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African supermarket giant trials checkout-free grocery shopping
By our News Team | 2021
Shoprite Group unveils its first automated and cashless ‘no queues, no checkout, no waiting’ concept store.
Pan-African supermarket group Shoprite has begun trialling a cashless and checkout-free concept store called Checkers Rush.
The store, which is operating in Cape Town and only available to employees at this stage, may be launched in other African locations if the trial proves a success.
According to Shoprite, Checkers Rush is an automated, cashless ‘no queues, no checkout, no waiting’ concept where staff can grab products and walk out.
And in case you think this sounds like an open invitation to the dishonest, the store uses advanced artificial intelligence (AI) camera technology to identify the products being taken off the shelves. It then debits the user’s nominated credit card or bank account upon exit from the store.
Checkout-free shopping is becoming more common around the world. Amazon, for example, uses it for many of its Amazon Fresh outlets in the United States and elsewhere.
According to retail industry research, current machine-learning algorithms can already assign goods to shoppers as accurately as the average cashier, making checkout-free shopping both practical and economically viable.
Data-driven marketers can gain robust analytics
From a data perspective, retailers’ marketing teams can gain robust analytics on product movements, buying trends and customers’ purchasing behaviour.
The unveiling of the Checkers Rush concept is part of the launch of the Shoprite Group’s new digital business unit, dubbed Shopritex.
Incubated over the past year, the Shopritex unit is combining data science and technology to create more personalised shopping experiences for customers. It has already delivered two innovations – the fast-growing Xtra Savings rewards programme, and Checkers’ popular ‘Sixty60’ on-demand grocery delivery service that promises home delivery within 60 minutes.
The new division’s 250-strong staff complement includes data science, e-commerce and personalisation experts. They work with Shoprite’s IT team to form a combined group of over 1,000 people working to create and implement new innovations.
“We are serious about being Africa’s most customer-centric retailer, and the launch of Shopritex represents our investment in fit-for-the-future precision retail, which is increasingly digital and data-led,” said Pieter Engelbrecht, CEO of the Shoprite Group.
Watch a video about Shopritex here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15aSCJ9pBaI


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The folks who brought you the free iPhone unlocking AnySIM 1.1 ultility back in October are working hard on a new pet project appropriately titled "Pwnage."
According to the the iPhone Dev Team, these new tools will eventually allow developers to bypass Apple's official distribution channel for native applications. Additionally, those who decide to 'pwn' their own iPhones will be able to upload all the dirty (non-Apple approved) apps they desire.
"Well, Apple has had their turn, impressive work on SDK! And now it's ours…" reads a post on the iPhone Dev Team's web site.
According to the team, Pwnage is made possible by an exploit found in the lower levels of the iPhone and iPod Touch that can be used to allow unsigned code. "This opens the door to unlimited possibilities," the team notes. "Once your iPhone/iTouch has been 'pwned,' you can do things like installing custom made .ipsw files - straight from iTunes!"
With Apple reportedly giving the cold shoulder to developers who've applied for entry in the iPhone SDK beta program, it'll be interesting to see how many of them turn to the dark side.
If you're interested, the team has provided additional technical details about Pwnage on their site. Both tools are undergoing "intensive developing" and will be ready for public consumption soon.

domain: news


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Forget all black in hospitality, Cargo Crew is shaking up the uniform sector.
Could your business benefit from having a truly engaged, experienced employee?
Commonwealth Bank bows to public pressure over terms that put small business borrowers into default.
Wendy Bankes' hairdressing salon was going to be her super but it has been a hard sell.
An influx of registered training organisations offering subpar courses has made it tough for employers.
Unroll.me's customer data mining has come under fire but it seems the start-up is sorry, not sorry.
The small business ombudsman says the Australian Bankers' Association's response is disappointing and excludes many small businesses.
At Peter Williams' business standing desks make the day go faster.
Online start-ups are making a difference to many businesses throughout rural Australia.
How a passion for extreme sport became a multimillion-dollar global business.
All-powerful review sites can make or break a business.
As Queensland mops up from Cyclone Debbie this week, Sydney entrepreneur Matthew Lennox will wish he could help.
Gemma Lloyd's business pitch was met with an unexpected proposition. Other potential investors were less inappropriate but no more supportive.
Money isn't everything.
The days of low-value mass production in Australia are nearly at an end so we need to think about the areas where Australia has competitive edges.
Entrepreneur Allen Liao launches his 'unlosable' glasses in Sydney backed by actor/comedian Stephen Fry.
The woman on the other end of the phone was apologetic, James Sprachan says.
Tattoos are more common than ever but the workplace reaction can be mixed.
Discrimination in recruitment comes down to fear and ignorance.
Competing on service a timely new frontier for Australian retail marketing.


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The social media giant, Facebook has now added a dedicated gaming tab to its mobile app, allowing users to easily explore game content on Facebook. Users can see this hub on the sidebar and as an option for the customizable navigation bar in the app.
This new gaming tab will not only provide a central place to play Facebook’s Instant Games, it will also let users discover new games, watch gaming videos from multiple streamers, and join and connect with gaming group present on the Facebook. The update is still running out, and will appear for all users very soon.
Moreover, the social media tycoon is also working on standalone Facebook Gaming app for Android, which is currently under beta testing. As per the company, this gaming app will provide even more features than the dedicated gaming hub that they have introduced now. With this move, it looks like Facebook is gearing up in the mobile gaming world and trying to capture some of the massive gaming audience thriving on its competitors such as YouTube and Twitch, with this move.


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America’s Main Street Contest Includes Texarkana.
America’s Main Street Contest is presented by Stihl. The grand prize is worth $25,000 in cash and another $2,500 in merchandise to be used by the winning city. The Main Street Texarkana entry is for Texarkana Arkansas this year.
Here is what Main Street Texarkana put online at the contest site:
“We are proud of our downtown heritage and are honored to have received full accreditation from both Main Street Texas and Main Street Arkansas. This is quite an accomplishment with two cities that each have their own unique challenges, but each offering wonderful opportunities. Winning would help continue the efforts of downtown revitalization including: streetscapes, beautification, and complete improvements at our courthouse.”
America’s Main Street Contest Texarkana supporters can go on the website and vote once per day through April 21st.
The top cities vote wise will continue on in the next phase that runs from April 29th through May 26th. Same voting rules apply as above.
The top 10 cities will then be considered as semi-finalist. On June 2nd a panel of contest judges will judge and rate the submissions from the 10 finalists. According to the Main Street website, the Semifinalists whose Submission received the highest rating from the Contest Judges will be deemed to be the winner of the grand prize. That is subject to verification and prompt submission of documents requested by Sponsor. In the event of a tie, a Contest Judge not previously involved in the judging will review and rate the tied Semifinalists’ Submissions. This will be to break the tie.
The Grand Prize Winner will be notified on or about June 2nd. The winner will be announced on the Website and through social media next. The decisions of the Contest Judges shall be final and binding in all matters pertaining to the selection and judging process.


