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It seems like the time for tech companies running amok is over.
Barely a few weeks into 2019, Google was fined 50 million euros in France by the newly passed General Data Protection Regulation for failing to convey to its users how their data is used across popular services like Google Maps and YouTube.
We have a feeling this is only the beginning. As more and more people grow increasingly concerned about data privacy online, governments are finally starting to catch up to protect their citizens’ virtual welfare. Or that’s the theory, at least.
Here are just a few examples of the strictest regulations in existence so far. We’ll add to the list as new laws are passed.
But First… How Do We Interpret Privacy Law?
Back in colonial America, there was a law to protect your personal information by preventing others from eavesdropping in your home. This was further developed in 1890 in an article called Right to Privacy published in the Harvard Law Review.
This highly influential document argued for the “right to be left alone,” which became an early definition of privacy in the U.S.
In 1948, privacy became a fundamental human right. Different countries, conventions, and organizations such as the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, and other countries helped develop laws and programs that became the basis for the privacy laws we know today.
As online technology develops, new legislation is proposed on a regular basis to accommodate these changes and keep private companies in check.
Different countries take different measures to secure the information of their citizens. The following countries’ policies can give you some inkling of how universal privacy laws might change over time.
Data Privacy Law in the US
Although the U.S. is home to most of the tech giants in the world today, it does not have a sweeping federal data privacy law. In fact, they’re only just beginning to discuss this seriously after the consequences of Facebook’s involvement in the 2016 election.
Last year, the Senate introduced the Data Care Act. If this gets passed, it will act as the equivalent of GDPR in Europe.
Let’s take California as an example since, among the 50 states, California is leading the path toward stricter privacy laws.
In 2018: The state approved the California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018 (CCPA) that will take effect in 2020.
What it does: The law requires Californian companies to reveal what data they’ve collected from users, as well as inform their consumers how and why it was collected. Consumers are also given the right to request and delete personal information that companies have collected.
Also, if consumers decide that their information is not for sale, they can opt out. The CCPA sets an example for others states to follow to safeguard the privacy of their residents.
Why it matters: Since California is home to Silicon Valley, privacy advocates have been pushing for the Senate to legitimize their movement for years.
Not only does this law establish accountability for companies, but it’s also a forward step for consumer welfare in the States as well as the rest of the world.
Data Privacy Laws in Europe
The European Union has laws that all its members must adhere to, and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is such an example.
In 2018: The EU passed the GDPR in May, establishing a historic precedent for data privacy law worldwide.
What it does: Like the CCPA, it requires companies to clearly state what user data will be collected. The company’s use of the collected data must also be made known to their consumers.
Deleting photos posted as a minor can also be deleted in a social network. What’s more, the social network is required to inform search engines and other websites that the photos should be removed.
Violators can face fines up to 20 million euros or 4% of their annual global revenue.
The regulation applies to all individuals living in the 28 member countries of the European Union. Even if the data is being processed elsewhere, the regulation will protect the personal information of those consumers.
Why it matters: Publishers, universities, SMBs, and even Silicon Valley tech giants outside the EU are affected by the regulation if they have users living in the EU. The GDPR gives companies several options for complying with the rule.
A good example of this is Gravity Interactive and Uber Entertainment. The two video game companies are headquartered in America and have European users. To comply with the GDPR, Gravity Interactive blocked all European users from their games. On the other hand, Uber Entertainment shut down its once popular Super Monday Night Combat game entirely once GDPR rolled out.
We may see smaller companies shutting down their services in Europe to avoid these fines. But the since the GDPR is still reviewing tons of cases, we can expect more companies to receive fines over the coming years. Likewise, bigger companies like Google and Facebook have and may continue to face huge fines over their privacy policies.
Data Privacy in Iceland
Despite not being a part of the European Union, Iceland has its own high standards when it comes to securing consumer privacy.
In 2016, the secure data center Artmotion analyzed 170 countries and gave them each a data risk score based on factors like digital infrastructure and political stability. Iceland ranked 3rd on the list for being one of the safest places in the world to store data.
In 2018: Following the EU’s implementation of the GDPR, Iceland’s Parliament passed the Data Protection Act, voting to implement the GDPR in the country.
Why it matters: Iceland’s decision to follow the GDPR is a telling example of its priority of protecting their citizens’ privacy.
In 2010, the country launched the Icelandic Modern Media Initiative, providing security to people like investigative journalists by providing whistleblower protection, source protection, and protection for communications between sources and the media. It also offers protection for intermediaries like ISPs.
Through all their efforts, Iceland has become a safe haven for journalists and a global leader in promoting freedom of speech. Likewise, it is one of the most secure places in the world for internet users seeking privacy.
Data Privacy in Sweden
Sweden was the first country to enact a data protection law. As a member state of the EU, it currently follows the GDPR. But it’s worth examining its history with data protection.
In 1973: The Swedish Parliament passed the Data Act.
