’t give it a second thought, but our smartphones receive OTA updates nearly every day, and the technology is now being offered in varying degrees to some car owners. Among today’s automakers, Tesla is the leader in the use of OTA updates and J.D. Power found that most owners of their vehicles are happy with the process. Owners of mainstream vehicles, however, are somewhat less enthusiastic about the technology.
When asked “If your car’s software could be updated OTA, what features would you want automatically updated?” only 31% responded affirmatively to service updates (not including recalls). People indicated a higher acceptance of safety software updates and recall notifications (35% and 33%, respectively), but 40% said they wouldn’t want anything updated automatically. While privacy and security concerns still exist for a majority of car owners, J.D. Power believes that acceptance will grow and remote vehicle software updates will eventually become commonplace.
Hybrid and Electric Vehicles. As J.D. Power puts it, “electric vehicles of any kind have faced an uphill battle for acceptance for some time,” and the hill seems to be getting steeper. In 2011, 48% of vehicle shoppers told them they would not consider a hybrid vehicle, mostly due to their high relative price at the time. Yet, although prices have come down in recent years, 73% say they would not consider a hybrid car today.
When car shoppers were asked the same question for all-electric vehicles, 26% said they would consider one in 2011, but that percentage has been reduced by half to 13% today. In this case, it’s less about price and more about range anxiety and lack of infrastructure. Not surprisingly, respondents between the ages of 18 and 34 are the most receptive. However, it was surprising to see that folks aged 45-54 are the least interested in electric cars, even more so than those 55 and older.
My own research found there are seven pure electric cars sold in America today with sticker prices under $30,000 and their driving ranges vary from 62 to 124 miles. Some 60% of respondents to a J.D. Power survey claim they never notice charging stations, either in their area or when they’re traveling, and a scant 10% see them on a daily basis. Personally, I see them only when I park at the (DTW) airport, where there are a total of 12 charging stations among 19,000 parking spaces. Considering these limitations, it’s easy to see why there’s little compelling case for most consumers to buy electric vehicles.
Some of the other topics covered in the series are autonomous vehicles (61% of consumers say they “definitely would not” trust a self-driving vehicle and would not even ride in one), ridesharing (25% of consumers say they have used a ride-sharing service, while 16% don’t even know what the term means) and voice-controlled technology (28% of consumers said they would be interested in having Amazon Echo or a similar device inside their car that could assist with functions like climate control adjustments).
Given the kinds of responses offered in the J.D. Power surveys, it appears that these “disruptive” trends are viewed by most motorists as just that—disruptive.
Editor’s Note: To read all of the J.D. Power “Mobility Disruptors” or to subscribe to the series, go to http://www.jdpower.com/mobilitydisruptors.


text: Japanese broadband company Softbank has reported losses of JPY27 billion (USD256 million) for its fiscal fourth quarter ended 31 March 2005, compared to a net loss of JPY13.4 billion (USD127 million) at the same time the previous year. The company attributed the poor result to increased spending on advertising and other promotions during the period. Sales at the company grew to JPY275 billion (UUSD2.6 billion), up from JPY155 billion (USD1.46 billion) in the first quarter of 2004, thanks to the acquisition of Cable & Wireless IDC in February. The company expects to get back into the black by the end of March 2006. Softbank ’s broadband service, Yahoo! BB, claimed 4.77 million users at the end of March; the company is targeting 6.5 million subscribers by September this year.