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The company is also committing $ 300 million to make some of its San Jose land available for affordable housing, creating a $ 150 million fund for San Francisco Bay Area housing and donating $ 50 million to Destination: Home in order to foster "systemic change" that reduces homelessness across Silicon Valley.
Ford has pitched the Lithium as a "testbed for battery and thermal management technologies", but also as an "electrified street-ready beast". Most electric cars come with a single-speed transmission, while the Taycan bucks the trend with a two-speed automatic transmission.
While the RBA still expects economic growth picking up to around 3% in 2021, it has downgraded its outlook for the year to around 2.25%. And don't forget that a year ago it expected growth this year of 3.25%. So now inflation will not be back at the bottom of the 2% range for at least two more years and certainly longer (unless there is an inflation-busting global event in the meantime).
Volume on the New York Stock Exchange totaled 3.4 billion shares with 1,383 issues advancing, 184 hitting new highs, and 1,589 issues declining, 26 setting new lows. Shares also rose in Taiwan and Southeast Asia. The benchmark for global oil prices, Brent crude, rose 1% to $62.76 a barrel. BANKING ON PROFITS: The widening gap in yields helps banks, which make money by borrowing money at short-term rates and lending it out at longer-term rates while pocketing the difference.
USA shale-oil output will climb more than 40% to reach 17 million barrels a day by 2025, or 3.1 million a day more than projected in OPEC's report previous year. OPEC, Russia and other producers, a group is known as OPEC+, have implemented a deal to cut oil output by 1.2 million barrels per day from the start of this year.
Lufthansa canceled 1,300 out of 6,000 flights scheduled - 700 on Thursday and 600 on Friday. Cabin crew members have received court approval for an 48-hour long strike at German flag-carrier Lufthansa. Lufthansa lost a bid to halt the strike at a Frankfurt labour court earlier on Wednesday but the company is appealing with a decision expected later in the day.
The Saudi Arabia-backed Vision Fund, which is run by ex-Deutsche Bank banker Rajeev Misra, has invested $70.7 billion in 88 companies at the end of September. But the outlook could be bleak, as startups like WeWork continue to struggle. "I am looking back with true regret about the mistaken investment moves that I have made".
Tourists spent US$73.1 billion in the country past year. Visitors can use their worldwide debit or credit cards to load funds onto a prepaid card provided by Bank of Shanghai, it said. Visitors can use their global credit or debit cards to purchase a prepaid card that ranges from 100 to 2,000 Chinese Yuan and the card lasts a total of 90 days.
U.S. market regulator Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has initiated an investigation into the anonymous whitleblowers' allegations of unethical practices to fudge numbers and governance lapses at Infosys . Moreover, even before the appointment of the independent investigator, the audit committee began consultations with independent internal auditors: Ernst & Young.
But Uber lost $1.16 billion in the quarter, extending its streak of losses. Gross bookings, which include ride-hailing, mobility, food delivery and freight payments, rose 29% from a year earlier to $16.47 billion. Cornershop now operates in several Latin American countries, but Gupta said Uber eventually intends to expand the service outside of the region. © Provided by The Associated Press FILE - In this May 28, 2019, file photo Jump electric bike share bicycles by Uber are seen along ...
The public offering of Saudi Aramco could smash records and give investors the chance to own a piece of the world's most profitable company. Saudi Aramco is worth $1.2tn, according to analysis from financial news service Bloomberg , although Riyadh would prefer a valuation of $2tn, which is one reason the company's share sale has been delayed a number of times.
The company said the new brand would appear on Instagram , WhatsApp and its other offerings. All sites will now have " from FACEBOOK " in the new logotype below their main logos. Facebook first starting explicitly noting its ownership of services like Instagram and WhatsApp earlier this year - a bid towards transparency to users who might not be aware of which tech companies own what services.
The victim was transported to a nearby hospital where he later died from his injuries. According to reports , the unidentified 28-year-old was stabbed to death outside of the restaurant in Oxon Hill, outside Washington D.C., following an altercation over the super popular fried chicken sandwich.
USA stocks were in record-high territory Monday. Stocks are broadly higher on Wall Street, pushing the Dow Jones Industrial Average toward an all-time high for the first time since July. The December crude contract was up 34 cents at US$56.54 per barrel and the December natural gas contract was up 10.7 cents at US$2.82 per mmBTU. Stocks around the world jumped Monday, with the Stoxx Europe 600 up 1%, Hong Kong's Hang Seng ending up 1.6% and South Korea's Kospi rising 1.4%.
In a statement Mothercare said: "Since May 2018, we have undertaken a root and branch review of the Group and Mothercare UK within it, including a number of discussions over the summer with potential partners regarding our UK Retail business".
Sysco Imperial veggie power blend and Western Family broccoli slaw and sweet kale salad kit have also been added to the massive recall. The recalled products have a "Best if Enjoyed By" date of October 11 to November 16 and include packaged salad mixes and vegetables, among other items .
The new corporate logo "is a way to better communicate our ownership structure to the people and businesses who use our services to connect", Lucio added. It's a legitimate concern. Keeping a brisk pace in its eternal quest to be as headache-inducing as possible, Facebook announced on Monday that it has rebranded as FACEBOOK .
It's well below the $ 2 trillion target that was set by Mohammed bin Salman as they struggle to pinpoint a precise valuation. The initial public offering of Saudi Aramco is chugging forward as the world's largest initial public offering (IPO).
The woman in the video on Friday announced on Twitter that "I lost my job for this". The initial response to the video was shock - and mockery at people who didn't know Panera's food came frozen. He ended up getting in hot water with his boss - though maybe not as hot as the mac and cheese water. The person responded, saying she wasn't saying anybody shouldn't eat the mac & cheese and that it's "perfectly fine".
Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and supervision of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the former state of Jammu & Kashmir has been reorganized as the new Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and the new Union Territory of Ladakh on 31st October 2019, a statement by the government reads.
But the IPO will make its long-awaited debut on the Riyadh stock market on 11 December, according to AFP . "It will be a Saudi decision, first and foremost". From the initial public offering brings in Aramco likely to have an interest of between 1 and 2 per cent of the stock in the Saudi capital, Riaad, and later on an worldwide stock exchange listing, to add.
From its beginnings in 1938 when it first struck oil with the aptly named "Prosperity Well", Saudi Arabia's energy giant Aramco has delivered unimaginable riches to the desert kingdom. It's about "preserving the oil for future generations". "These are the largest conventional oil resources on the planet", Wald says. "It is a colossal public offering that could potentially generate more than 10 years' worth of proceeds raised through IPOs in the country", said Salah Shamma, head of ...
Share performance for the month is now at 4.67%. (BRK-B) is stock of Finance sector that received attractive attention from Investors and traders. Berkshire is based in Omaha, Nebraska, and operates more than 90 businesses including the Geico auto insurer, BNSF railroad, Dairy Queen ice cream, Fruit of the Loom underwear, and its namesake energy company and real estate brokerage.
Xi Jining said that China should boost the development of distributed ledger technology and blockchain , which is the underlying technology of cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin. The Guangzhou government also intends to establish a 1 billion yuan (~$142 million) fund to invest in blockchain-related companies, although details of the fund are yet to be determined.
Over the last 12 months, the health care sector has added 402,000 jobs to the economy. What's more, the government revised up its combined estimate of job growth for August and September by a robust 95,000. The labor force participation rate for prime-age adults (ages 25-54), which largely avoids the demographic effects of the aging population, increased by 0.2 percentage points in October to 82.8 percent-1.4 percentage points above its rate in November 2016.
As part of the deal Spirit is also acquiring a smaller facility in the Moroccan port city Casablanca and another maintenance and fix facility in Dallas, Texas. The acquired operations have more than 4,000 employees and expected 2019 revenue of about $1 billion, Spirit said. Trade unions have broadly welcomed the sale, with Unite saying: "It offers hope for a positive future for Bombardier workers in Northern Ireland and their colleagues in the supply chain".
Molson Coors , which has 17,500 employees globally, said the 400 to 500 job cuts will take place across its U.S., Canadian and worldwide business units. The company reported $1.52 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.65 by ($0.13). "Our business is at an inflection point".
The result, which is subject to revision, muddies the waters for the US Federal Reserve, which is expected to announce a third consecutive interest rate cut later Wednesday in the effort to buoy the economy amid the uncertainty caused by Trump's trade wars.
The World Trade Organization says China can impose sanctions on up to $3.6 billion worth of US goods over the USA government's failure to abide by anti-dumping rules with regard to Chinese products. The case relates to U.S. dumping duties on industries including machinery and electronics, light industry, metals and minerals, and the U.S. Commerce Department's way of calculating the amount of "dumping" - Chinese exports that are priced to undercut American-made goods on the U.S.
The rest are expected be concluded before 4 November, when Modi attends the ASEAN-FTA Partners Summit in Bangkok . At past ASEAN summits , the U.S. "If the US president continues to miss ASEAN-related summits - including the ASEAN-US Summit - year after year, it will undoubtedly affect America's standing in the region, which will reduce the perception of Washington's reliability as a strategic partner".


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According to a new finding on LinkedIn, a former Microsoft employee by the name of Lu Yang is now working at Nintendo. Yang was one of the engineers working on the Windows Phone while he worked at Microsoft and has been working on the next-generation Nintendo console for more than a year now.
Other than the codename of the Nintendo NX, we know absolutely nothing about Nintendo’s next video game console. However, this new information may suggest that Nintendo is developing some sort of hardware that will integrate mobile software into the core platform.
Nevertheless, it is safe to say that this is an exciting time to be a Nintendo fan!


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According to HCP, it should be 1.8%.
“Rising commodity prices, especially energy and agriculture, are expected to weigh on the recovery of developed economies, coupled with global supply chain disruptions.”
Economic growth should accelerate slightly in the second quarter of 2022. Forecast by the Planning High Commission (HCP). It should be 1.8% compared to the 1.2% observed in the first quarter of 2022. An increase of 1.8% in the second quarter of 2022 with annual fluctuations instead of the + 15.2% recorded by the base effect of the same quarter of 2021. , Be careful in this sense. This slight recovery occurs in a global economic situation that relies on the development of epidemiological and geopolitical events.
“The development of the world economy will continue to depend specifically on the epidemiological situation in China and the effects of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, which weighs on the growth outlook for the world economy as a whole in 2022.” “Rising prices for raw materials, especially energy and agriculture, combined with the turmoil experienced by the global supply chain, should weigh on the recovery of developed countries,” he continued. In this sense, HCP predicts that external demand for the national economy will increase by 3.1%, compared to the 20.7% observed during the same period last year.
The HCP outlook is also linked to a slight acceleration in domestic demand in the second quarter of this year, contributing 3.3 points to overall economic growth. “It will be driven specifically by the continued strengthening of public spending, but household spending will continue to be affected by the maintenance of strong inflationary pressures,” explains the High Planning Commission.
HCP also expects added value excluding agriculture to increase by 4.1%. According to the HCP, this recovery will be driven specifically by tertiary branches with a 2.4 point contribution to overall economic growth. Similarly, mining activity should return to positive growth and the added value of secondary branches should increase by 2.8%. HCP also provides a reading of the economic situation for the first three months in progress in its economic notes. Economic activity seems to have shown resilience in the first quarter of this year. “In the first quarter of 2022, economic activity would have recorded an annual increase of 1.2% instead of 1% in the previous year, primarily due to a 3.3% increase in value excluding agriculture,” HCP explained. To do. in this regard. Looking at the HCP, the third branch would continue to benefit from the favorable base adjustments in the first quarter.
They would have contributed 1.9 points to changes in GDP, driven by the continued recovery of tourism activity. “In the annual fluctuation, the added value of accommodation and catering increased by 53.4% in the first quarter of 2022, following the improvement of Morocco’s epidemiological situation and the reopening of the Moroccan border from February 7. , 2022 ”, reported by HCP. The Planning High Commission also observed a slight acceleration in the growth of secondary activities. Their contribution to overall GDP growth was 0.5 points in the first quarter, compared to 0.4% in the previous year. In addition, the added value of the mining industry seems to have declined in the first three months of this year. After recording 5.2% a year ago, the decline is estimated to be 4.2%. “In a situation where demand from the local processing industry is declining, non-metal mineral mining activity would have decreased by 5.3%,” can be read from the HCP publication. Manufacturing activity seems to continue to recover as part of it. An increase of 2.7% was observed in the first quarter of this year, compared to the 1.6% recorded in the first quarter of 2021.
“Despite rising raw material prices and rising production costs associated with supply problems, manufacturing activities would have been successfully resisted, especially thanks to the strengthening of the textile and metal industries,” said Chemical. Explain the HCP, which points in the same direction a 2.2% reduction in the added value of industry. This is their export selling price in connection with the decrease in the export volume of phosphate derivatives.