What it did: The law was enacted to protect privacy, regulate the use of personal information databases, and prevent misuse. The law had a vast definition of personal information and data. Everything that pertained to a certain individual was considered personal information by law.
It also required companies handling such personal data to obtain licenses from the Swedish Data Protection Agency. This proved to be a long, bureaucratic process, which is why it was eventually replaced with the Personal Data Act of 1998.
Why it matters: Sweden takes their privacy seriously. An author in 1990 was prevented from using a personal computer to publish a book containing personal information of named individuals.
After appealing to the government, the author was allowed to publish the book but this case shows how the government was willing to infringe on the freedom of expression to protect privacy.
Data Privacy Laws in Asia
Data Privacy in China
It might surprise you to find China on this list since its government is known for keeping a close eye on its citizens’ activities, monitoring their speech and behavior.
But if we’re strictly speaking about data protection regulation, China seems to be catching up to Europe.
In 2017: China passed the Cyber Security Law.
What it does: The law requires companies to explain to users what content they are collecting. This should include a written statement, a ticked box, registration form, message of consent or continuous communication between the company and the user.
The government also requires data encryption when transmitting data.
Additionally, China requires companies to have a contingency plan for security breaches. Drills and security checks are required at least once a year.
Following the passage of its first cybersecurity law, China also introduced the Personal Information Security Specification in 2018. This comprehensive guideline clearly lays out the details of data protection in the country.
Why it matters: As one of the most populated countries in the world, China is home to over 700 million internet users. The number of users alone exceeds the population of Europe and the United States. Data breaches are said to affect 80% of netizens and files in the black market contain massive amounts of data.
On top of that, China’s use of technology far surpasses the majority of countries around the world.
The way China handles data violations will almost certainly have an impact on the rest of the region as well.
Data Privacy in Malaysia
Malaysia is generally regarded as a good jurisdiction when it comes to privacy.
In 2010: Malaysia passed the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA). It was put into effect in 2013.
What it does: It shares similarities with the GDPR but one of their main differences is their scope. Unlike the GDPR, the PDPA is only limited to data processed within Malaysia. Malaysian data outside of Malaysia is not covered by the PDPA.
The similarities of the PDPA with the GDPR are the rights it gives to consumers. Malaysian consumers also have a right to access and correct personal data, as well as withdraw consent from processing data.
Additionally, consumer information disclosure without consent is also prohibited by this act. Retaining personal data longer than necessary is prohibited as well.
The progression of data protection law in Malaysia demonstrates that the GDPR is having clear repercussions around the world, with other governments using it as a model for improving their own laws.
Data Privacy Laws in Other Regions
Data Privacy in Russia
Russia is in a situation similar to China, where the country may have strict data protection laws but not necessarily for the citizens’ benefit. It’s a double-edged sword where the strict privacy laws can protect the data from others, but enable the government to monitor its citizens.
Recently, Russia said it would sue Google and Facebook for violating its data localization laws. This is one such example of a case where the government wants to keep their citizens’ data out of these companies’ hands and into their own.
In 2006: Russia implemented the Russian Federal Law on Personal Data.
What it does: Like other countries, Russia has also developed similar privacy policies such as informing the consumers about what information will be collected and where it will be used. Data localization is also required by Russia like China and other countries.
Russia also has adopted counter-terrorism amendments that require information providers to retain data for six months and disclose them to officials if necessary.
Disobeying the law can have violators pay fines or much worse, be blocked in that country. Recently a popular messaging app, Telegram, was banned in Russia for refusing to provide the Federal Security Service that would give access to user messaging data. And it’s not going well… for Russia.
Why it matters: Russia has been in an ongoing cyberwar with the U.S. As time passes, more information is emerging about Russia’s connection to the U.S. election–and suspicions emerging about its activities in European elections as well–and its role in mining user data on platforms like Facebook and Twitter.
This means we should keep a close eye on Russia’s approach to data protection as it will have further consequences for us all.
After 200 years, privacy, or “the right to be left alone” has changed and it has drastically affected everyone on the web. Each country has their own policies but we’ve seen other countries follow those in the lead.
Nowadays, privacy policies are focused on requiring companies to provide sufficient and clear information to their consumers.
If lawmakers continue heading in this direction, consumer empowerment can gradually increase in the following years.
Consumers are given the right to control their data and what happens to it. This gives the consumer the responsibility to actively manage and know their data in order to keep companies in check and protect themselves from potential violations of privacy.
How to Protect Your Privacy Right Now
Consumers can take their privacy protection into their own hands immediately by subscribing to a VPN.
It’s important to note that a lot of VPNs are subjected to giving user information to government officials, especially those under the Five, Nine, and Fourteen Eyes Alliance.
But there are VPNs like Private Internet Access, NordVPN, and others that have a “No Log” policy. Even if government officials wanted user information from them, they wouldn’t be able to give out any precisely because they don’t keep user information.