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Check out the Vape Pens entered in the 2016 U.S. Cannabis Cup & Carnival, April 15-17 at the NOS Center in San Bernardino.
Vaping cannabis is still a relatively new practice, but according to a new study recently published in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence, “Those that do vape consider it to be a safer, more positive experience than smoking. “
See all the entries in the Vape Pen category from 2016 HIGH TIMES SoCal Medical Cannabis Cup.
With the vaporizer market now thoroughly flooded, HIGH TIMES sought to take guesswork out of the equation for potential buyers. Herewith, we unveil our choices for the Top 25 vaporizer pens for concentrates and the Top Five pens for flowers on the market today. Happy ...
SOURCEvapes has released a new version of their popular SOURCE orb multi-functional vaporizer, and it builds upon the original model that began SOURCEvapes’s double coil revolution.


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A Nokia 3310 homage is coming to MWC
Apart from bringing new Nokia handsets to the international market, HMD Global is also planning on releasing a classic phone.
The Nokia 3310 will resurface in all its glory. It’ll not be the most powerful phone (it’s not even a smartphone) around but it’s an exciting handset to use again. We can expect a modern version of the feature to be unveiled at this year’s Mobile World Congress.
Not many details have been announced but pricing-wise, it’ll go for just €59 or above Php3k only.


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Indian phone owners are sending fewer SMS and calling less these days. With growing smartphone adoption, people want more data. Some telcos are coming up with packages that bundle mobile data with other offerings, but that’s not what many want. So now telco companies need to do things differently.
Last week, Tata Docomo launched the Photon Max Wi-Fi. It focuses on pure mobile data and lets users connect up to five devices (mobiles or laptops). It allows simultaneous internet access across operators and devices. As with any MiFi device, it means you can move within your own personal wi-fi hotspot. Plus, it works with mobile data plans from any other telco, regardless of it being CDMA or GSM.
“We believe that data is the next frontier of growth that will offset slowing voice revenues,“ said Elango T 1 from Tata Docomo, ”and products like Photon Max Wi-Fi will help boost the data revenues. Data is already a substantial revenue driver for the company, approximately 30 percent, and we only expect this number to go up."
According to Tata Docomo’s internal findings, 60 percent of Indian mobile data users consume video content, followed by music and games (30 and 25 percent). All that requires more bandwidth and bigger monthly data allowances. If you pay for Tata Docomo’s own network via this device, you’ll get speeds up to 6.2Mbps.
Tata Docomo’s newest Photon is hoping to attract the telco’s existing subscribers by offering an upgrade service with sale of this device at a discount price-tag of Rs. 1,999 (little over $32). It has come up with various unlimited data plans starting from Rs. 650 to Rs. 1,500 ($11 to $25) for 3GB up to 15GB. Of course, subscribers of any network can buy it and use their existing SIM cards in it.
The cost is a bit high, but it’s an interesting newcomer at a time when people want more mobile data. With this launch, India could see more operators create 3G-oriented and platform agnostic products and devices, which would be good news for users.
(Editing by Steven Millward; Paul Bischoff)


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| May 19, 2014
| 5:17 PM
Chipotle Mexican Grill is stepping into a contentious national debate on firearms by asking customers to leave their guns at home.
The Denver chain, best known for made-to-order burritos and tacos, said Monday that a recent demonstration by gun...
| May 20, 2014
| 11:29 AM
Chipotle, the fast casual Mexican food chain, is asking customers to keep guns out of its restaurants after demonstrators brought military assault rifles and other guns into a Chipotle in Texas, according to a company statement.
The incident caused...
| May 27, 2014
| 3:16 PM
Coffee purveyor Starbucks Corp. is venturing further into the food business by opening a branch of its La Boulange café chain in Los Angeles.
The restaurant, opening June 12, will cater to both a day and night crowd with sandwiches, build-your-own...
| May 3, 2014
| 5:51 PM
As part of the NBA's sweeping sanctions against Clippers owner Donald Sterling over his controversial racial remarks, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver is urging the league's other owners to push for the Clippers' sale.
Silver said that if three-quarters...
| Mar 24, 2014
| 10:41 AM
Starbucks Chief Executive Howard Schultz has announced that he will donate $30 million to benefit the 2.5 million U.S. soldiers who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The money will go toward job training, and research and treatment for those...
| Feb 10, 2014
| 8:37 AM
Dumb Starbucks, the parody coffee shop in Los Feliz that launched a thousand tweets (and probably more), has caught the eye of the green monster to the north from which it takes its name.
Starbucks Corp., only the largest coffeehouse chain in the world,...
| Mar 19, 2014
| 4:23 PM
Starbucks Corp. will extend its post-4 p.m. Evenings menu, which includes alcohol, to thousands of stores nationwide.
The program is already available at more than 25 locations in Los Angeles, Chicago, Seattle, Portland and Atlanta, according to the...
| Mar 20, 2014
| 5:33 AM
Starbucks will expand its evening alcohol and light bites menu, which includes bacon-wrapped dates and Malbec wine, to thousands of stores, Chief Operating Officer Troy Alstead said in a phone interview.
The rollout, which can help boost sales, will...
| Apr 28, 2014
| 8:00 PM
Customized TV Listings are available here: www.latimes.com/tvtimes
Click here to download TV listings for the week of April 27 - May 3, 2014 in PDF format
This week's TV Movies
Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Cobie...
| Mar 19, 2014
| 6:04 PM
Oprah Winfrey has her own magazine and television network, and now, the former queen of daytime TV is headed to Starbucks. Winfrey announced a collaboration with the coffee giant to make and sell an Oprah line of Teavana teas at the company's annual...
| Apr 29, 2014
| 10:13 AM
The backlash against Clippers owner Donald Sterling for his reportedly racist comments against black people continued Tuesday, with Oprah Winfrey saying the statements reflected a "plantation mentality" and that he should be held accountable.
| Sep 18, 2013
| 3:18 PM
An organization called Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America is taking credit for Starbucks' headline-making decision to stop allowing guns in its coffeehouses.
"This is a huge win for American moms who fought for this policy change," said Shannon...


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MATALAN has written off any hope of a high-street revival this year - claiming customers just can't afford to splash out.
Phil Dutton, finance boss of the discount fashion chain, said soaring energy bills and higher council tax rates had dealt a "serious blow" to millions.
Powergen became the latest energy firm to push up prices when it raised gas bills by a staggering 24.4 per cent or £107 two days ago.
Dutton said: "The cost pressures on shoppers have been quite penal - it's real heavyweight stuff.
"We have a very loyal customer base but it's really tough out there, for us and for them."
Sales at Matalan plunged 7.4 per cent in the six months to February 25. Rival Primark reported a six per cent jump earlier this week, but Dutton insisted the chain wasn't stealing any of Matalan's business.
He blames the group's poor performance on low sales of homeware. Bosses had to slash the price of unsold stock after Christmas.
He also said staff had been unsettled by takeover speculation, but added: "The speculation seems to have been around for a long time."


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Just as we were getting warmed up for the release of the Nexus Prime and Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich on October 11th at the Unpacked event, Samsung and Google have come out with an announcement postponing the unveiling of the new product. The official word is:
Samsung and Google decide to postpone the new product announcement at CTIA Fall. We agree that it is just not the right time to announce a new product. New date and venue will be shortly announced.
The companies haven’t given a reason for the delay. We could speculate that the announcement was initially hurried to beat the shipping date of the new iPhone. Since an iPhone 5 hasn’t made an appearance, pressure for the two companies has eased leaving them some time to put any final touches to the device and software. But that’s only our own speculation.
In the meantime you can enjoy a video showing-off both the Nexus Prime and Android 4.0.
UPDATE: The two companies have now elaborated in a new statement that the postponement is out of respect to Steve Jobs:
We believe this is not the right time to announce a new product as the world expresses tribute to Steve Jobs’s passing. Speculation now calls for rescheduling of the event for October 27th in London this time; clashing with Nokia World 2011 and the release of Nokia’s Windows Phone 7.5 Mango devices.


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Ubique Networks Inc., a Sydney- and Toronto-based startup that reduces lag time in online gaming, has partnered with Thorold, Ont.-based Caribou Contests Inc. to promote problem-solving skills among students through global Minecraft and math competitions.
Ubique — pronounced U-bi-quay, it’s the Latin word for “everywhere” — has developed technology that significantly reduces the lag time in online communications, especially in multi-player online games. It will now use this technology to improve the performance of Caribou’s global math competitions, which are held six times a year.
“Using Minecraft games based on Caribou’s own math puzzles is an exciting way for many students to look at creatively solving problems,” said Ubique CEO Vijai Karthigesu in a statement. “This is part of Ubique’s strategy to promote the game-based education through Minecraft and other games.”
Ubique, which received $1 million in equity funding last year, aims to solve a huge problem with multi-player online games. When players in different parts of the world are playing one another, the system is much faster for the player closest to the server, giving that player an unfair advantage.
Ubique’s solution is to develop a network of remote servers, so the players are always playing on a server based roughly equal distances from each of them. As of last spring, it had servers in Toronto, Seattle and Chicago and was growing the network.
It is now working with Caribou Contests, which holds worldwide online math contests for students in Grades 3 to 12. Tens of thousands of students from more than two dozen countries participate in the contests to test their problem-solving skills by resolving math puzzles. The Caribou Cup is awarded once per year to the top performing student within these competitions.
Ubique will reconstruct selected Caribou puzzles within the world of Minecraft. These puzzles include Floodfill, Nim, Sudoku and Chomp. Ubique will also introduce the Caribou Contests to new territories and hold global Minecraft-based tournaments.
“Caribou has shown a cost-effective way for students in many countries to improve their problem solving skills through math puzzles,” said Thomas Wolf, founder and CEO of Caribou. “Our partnership with Ubique will promote math skills around the world even further.”
Karthigesu is based in Toronto, and Ubique has a major development team in Sydney and some sales staff in Nova Scotia.
The gaming industry is now worth $15 billion, and more than 700 million people around the world play multiplayer online games or are engaged in e-sports. Ubique said the numbers are growing.


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It wasn’t that long ago when car production plants were laying workers off because of a downturn in the economy. The Auto industry was hit hard, with the likes of General Motors having to be bailed out, and so it is very refreshing to learn when the production of a new model promotes new jobs.
The 2015 Chrysler 200 sedan production is now underway at the Sterling Heights, MI plant, and as a result 800 new workers have been employed. The plant had faced closure in 2010, but now there are over 2,800 workers.
Production of the 2015 Chrysler 200 sedan began last week, and as such Sergio Marchionne, SEO of Fiat-Chrysler was on hand at the plant to give workers encouraging support by telling them that over a billion dollars had been invested in SHAP, and that investment is now coming to fruition.
The car plant is now capable of handling far more than it could in the past, which now goes it a positive future. The updates to the plant means workers have more space to go about their work, and as such can handle multiple car models.
If you were looking at getting an Audi A3, then you might want to consider the 2015 Chrysler 200 sedan because it has a lot to offer, but at a more affordable price when compared to its German counterpart.
Chrysler invested heavily in the 2015 200 marketing campaign, as they paid a huge sum of money to promote the vehicle during the 2014 Super Bowl.
We do hope this vehicle enjoys great success because it is clear that the changes made over its predecessor make this a far more desirable vehicle.
*Identifying Monetised Links - outgoing links that we monetise are marked with an '*' symbol.


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Executives told analysts that the company spent more than the $800 million it had planned to spend in the second quarter to move to one-day delivery from two-day delivery for its Prime members, who pay $119 a year. The investment will put a strain on earnings for the rest of the year, but it has already spurred consumers to buy more on Amazon's website and helped revenue growth rebound, he said.
"It does create a shock to the system, we're working through that now, and we expect we will be working to that for a number of quarters", he said. "We'll work through that over the next several quarters and when the dust settles, we'll return to increased efficiency".
Amazon's net income rose to $2.63 billion, or $5.22 per share, in the quarter ended June 30, from $2.53 billion, or $5.07 per share, a year earlier. Analysts were expecting $4.4 billion, according to analytics firm FactSet. Revenue for the period was $63.4 billion - at the high end of management's guidance for revenue during the period to be between $59.5 billion and $63.5 billion.
Analysts were looking for earnings of $5.57 per share on revenue of $62.48 billion.
"The first time we started discussing the rollout of one-day, our first thoughts went to Q4 of this year and our capability for holiday as much as Q2 and Q3, so we are confident that we will have the ability to handle seasonal demand", Olsavsky said. "This is their heaviest investment period of the year, so it's when we're most likely to see a pullback".
Nokia 220 4G and Nokia 105 affordable feature phones unveiled
A Nokia 8.2 phone is said to be coming soon according to a young tech enthusiast whose leaks usually turn out to be true. Also, Nokia has noted that this phone will come with the capacity of 2,000 contacts and space for storing up to 500 SMS.
Amazon's spending growth in the second quarter accelerated across the board, including for marketing to promote the annual Prime Day sale and on technology and content, which includes money for engineers and video programming. Operating expenses increased 21% to $60.3 billion in the quarter, faster than revenue. Shipping costs jumped 36% to $8.13 billion.
At the same time, sales growth for Amazon's cloud unit fell below 40% for the first time in years.
The U.S. Justice Department said Tuesday it would look into whether Big Tech engaged in any anticompetitive practices, including in online retail.
These bets and others further afield, like its recent investments in electric and self-driving auto companies, show how Amazon has been happy to forgo short-term income for long-term gains. Shares in after-hours trading dipped about 1 percent. The stock has gained 31 per cent this year, pushing the company's market value near the US$1 trillion mark it surpassed briefly last September. The online leader reported a 20% increase in sales in the second quarter that beat Wall Street expectations.
If, as Amazon suggested, faster Prime shipping is drawing more people into the company's fold and growth re-accelerates for good, then a hit to profits will be worth it.
These bets and others further afield, like its investments in electric and self-driving auto companies earlier this year, show how Amazon has been happy to forgo short-term profit for long-term gains.


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On October 16, Benzel-Busch hosted their annual Open Haus event at their showroom in Englewood, New Jersey, which showcased the newest models of the 2015 Mercedes Benz collection, including the S-Class Coupe, the C-Class and GLA-Class SUVs. Guests who purchased a Mercedes throughout the course of the event received $500 off of their purchase and a portion of the proceeds went to benefit the luxury auto dealer’s long-time partner, the Englewood Hospital and the Leslie Simon Breast Care and Cytodiagnosis Center.
The event, which lasted from noon to 8 p.m., invited guests to browse the displayed collections as well as give them a chance to examine each car’s interior and exterior thoroughly. Besides observing the cars, guests enjoyed an assortment of hors d’oeuvres and drinks, and were able to directly speak with staff of the Englewood Hospital, who were handing out breast cancer awareness pamphlets and answering questions.
Among the guests was Englewood’s very own Cory Nieves, CEO of his own start-up company: Mr. Cory’s Cookies. Nieves, who began his cookie company at the age of 9, wanted to raise funds for his mother so she could purchase a car. In September, Nieves was featured as a guest on the Ellen DeGeneres Show for his success with Mr. Cory’s Cookies and DeGeneres ended up donating a car to Cory and his mother. Dressed to the nines, Cory mingled with other Benzel-Busch guests and took photos sitting in the newest Mercedes models.
While all cars displayed were envied by guests, there was one car that stood out among the rest—the 2015 S-Class S550 4MATIC Coupe. The car’s sleek black exterior and deep red leather interior had guests vying for a chance to sit behind the wheel throughout the night. Other cars that attracted attention were the all-black G-Class SUV and the bright pink Smart Car, which donned “Smart Car Englewood” and the breast cancer ribbon in honor of the Open Haus event.
According to Benzel-Busch management, the event had a huge turn-out over the course of the day—especially during mid-afternoon and towards the last couple hours of the event. At the end of the 8-hours, the premier auto dealer sold around 30 new Mercedes models and was able to donate a portion of that money to the Englewood Hospital and the Leslie Simon Breast Care and Cytodiagnosis Center.
For information on Benzel-Busch, please click here.
For more information on the Leslie Simon Breast Care Center, please click here.
Check out photos from the Open Haus event below!


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Sensitive databases require stronger password manager strategies
Companies around the world have recently been setting poor examples for their customers on how to operate effective online security strategies. The breakdown of database password manager techniques, in particular, has been leaving millions of customers in danger.
Web hosting firm DreamHost recently provided an excellent example of what can happen when companies do not enforce strong online security policies across all departments. This week, officials had to announce to their customers that an unauthorized intruder made their way into a DreamHost database. Although a separate database containing sensitive financial data was unaffected by the breach, the incident did compromise the interests of potentially thousands of patrons.
"This particular breached database contained customer credentials to the [file transfer protocol] server. This allows potential hackers to use these credentials in order to impersonate customers when accessing the FTP server," Imperva security strategist Noa Bar-Yosef explained to Dark Reading. "The impact of which is to access customer documents, download the documents and even upload their own documents."
With thousands of customers relying on DreamHost to manage their business websites, this misstep could have a number of damaging consequences. With sensitive business communications potentially hanging in the balance, domain name users are rightfully concerned.
Further analysis has also provided discouraging news as to how DreamHost had been guarding its databases. A number of fundamental password manager responsibilities, including rejecting passwords of insufficient strength, were neglected.
"To secure user passwords, companies need to put in a strong password policy as well as digesting the passwords before encryption. Hackers are notorious for breaking encrypted passwords very quickly," Bar-Yosef noted. "Using passphrases instead of passwords is also a good practice since they provide the necessary length to prevent effective brute-forcing of passwords."
With companies continually proving to be unfaithful guardians of user credentials, it may be time for customers to take a more proactive role in online security. As a rule of thumb, easy-to-remember passwords often become easy-to-crack passwords. Employing a more random combination of characters in one's password can greatly improve its strength. And with the help of password manager software, customers can rely on the technology to both create and manage longer and more complex codes for each online account.
As consumers make strides in this area, there is no escaping the fact that businesses will have to revitalize their online security defenses as well. According to Dark Reading, many industry experts are already taking about alternative frameworks that circumvent the traditional username and password login model.


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The new car market slumped by 4.1% in April with the second lowest number of vehicles registered during the month since 2012, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders said.
In total, 161,064 units were registered during the month. While private car registrations dropped by 10.3% the fleet market weathered the storm, growing by 2.8% compared with April 2018’s figures.
During the month, zero emission-capable plug-in hybrids experienced a significant decline, down by 34.4% in April and 20.4% year-to-date with the SMMT blaming the Government for removing the plug-in car grant for PHEVs too early.
Meanwhile, diesel registrations fell but the pace of decline slowed significantly, down by 9.4% and petrol demand dropped by 3.0%.
Overall, alternatively fuelled vehicle (AFV) registrations grew by 12.7%, with 10,254 leaving showrooms. Petrol electric hybrids remained the most popular choice, up 31.1% to 6,810 units. Battery electric cars also recorded a strong uplift, from 929 to 1,517 units, however, this still only represents 0.9% of the market.
Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said: “While it’s great to see buyers respond to the growing range of pure electric cars on offer, they still only represent a tiny fraction of the market and are just one of a number of technologies that will help us on the road to zero. The industry is working hard to deliver on this shared ambition, providing ever cleaner cars to suit every need. We need policies that help get the latest, cleanest vehicles on the road more quickly and support market transition for all drivers. This includes investment in infrastructure and long term incentives to make new technologies as affordable as possible.”


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There’s no doubt about it – the all-new 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray stole the Detroit Auto Show earlier this month. A bold evolution of the historic Corvette lineage, particularly in terms of styling, the 2014 Corvette is already drawing comparisons to exotic supercars costing many tens of thousands of dollars more.
A common assumption about Corvette buyers is that they know exactly what they want when they’re shopping for a car. To test that theory, we took at look at the current-gen 2013 Corvette and used exclusive CarsDirect cross-shopping data from the past three months to take a look at the top five vehicles cross-shopped against the 2013 Corvette.
(The percentages refer to the percentage of total Corvette shoppers who also cross-shopped the alternate models listed. For example, 12.2% of buyers who shopped a Corvette also shopped a Mustang.)
Ford Mustang: 12.2%
Ford Shelby GT500: 9.9%
Porsche 911: 7%
Porsche Boxster: 6.2%
Honda Accord: 5.6%
Interestingly, the 2012 Corvette was cross-shopped against the 2013 Corvette at a rate of 18.5%, besting all of the new models listed above. It’s unusual for a new car to be shopped against a used version of the same car at such a high rate. So perhaps the theory is correct: the only thing you can compare a Corvette to is…another Corvette.
Want custom cross-shopping data for your vehicles? Contact us at 866.852.3784 or firstname.lastname@example.org.


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Samer Hanini lives in downtown Newark, but he's always needed to get in his car to go grocery shopping.
That makes little sense to the Brick City-based developer, who believes "if you're living in a downtown, you should be within walking distance from a grocer."
Hanini's wish will come true by 2016, when Whole Foods will open its first location in Newark. Under a deal announced today, the organic and natural foods grocer will occupy the soon-to-be-restored Hahne & Co. building in the heart of the city's downtown.
The 29,000-square-foot space on Broad Street will anchor the planned rehabilitation of the iconic, 400,000-square-foot department store building, which closed some 25 years ago after operating for nearly a century. Hanini's firm, Hanini Group, is partnering with New York-based L&M Development Partners as lead developers.
The deal, first reported late Wednesday by the Wall Street Journal, is also a coup for Mayor Cory Booker, who has lobbied for years to bring the Austin-based chain to Newark. And Hanini said its decision validates the city's progress as a growing urban hub, following several years of high-profile development projects.
"A Whole Foods is definitely the upper level of retailers," he said. For the city "as a whole, this is probably the stamp of approval that Newark can handle retailers of this caliber."
In recent months, officials have touted a goal of bringing 5,000 new residents to the city by 2017, and the city's construction pipeline contains thousands of residential units. The new grocery store will help meet a need for those new citizens, Hanini said.
He also said Newark will benefit from having another destination-style retailer that will draw visitors beyond the professionals, students and residents who are already there.
Hanini and L&M are developing the site with Regan Development Corporation and Crawford Street Partners, according to a news release.
The developers and city officials gathered today to announce the lease with funding partners Prudential Financial and Goldman Sachs Urban Investment Group. All told, the Hahne's project will have more than 180 residential units, an underground parking garage, 80,000 square feet of commercial and community space and 50,000 square feet of street-level retail space in addition to Whole Foods.


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With 2022 coming to a close and with it an era of cheap money, the dealmaking industry must prepare for tighter markets in 2023. The global volume of deals this year decreased by 38 per cent compared to 2021 as debt markets froze up, particularly in the second half of the year. Nonetheless, we have seen some very interesting transactions this year, from Musk's twitter buyout to deal frenzies in tech and sports franchises. Despite a bleak outlook for 2023, there are a few factors that could drive the industry next year. Private Equity funds are sitting on sizeable amounts of dry powder and have slowed down their pace of deploying funds. If the debt markets open up, PE firms could look to start deploying their capital at a faster rate. Additionally companies with strong balance sheets may look to capitalise on falling valuations. That said let's look at what happened this week:
Goldman set to cut more jobs: CEO David Solomon announced to his staff that the management is working on cutting a further 8 percent of its workforce which represents about 4000 employees.
What's next for SPACs?: The SPAC frenzy is coming to an unpleasant close as deal making cools down. SPAC tie ups that were agreed during better markets are falling apart and prominent investors in the space such as Chamath Palihapitiya and Bill Ackman have liquidated their SPACs. With 650 SPACs and $159 billion of IPO capital chasing merger targets and regulators' increased scrutiny on this practice it seems likely that more liquidations are to ensue.
Bluestem Equity, a private investment partnership based in Houston has acquired United Vision Logistics. This adds a transportation and logistics service provider to the construction and industrial sector focused partnership's portfolio.
L Catterton, the consumer focused investment firm led a $70 million funding round for Razor Group, an aggregator of e-commerce consumer goods businesses.
The Junior IB team wishes everyone a Happy New Year!


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All press releases
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., October 29, 2009—Brightcove Inc., the leading online video platform, today announced that Sky Deutschland has rolled out the Brightcove platform across its Sky.de Web properties to support the organization’s growing online video initiatives. With Brightcove, Sky Deutschland is able to publish and deliver secure, high quality video programming, including popular sporting event and entertainment-focused content, to a wide audience of online viewers and subscribers in and around Germany.
“Sky Deutschland’s innovative pay-tv model has enabled it to reach more than 95 percent of TV viewers in Germany, which has translated into a substantial online audience for Sky.de,” said Jeremy Allaire, chairman and chief executive officer at Brightcove. “We are proud to support Sky Deutschland’s expanded online video efforts to help deepen its engagement with its growing online audience by providing high quality, user-friendly, secure video content through the Brightcove platform.”
Sky Deutschland, of which News Corporation holds a stake of about 40 percent, is using the Brightcove platform to deliver exclusive video content and programming from Germany’s top professional sports leagues, including the Bundesliga, UEFA Champions league and Formula 1 motorsports. Brightcove’s advanced video publishing and scheduling feature set enables Sky Deutschland to provide exclusive access to paying subscribers, via an authenticated log-in, to online highlights from the German Bundesliga each weekend, as well as to non-subscribers beginning each Monday. Brightcove’s advanced content protection features, delivered through its support for Adobe’s Flash Media Server 3.5, also enable Sky Deutschland to prevent abuse and video playback within unauthorized players to ensure that content is easily and reliably delivered.
Brightcove is an online video platform. Media companies, businesses and organizations worldwide use Brightcove to publish and distribute video on the Web. Founded in 2004, Brightcove is a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) business with offices across North America, Europe and Asia. For more information, visit http://www.brightcove.com.
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Action Global Communications launches Action Travel in response to increased demand for insight-led travel communications
Action Global Communications is now expanding its travel comms activities and boosting its diverse offering with the launch of Action Travel.
Headquartered in Moscow, Action Travel and its core team of travel experts, will deliver insight-led travel comms strategies across multiple markets, drawing upon and complementing the agency’s 50 years of expertise in travel, tourism and destination MarComms.
“The travel industry has undergone radical and unprecedented shifts during the current pandemic. This has inevitably led to significant changes in client needs, accelerating the demand for even more targeted, sophisticated and cutting-edge communication strategies and services,” said Lina Shurkevich, Country Manager of the Action Russia regional hub. “The roll-out of Action Travel further extends our expertise in travel communications, as we navigate and adapt to a changing environment, offering new, evolving and increasingly bespoke communication services for travel and tourism industry clients.” The new Action Travel brand will offer clients representation services, trade marketing, press marketing, consumer marketing and MICE, alongside a wide range of digital, social and production services, backed by the knowhow of its digital team.
To learn more, visit the Action Travel website.


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A SURVEY by Accenture has told us what we all knew already, people get fed up with electronics devices that crash, freeze, or just plain don't work.
The firm polled US and UK gadget users and found that over half of them are frustrated by technology does not work. Perhaps even more surprisingly, these consumers would prefer to pay for technology that actually does what it is supposed to do.
This means that cool gadgets might be about to become a thing of the past as people have had enough for paying for style over substance and form over functionality, according to Accenture, and are prepared to go boring and reliable instead.
"As consumers accumulate and rely on more devices to help manage their lives, they are becoming increasingly frustrated with devices that frequently crash or don't work as well as expected," said Jean-Laurent Poitou, global managing director of Accenture Embedded Software.
"The 'cool factor' is no longer enough. Consumers, especially younger ones, seek simpler, more intelligent devices with just the right number of useful functionalities."
Over half of those surveyed said that they had been frustrated with at least one of their frequently used devices. Crashes were cited by 39 per cent of respondents as most annoying. Roughly half as many felt that their device was not doing enough to protect their data and privacy, although this rose to 49 per cent amongst the 18-24 year olds.
This frustration is directed at even the most basic areas of technology, and over half of those polled said that they would like a chance to say something to their device designer, which in this case was 'Keep its simple'. Fully 43 per cent said that they would prefer it if developers concentrated on getting a few features right, as opposed to their current 'kitchen sink' approach to feature provisioning.
Half of all respondents said that they would be prepared to pay more to get better devices that work well and perform tasks automatically and autonomously. µ
Piton processor aims to make servers run more efficiently and cheaply
It might, it might not
You're not The Queen, Linus
As if that wasn't bad enough, it's also going to let businesses spam you with messages


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CIBOLO, Texas — Louisiana meets Texas with NOLA Bayou Bites.
They're a locally owned food truck with authentic New Orleans cuisine. From the Bayou Bowl with fried fish filet to fried balls of bread pudding, people from all over San Antonio make the drive to try this place out.
"I’m an original girl from New Orleans who moved to Texas via the military. Our food is traditional because it’s a taste of home for us. It’s something we cook on a daily basis," said Owner, Cook April Washington.
There were several unique dishes on the Mardi Gras table NOLA Bayou Bites set up for KENS 5. It included authentic beignets with crawfish etouffee and seasoned fries for the kiddos.
"It’s really tasty," said Washington.
And of course, with every good meal, is a good drink to pair it with.
"Our best selling drink is our pineapple lemonade. It is our "Voo Doo Lemonade," and it’s really tasty. It’s a combination of pineapple and lemonade together," said Washington.
To end the feast, you have to have desserts, right?! Well, they're serving up everything from powder sugar beignets to banana pudding.
"We have people that buy them for the whole family when they come," said Washington.
And of course, it’s the time of year for King Cake.
"The King Cake tradition is from New Orleans. Whoever gets the baby that’s inside of the cake is the next person to purchase the next cake," said Washington.
They ordered them from famous Antoine's Restaurant in New Orleans. NOLA Bayou Bites drove up to New Orleans to grab King Cakes so San Antonians could try them out.
"We do have a few for sale on the truck if anyone wants to come out to get them," said Washington.
If you want to try NOLA Bayou Bites, they’re usually located on FM 1103 and Brite Road in Cibolo. But, that’s the best part about being a food truck; they can also come to you.
"We just feel like everybody should have a little bite of the NOLA Bayou Bites because we love what we do and it’s New Orleans style, and we can bring it to your neighborhood," said Washington.
Visit their Facebook page here.
Related links on KENS 5:


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Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 10.1 will have Intel processor
The Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 10.1 will depart from the ARM-based processors that appear in virtually every Android device and instead employ an Intel chip. It’s been suggested that Samsung might switch things up, but two separate reports from reliable sources make this rumor more believable.
Reuters and Korea Times have both reported that the upcoming Samsung tablet will have the Clover Trail+ Intel x86 Atom-based processor. It’s not clear if all Galaxy Tab 3 10.1 units will have Intel inside – Samsung could opt to have its own chips or a Qualcomm processor in some markets – but at least one model will feature Clover Trail+ according to Reuters. Samsung may also be unable to rely solely on Clover Trail in the U.S., where devices tend to have a Samsung Exynos or Qualcomm Snapdragon processor because of carrier preferences. The Korea Times reports that Samsung is seeking better pricing on source materials, and quoted an unnamed Intel source who said:
“The number of Intel’s Atom-branded chip engineers increased to over 50 this year from last year’s six in Korea. Most of them are working for Samsung-related projects with a mission to customize circuits for adaptation on Samsung products.”
Intel would greatly benefit from its inclusion in the Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 10.1. Intel’s chips have appeared in several handsets from Lenovo released in China and the Motorola RAZR i released in Europe and Latin America, but the Galaxy Tab 3 10.1 would be the first time the leading Android manufacturer employed Intel in its tablets. Intel’s outgoing CEO admitted that the company was caught flat-footed for its failure to recognize the importance of mobile devices as quickly as competitors, so it needs major wins from companies like Sony in order to make its processors appear on more devices.


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15 December 2020
Sony is said to be prepping to launch a new 5G-powered mid-range phone. According to Nodar Sikharulidze, a Twitter user who dug up the information, this phone is going to be powered by Snapdragon 690 5G processor. No other details are available on the phone but it is speculated to be the Xperia 10 III.
Sony allegedly scrapped the Xperia 10 II Plus so as to focus on 5G, so going by this possibility, we believe the spotted device should be the Xperia 10 III.
The Snapdragon 690 SoC is built on an 8nm process and has two Cortex-A77 derived big cores and six A55-based little cores. The integrated X51 modem supports 2.5Gbps downlink over a sub-6 5G connection and 1.2Gbps over LTE. It has Adreno 619L GPU with support for 1080p+ displays with a 120Hz refresh rate.
The user has also tipped off the existence of a Sony phone with Snapdragon 875 processor. Once again the name of the phone is unknown but it is speculated to be the Xperia 1 III phone since the processor is a flagship and it will be adorned by a flagship series phone only.
In one of his tweets in October, he also alleges that Sony Xperia 1 III will include four cameras. If Sony follows its roadmap, we will see the Xperia 10 III getting launched in February next year.


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Pekarna Pečjak profit down in 2018
Škofljica, 27 October - Pekarna Pečjak, a maker of bread, pasta, pastry and frozen baked goods, generated EUR 35.54 million in net sales revenue last year or 7% more than in 2017. Nevertheless, net profit dropped by 49% to EUR 723,000. The company attributes this to a rise in the prices of raw materials, energy, services and higher costs of labour.
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Publix Bakery Pies Bring Home Blue Ribbons
LAKELAND, Fla., April 19, 2018 – The Publix Bakery joined amateur pie makers, professional bakers and chefs, and commercial pie companies from around the country and Canada at the American Pie Council National Pie Championships April 6 – 7. This year, seven Publix pies brought home blue ribbons in their respective categories.
- Apple Pie — Family: Traditional Apple (repeat winner)
- Coconut Custard Pie — Family: Baked Dairy
- Mini Mango Key Lime Pie — 6” Single: Citrus
- Mini Toasted Coconut Cream Pie — 6” Single: Open Cream
- NSA Pumpkin Pie — Family/No Sugar Added: Pumpkin
- Original Key Lime Pie — Premium: Key lime (repeat winner)
- Small Blueberry Pie — 6” Single: Fruit & Berry
Many other Publix pies — like Cherry, Mixed Berry, Peach Cobbler and Dutch Apple — have won past championship awards. With each blue ribbon comes bragging rights for a year. Publix customers will soon see a blue ribbon sticker on each award-winning pie.
* Subject to Publix’s Media Use Policy. Editorial use only. Content remains the property of
will be removed at Publix’s discretion. All rights reserved. Download all images*
|Pies with first place blue ribbons in the background||Download*|


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East Midlands Airport has included Morningside Pharmaceuticals Ltd as a case study in an exclusive video designed to promote exporting from the region.
The video was shot by David James, a specialist in business and strategic communications and producer of the UK Export Advice podcast.
In the video Dr Nik Kotecha OBE, Morningside’s Chief Executive, talks about the company’s exporting successes and experiences, as well as the vital role the airport plays in the business’ supply chain.
The video was filmed to coincide with the airport’s announcement of record-breaking quantities of freight being handling in the year ending March 2018.
In the previous 12 months the airport, which is Britain’s busiest for dedicated freight handling, saw almost £10bn worth of non-EU goods pass through it.
In total 358,477 tonnes of cargo were exported or imported through the airport, which is 9.7% higher than the previous year.


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Apple has won an early battle against the NSO Group in court today. Apple sued the Pegasus spyware maker in November 2021, but the Israel-based firm has been trying to export Apple’s lawsuit to its home turf.
Apple’s early victory comes in the form of Judge Donato denying NSO Group’s request to dismiss the lawsuit from Apple altogether.
In short, Judge Donato ruled that NSO Group’s request for dismissal in the US in favor of a trial in Israel didn’t meet the bar. Instead, Judge Donato suggested that Apple would face the same challenges in Israel that NSO faces in the US. Here’s a snippet from the decision:
These factors are a wash. NSO’s ostensible burdens with respect to witnesses and evidence in this District are neatly balanced by equivalent burdens Apple would face if this case were litigated in Israel. Witnesses and evidence are likely to be located in here and abroad in fairly equal measure, and one side or the other will face some challenges. NSO has not demonstrated otherwise. NSO also overlooks the fact that the challenges will be amenable to a number of mitigating practices.
A wash, indeed. Separately, NSO argued that the grounds on which Apple sued the Pegasus maker were not applicable to the case. Judge Donato disagreed. In the decision, Judge Donato validated Apple’s basis for the lawsuit that claims NSO Group violated the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA) and California’s Unfair Competition Law.
Back to Judge Donato:
NSO’s motion to dismiss is denied in all respects. As next steps, NSO will answer Apple’s
complaint by February 14, 2024. A case management conference is set for April 4, 2024, at 10:00
a.m. IT IS SO ORDERED.
What does this mean for Apple? It’s a win in the early phase of the litigation process that validates Apple’s basis for suing NSO Group. Also, Judge Donato did not seem too impressed with NSO Group’s effort to have the case dismissed based on the writing in his decision to allow the case to proceed in the US.
An Apple spokesperson tells 9to5Mac that the company will continue to protect users against 21st century mercenaries like the NSO Group. Litigation against the Pegasus spyware maker is part of a larger effort to protect users, Apple says. This effort includes Lockdown Mode on iPhone, Apple notifying users who may be targeted by state-grade attackers, and the $10 million grant through the Ford Foundation for supporting mercenary spyware threat research.
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The Chattanooga-Hamilton County Regional Planning Commission on Monday chose to take no action on the zoning ordinance previously approved last month by the Walden Town Council, clearing the developer to proceed with a controversial Walden Town Center. The development slated for Taft Highway on Signal Mountain will include a full-service grocery store, fuel station, retail, offices and a public park.
“I am grateful for the commissioners’ continued support of Walden Town Center and believing in the merits this development will provide residents,” said John Anderson, principal of LOP, LLC and owner of the 15-acre tract.
“Throughout the last several months, we’ve received overwhelming support from community members who need an affordable shopping option on the mountain. We’re deeply appreciative of this opportunity to provide that important service.”
The approved zoning ordinance was sent back to the Regional Planning Commission for final review following the town council meeting last month. Mayor William Trohanis and Alderwoman Sarah McKenzie voted in favor of the $15 million development that is expected to generate $610,060 in revenue to the town and to Hamilton County each year. Vice Mayor Lee Davis voted against the rezoning.
With proper zoning in place, LOP, LLC will soon begin clearing land for the development. Details for a groundbreaking ceremony and the name of the retailer will be announced in the coming weeks.
Sam Elliott, Walden town attorney, said a section of the town code requires a case to go back to the Planning Commission if there are substantial revisions. He said there initially were seven conditions on the project, but that was expanded to 26 conditions by Walden officials.
Attorney Elliott said it was vague what type of review the Planning Commission was supposed to do. He said Walden expects soon to make a change to eliminate the extra review.
Vice Mayor Davis said, "The proposed development by John Anderson is the most divisive issue in the town’s history. An overwhelmIng number of Walden residents are against this large scale commercial development for our town, and it is easy to understand why.
"Allowing three commercial stores - totaling more than 50,000 square feet - on a septic tank, at the top of a mountain, over a nearby derelict coal mine is bad policy. Consider too the gas and diesel fuel station that was approved as part of this plan and one can see the obvious environmental risks at stake. The quality of our water and land will be compromised.
"Next come the traffic concerns. Substantially increased traffic at the town center and the lack of a traffic plan will result in fatalities on Taft Highway.
"Lastly, Mr. Anderson refuses to say who the proposed tenants of this project are. There is speculation that it is a Food City, but that’s speculation; no one knows. If this is such a good deal for Walden, why not come forward? In these times of Walmart home delivery and Amazon Prime home delivery, I am skeptical that Mr. Anderson’s promise of a tax windfall to the town of Walden is real.
"The lack of transparency in his project is deeply troublesome. The town’s decision to allow this project to go forward was arbitrary and is a mistake. To call this box development a “village center” to get around our town’s zoning requirements is a decision that we will all regret."


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For as great as Steph Curry is on the court, he’s an even better person off of it. The things he does for the Oakland community are unparallel.
In the midst of this villain role Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors are embracing, it can be easy to forget how much these guys do off the court for their respective communities. Hell, even Kevin Durant is still providing for the Oklahoma City community. The four-time scoring champion had every right to abandon the city he once called home for eight years, but that’s not in his DNA. Sure, he physically left when he decide to take his talents to the Bay Area, but he’s still making an impact in Oklahoma.
Earlier this month, Durant’s foundation donated $57,000 in an effort to build a new school for the city’s homeless children. Similar to Durant, Curry does a lot for the Oakland community. Just recently, at the Ghostship warehouse, there was a fire outbreak, which resulted in the death of 36 people. To help ease the pain, Curry auctioned off two pairs of sneakers.
Friday afternoon, Curry auctioned off a pair of game worn sneakers for $30,101 on eBay. According to ESPN expert Darren Rovell, it’s a new record price for any pair of shoes from an active player. LeBron held the previous record at $28,651 for a pair of game-worn shoes dating back to 2005.
What makes Curry’s shoes even more special is the fact on one shoe it features “Oakland”, while the other says “Strong” and its stamped with Curry’s autograph along with the initials of every victim from the warehouse fire.
In addition to those sneakers, Curry auctioned a pair he wore during pregame warmups Dec. 15, which sold for $15,100. In total, the $45,201 will be donated to the Oakland fire relief fund.


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Google exec "feels bad for iPhone users" not being able to use RCS
- Hiroshi Lockheimer spoke briefly about RCS, its growth, and Apple.
- Lockheimer explained that Google isn’t trying to turn RCS into something that replaces other messaging apps.
- Lockheimer also said he feels bad for iPhone users who experience degraded features and less security.
For a while now, Google has been trying to convince Apple to adopt the RCS standard. To this date, Apple has firmly chosen to stay inside its iMessage walled garden. Recently, the Senior Vice President of Platforms and Ecosystems at Google spoke about RCS, its growth, and iMessage.
In a conversation with 9to5Google, Hiroshi Lockheimer delved into the topic of RCS. During the talk, Lockheimer reminisced about the history, explaining how the GSMA approached Google to bring support to RCS. This help was crucial as carriers — like Verizon and AT&T — all had their own plans on how to implement the standard. He also touched on how Google realized it could accelerate RCS adoption by letting users “get this experience by downloading an app rather than waiting for something they couldn’t control to happen.”
As for the current state of RCS, Lockheimer said that the number of people using Google’s RCS service has grown a lot since last year. According to 9to5Google, that number was 500 million as of Google I/O 2022. Lockheimer also stated that Google isn’t trying to replace other messaging apps, it just wants something better than the outdated SMS system to be the default.
Our research shows that the typical person uses 3 to 4 messaging apps, whether that’s WhatsApp or Snap. That’s great. We’re not trying to build RCS into the one app to rule them all.
The discussion appeared to end with Lockheimer expressing how he feels about iPhone users who are stuck in the middle:
Since you mentioned Apple, I’ll just mention, they talk about how privacy is a human right and how important that is to them. I feel like, “look here’s a technology that’s available now…” Now I just feel bad for the iPhone users who are going to experience the degraded features, it would be great if they could bring that to them. And better security for them as well. You know Android users are fine, they’re texting each other with total security and all that stuff, and now it’s kind of bizarre because now when they interact with iPhone’s we’re going to have to deal with a degraded security experience.
At the end of the day, Apple could always change its mind about RCS. But it doesn’t look like that will happen anytime soon, even as pressure grows from tech enthusiasts and other members of the industry.


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Streaming apps like Disney+ saw a near 31% rise in sessions during March 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
According to data published by mobile app intelligence firm Apptopia in collaboration with consumer engagement platform Braze, Disney+ attracted more than 28 million subscribers in five countries in just three months after it released.
The report found that among the most successful strategies to grow engagement were push notifications used 21% more by top brands.
Leading brands also utilise in-app messages 300% more leading to more in-app purchases.
“Apptopia looks at mobile app trends that drive business and consumer behavior, and we’ve been looking for ways to extend our dataset to dive deeper and identify the reasons behind these trends,” said Adam Blacker, VP, Insights of Apptopia.
“We were enthusiastic to partner with Braze on this report to do exactly this. The findings of the report demonstrate that 2020 is going to be the year of streaming and dive into how new and existing streaming services can be successful in this new environment.”
As the online streaming landscape changes dramatically, Amazon Prime Video Cinema Hub, HBO Max, Peacock, and Quibi are all lined up to launch over the coming months which may create a more saturated market.
“With the proliferation of streaming options over the years, today’s consumers are overwhelmed with choice,” said Myles Kleeger, President and Chief Customer Officer of Braze. “The report proves that content combined with the right customer engagement strategies not only delivers relevant experiences, but also drives business growth. The best practices outlined in the report can really help any brand looking to connect with their customers in a relevant way.”
The report, based on an analysis of 35 streaming services over eight months, also found that certain types of content created more potential for long-lasting fandom. For example, Adult Swim’s cartoon “Rick and Morty” noted a daily active user jump of 504%.
Netflix was the top streaming app globally, but Disney+ was one of the most downloaded apps during Q1 2020 topping Netflix at 14.1 million (Netflix: 11.9 million).
Amazon Prime Video, YouTube and Youtueb Kids also performed strongly globally (27.1 million and 24.6 millions downloads, respectively). Meanwhile, Hulu ranked third in the US with 8.1 million downloads during the first quarter of the year.
When it comes to revenue, YouTube leads the charts at $110 million, followed by Netflix ($68 million) and Tencent Video ($63.3 million).


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Media businesses have emerged as clear sharemarket winners through the wild turns of the pandemic, as they transform audiences held captive by COVID-19 restrictions into bumper ad and subscription sales.
Media and entertainment companies in the S&P/ASX 200 benchmark of blue chips are up more than 40 per cent since the start of 2020, compared with just 12 per cent for the broader index, and have also outperformed over the past six and 12 months.
In the US, media groups within the S&P 500 have jumped in three quarters since the start of 2020, double the gains for the broader market, and are up one-third this year alone. This places them comfortably ahead of the 20 per cent jump for the wider index.
The powerful gains reveal a subset of companies that have flourished through the downturn, as consumers churn through programs on Stan (owned by AFR Weekend publisher Nine) and Netflix, and the housing boom supports revenues for local online classifieds businesses.
Media companies “have obviously been given a strong boost through everyone’s experience of spending much more time in the home, spending a lot more time streaming TV shows and being exposed to media,” said Hugh Falcon, head of capital markets for Macquarie Group.
“The real question is how much of that translates into longer-term structural trends around how people consume media and how much have our consumption patterns been permanently changed.”
In Australia, the media companies within the S&P/ASX 200 include News Corp and Nine, but it is otherwise dominated by classifieds businesses.
Seek, the jobs site, and Carsales, the auto trader, sit alongside REA Group and Domain, the highly profitable real estate classifieds businesses that have enjoyed further growth through the pandemic housing boom in Australia.
Internet advertising a winner
The two property advertising assets also buoy the valuations of News Corp, the majority owner of REA, and Nine, Domain’s largest single shareholder.
Internet advertising was “one of the few winners off the back of the pandemic”, PwC said in research this year about online ad spending. The sector grew 3.3 per cent to $9.3 billion while the broader market fell 8 per cent.
PwC anticipates online ad sales to touch $10 billion this year and grow 5.5 per cent annually for the next five years.
In the US, media companies within the S&P 500 include the likes of Netflix and Disney, but are dominated by tech behemoths Alphabet (Google’s parent) and Facebook, which together command about half of the global online media ad market.
Facebook shares are up four fifths from the start of 2020 and Alphabet has more than doubled.
Shares in Interpublic, one of the big four global advertising giants, are up 60 per cent since the start of 2020.
Amazon, which sits beyond the group of media companies but has grown its online advertising business in the past few years, is up 85 per cent, underscoring the boom in internet advertising through the health crisis.
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According to a very interesting infographic by mobile advertising provider Mobclix.com, (spoiler alert) iPhone users generate nearly 20% extra revenue, while Android users click more often on in-app advertisements.
iPhone users produce an Average Revenue Per User (ARPU) of $9.50 while Android users are producing only $7.20, according to the research. In terms of ad-clicks, 33% of Android consumers have clicked on in-app ads, while 26% of Apple users clicked ads. Interestingly, while having a much smaller audience in general, 29% of Windows Mobile users have clicked on in-app ads — beating out Apple for the number two spot.
To arrive at these numbers, researchers analyzed free apps with more than 500,000 downloads or 75,000 active users. ”Active Users” were described as using an app three times per week for at least five minutes. The full infographic is embedded below in all its glory.
So, who wins you ask… iPhone or Android? Well, isn’t it obvious?
The mobile marketer… this mobile advertising performance beats the traditional media hands down…


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Like music pop stars, most quick-service restaurants made their name with one hit single.
McDonald's, Kentucky Fried Chicken and Pizza Hut, for example, all started out with a narrow focus on hamburgers, chicken and pizza, respectively.
Now quick-casual restaurants also are getting in the customization game, with more and more taking their chances on one primary product. Those operators include concepts such as Cereality; Peanut Butter & Co.; and one of the newest players on the block, Miami-based Franktitude, which may ensure that hot dogs never will be thought of the same way again.
While the art of specialization is not new to the quick-service segment of the restaurant industry, quick-casuals are peddling a slightly different formula: They're selling the experience as well as the product itself.
Seattle-based Starbucks may be the best example of the new concept.
"I think Starbucks is selling an attitude or an environment or a place where people can sit and no one bothers [them]," said Tim Zagat, founding chairman of Zagat Survey, a worldwide provider of consumer survey-based dining, travel and leisure information. "I think you're paying for a lot more than a cup of coffee."
While other companies have specialized in specific foods, like Baskin-Robbins and ice cream, for example, Zagat said, "I think the uniqueness of Starbucks is that it is selling something bigger than the sum of its parts."
Some of the new quick-casual chains agree that ambience is a key component of their winning concepts — and they're not afraid to admit that Starbucks was a big influence.
Stan Synkoski, chief operating officer for Cereality, a quick-casual chain that specializes in hot and cold cereal, stresses the significance of the Cereality experience. Colorful cereal boxes line the shelves at the stores; cartoons are playing on the two TVs; and pajama-clad servers, also known as "cereologists," interact with patrons. The company has nearly 10 units at the present time.
"What we offer is an environment that is much like 'Seinfeld's kitchen,' " Synkoski said. "Our founders used to say, 'We don't sell cereal. We sell Saturday morning.' "
The restaurant offers cereal with a twist. Patrons can order cereal with toppings, such as malted milk balls and fruit, and all the cereals come in Chinese takeout boxes. Smoothie- and parfait-type items also are on the menu.
"When people come visit us for the first time, they are wrapped up in the experience," Synkoski said.
He added that the Cereality experience raises the value of a regular item such as coffee or cereal. To explain the phenomenon, he points to "The Experience Economy," a 1999 book written by James H. Gilmore and B. Joseph Pine II. The book preaches that the experience at an operation exponentially increases the value of a good or service. Coffee itself is cheap, but add an environment with ambience and some comfy couches, and it seems reasonable to charge a few dollars more for it.
Meanwhile, the affluence of the younger generation has helped such chains as Starbucks flourish, Zagat said. Whereas paying $5 for a cup of coffee a few years ago may have seemed outrageous, it is the norm among working professionals today.
Food actually plays a supporting role in these new quick-casual concepts, noted Dino Lambridis, a founder of Tampa-based EVOS, a healthy-eating fast-food concept with three corporate stores and one franchise store.
"I don't think it's just the offerings causing this, but it has to do with the unique experience when it comes to the brand," Lambridis said.
"The marketplace is reacting to the demand of the consumer to want to experience something new and significant in their lives," he said. "There are day-to-day stories of companies offering unique products in a unique atmosphere and brought to them in a different way."
Franktitude, which currently has five units, could be one such company. Ari Wurmann, chief executive and a founder of Franktitude, said he is striving to give hot dogs a new reputation.
When people think of hot dogs, they usually them of greasy spoons, he said. He wants to change that perception with creative and healthy hot dog offerings and an updated environment.
His restaurant "is nice, it's clean, so the hot dog will be cleaner and better than the others," Wurmann said. "That was very important to us, how we present ourselves to the customer."
Wurmann said he is especially proud of the clean restrooms. All the units have wood floors, he said, and offer free wireless Internet service.
Even the name of the restaurant is based on the concept of crafting a new wiener-style image. The idea is that Franktitude "we have a different attitude, not only toward hot dogs but toward customer service, quality, atmosphere, etc."
Franktitude offers hot dogs — or the more elegant-sounding franks, as Wurmann prefers to call them — with a variety of toppings and variations. The "Complete Frank" serves up a hot dog with avocado, sauerkraut and cheese. "Fiery Frank" has hot cheese sauce, jalapeño peppers, wasabi mayonnaise and chopped onions.
The price point for a hot dog alone ranges from about $2.99 to $4.49 for the panini frank, which is a hot dog on a grilled bun with chili, french fries, cheese and bacon.
While starting out as a single-product concept makes sense for a variety of reasons, Zagat injected some levity in the discussion: Eventually all single concepts have to expand.
Alot of fast-food chains historically have been highly focused, but for "health reasons" and "competitive reasons" they have diversified. McDonald's, for example, may be known today as much for its salads and breakfast sandwiches as for its burgers.
Starbucks also has expanded its business into sandwiches and other food offerings.
One of the new specialized quick-casual restaurants seems to be going this route. Kahala Cold Stone recently disclosed it is acquiring Cereality. Kahala will test combination Cold Stone and Cereality stores, Synkoski said. As a part of the new combination, there is a possibility Cereality will add frozen products for later in the day, he said.


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Valentine’s Day is approaching, which means it’s time to show plenty of love. The Blackhawks, who have earned a lot of love over the last few years, are trying to help fans express themselves.
Monday, a little less than a week before Valentine’s Day, the team released Blackhawks-specific Valentine’s Day cards. Sure, they are pretty cheesy and really push the limits of acceptable puns, but they are good for at least a chuckle among Blackhawks fans.
The 16 different cards all feature a different player and a loving message to the recipient. Although, not all of the facial expressions from the players are a bit more menacing than the holiday would normally require – looking at you Jonathan Toews.
Find your favorite, and give it to that special loved one. Or, like the Blackhawks collecting Cups, spread the love around.


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Discover the latest innovation in foldable technology with the Nubia Flip 5G. Learn about its groundbreaking features, specs, pricing, and availability.
Nubia Launches Nubia Flip 5G: World’s Most Affordable Foldable Phone
In a groundbreaking move that’s set to shake up the mobile market, Nubia has unveiled its latest innovation at the Mobile World Congress 2024—the Nubia Flip 5G. Promising cutting-edge technology at an unbeatable price point, this foldable device marks Nubia’s entry into the competitive foldable phone arena.
A New Contender Emerges
The Nubia Flip 5G’s launch comes as no surprise to keen followers of the industry. Teased prior to MWC 2024, this device aims to disrupt the foldable market dominated by big players like Samsung and Motorola. Notably, the Nubia Flip 5G is not just another run-of-the-mill release; it’s positioned as the most affordable foldable phone worldwide.
Renaming Success: The ZTE Libero Flip Reimagined
While some may recognize the Nubia Flip 5G as a rebranded version of the ZTE Libero Flip, its unveiling brings newfound attention to the table. This strategic rebranding move underscores Nubia’s commitment to delivering value-packed devices without compromising on quality.
Specs That Impress
Boasting a Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 processor, 6 GB of RAM, and 128 GB of internal storage, the Nubia Flip 5G promises a seamless user experience. While reminiscent of the Motorola Razr 40, this device stands out with its aggressive pricing strategy, making it an attractive option for budget-conscious consumers.
The Nubia Flip 5G’s design is not just about aesthetics; it’s about functionality. With a sleek exterior reminiscent of a smartwatch and a robust internal display, this device offers the best of both worlds. Its 6.9-inch AMOLED internal screen delivers stunning visuals, complemented by a 1.43-inch external display, perfect for quick glances and notifications.
A Camera for Every Moment
Equipped with a 50 MP main sensor and a 16 MP front-facing camera, the Nubia Flip 5G ensures you capture every moment in stunning detail. Whether it’s breathtaking landscapes or Instagram-worthy selfies, this device has you covered.
Battery Life That Lasts
Powering the Nubia Flip 5G is a sizable 4,310 mAh battery, ensuring you stay connected throughout the day. With 33 W fast charging support, you can quickly juice up your device and get back to what matters most.
Connectivity and More
Beyond its impressive specs, the Nubia Flip 5G offers a myriad of features, including 5G connectivity, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, NFC, and a side-mounted fingerprint reader for added security.
While initially targeting global markets, Nubia has hinted at a potential expansion into Latin America, signaling exciting opportunities for consumers in the region. With its subsidiary Red Magic already making waves in Brazil, the prospect of Nubia’s latest offering hitting Latin American shores seems increasingly likely.
Price and Availability
Priced at just $599 (~R$ 2,990), the Nubia Flip 5G sets a new standard for affordability in the foldable phone market. Although precise availability dates are yet to be confirmed, Nubia promises to unveil more details in March, hinting at a global rollout in the near future. Stay tuned for updates on this game-changing device.


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Team Asobi, creator of the Astro Bot series of games—most recently the fantastic PS5 pack-in, Astro’s Playroom—have launched a new website where they detail the studio’s past games, job postings, and plans for the future. A relatively new member to the PlayStation Studios family, the studio has revealed that they are “hard at work on [its] most ambitious game yet”, though details are still scarce.
— Team ASOBI (@TeamAsobi) August 2, 2021
The studio revealed the new website via its official Twitter account. Ever since the studio officially joined PlayStation Studios back in June, it has been working on revamping all of its resources and production processes going so far as to post a dozen new job listings. The newly launched website also lists these positions, indicating that the studio is going forwards with plans to expand as it takes on a new project. While Team Asobi has not revealed any information on what the game will look like, from the job postings we can discern that it will likely be some sort of 3D platformer, similar to Astro’s Playroom.
In addition to the job postings, the new website also showcases the studio’s past titles as well as an introductory page filled with photos of the team. As with past posts, Team Asobi describes itself as a “collective of passionate game creators from various nationalities, ages, genders, and backgrounds,” particularly highlighting the team’s multicultural roots. Additionally, the website also shows cute little graphics of Astro promoting the studios’ various job postings, such as the company’s pension scheme, telework flexibility, and relocation support.
The website launch comes after the former Japan Studio was restructured to center around the Tokyo-based Team Asobi, alongside a host of several PlayStation Studios acquisitions this year. Astro Bot Rescue Mission Director Nicolas Doucet (who is also pictured on the newly launched website), is currently head of Team Asobi.