In this digital age, consumers must be well-informed on critical topics such as privacy and personal information. Together with lawmakers and companies, consumers can create a more secure environment for data protection.


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During 2023, we sat down with senior executives at some of the largest companies – and some of the most interesting up-and-coming firms – in the drinks industry to hear how they were trading in what was a challenging year.
“Dwayne is in this for the long haul” – Teremana Tequila CEO Richard Black on setting The Rock’s Tequila brand up for future success
Celebrity-backed brands are becoming ubiquitous but Teremana Tequila’s new CEO told Just Drinks in January that Dwayne Johnson isn’t just looking to “make a quick buck”.
Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirits CEO Wayne Chaplin talks trends, technology and avoiding being “yesterday’s news”
In November, we sat down with CEO Wayne Chaplin, who has worked in at the distribution giant for almost 40 years (the last ten as CEO) to talk technology, pandemic growth and a changing industry.
October saw Asahi’s global CEO discuss the brewer’s non-alc targets, M&A and why premiumisation in beer will continue.
“People thought this was a dead industry. But milk inherently has great value” – Tim Doelman, CEO of Coca-Cola’s US milk business Fairlife
In June, Just Drinks spoke to Fairlife’s CEO Tim Doelman about the company’s growth ambitions and plans for a new production site.
“We’re a big believer in craft beer” – Tilray Brands’ Irwin Simon and Ty Gilmore talk the cannabis group’s expansion in beer
In the final weeks of 2023, CEO Irwin Simon and Ty Gilmore, the president of Tilray’s US beer division, discussed the company’s craft beer strategy, consumer confidence and the thorny topic of cannabis regulation.
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“You have to pull every lever” – Diageo supply-chain chief Ewan Andrew on balancing efficiency and environmental needs
In February, Just Drinks sat down with Diageo’s president for global supply chain and procurement to discuss how the Johnnie Walker owner has adapted to logistics disruption while also reducing its carbon footprint.
Belfast Distillery Company CEO John Kelly on trading with South Korea, its first Irish whiskey distillery and how Diageo set him up for leadership
At the start of the year, Just Drinks caught up with CEO John Kelly on his strategy for the distiller, including his international plans.
“If you look at existing energy drinks, they’re all pretty hyper-masculine” – PerfectTed founder Marisa Poster on how the UK matcha-based brand can compete
Another SME caught your eye in March, with London-based PerfectTed explaining how it was looking to disrupt the energy drinks market, how it has navigated the challenges of being a start-up (including a factory fire) and its thoughts on whether or not to chance its arm in the US.
“Vodka has been static… but it’s showing signs of resurgence” – Stoli Group’s CEO Chris Caldwell on rebranding, winning in the US and building a Bourbon distillery
In July, Stoli Group’s new chief executive discussed vodka’s revival and the group’s ambitions in the US.
“We’re a whisky distiller with a gin problem” – BrewDog’s Steven Kersley on global expansion, NPD plans and the challenge of laying down casks
And, in May, the MD of BrewDog’s spirits arm outlined its ambitions to increase the unit’s revenues tenfold and become a “top five supplier” in gin, vodka and rum in the next three to five years.

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Anyone who owns a MacBook Pro knows that it's a fairly reliable machine for running Apple's Mac OS X operating system, but new research shows that it's also apparently a great choice for Windows 8 users.
PC troubleshooting site Soluto published a list today of the most reliable Windows laptops, and ironically enough a non-Windows laptop, the mid-2012 13-inch MacBook Pro, made it to the very top.
Soluto collected data from 150,000 laptops beginning on January 1 of this year and analyzed each device looking for crashes, blue screens and other telltale issues.
The results showed that a MacBook Pro with Windows installed is the most reliable choice when it comes to avoiding those problems.
Getting Windows clutter-free
Soluto published its list of the most reliable Windows laptops in its April 2013 PC purchasing guide, according to PC World.
The PC service firm even offered up a possible explanation as to why the MacBook Pro is so reliable when running Windows: users who install Windows on an Apple computer are getting a vanilla version of the operating system that isn't bogged down by manufacturers' own proprietary software and applications.
That just goes to show that all those shiny extras that OEMs throw in on factory-new computers really can harm a device's efficiency.
Of course, there's work to be done to install Windows on MacBook, including buying Windows, setting up Boot Camp, then installing Windows, but if you're looking for the OS on an Apple product, we think Soluto would give the thumbs up.
Acer Aspire V3 comes in second
The second-most reliable Windows laptop proved to be the Acer Aspire E1-571, which costs a third the price of the MacBook Pro.
After that came the Dell XPS 13, though Soluto did mention that almost a third of XPS 13 users wiped their hard drives and started from scratch with a clean version of Windows, which may help explain its high ranking.
Soluto reportedly took multiple objective factors into account when determining the most reliable Windows laptops, including the number of running processes on each machine and the number of crashes each week.
TechRadar asked Apple to comment on the MacBook Pro's efficiency at running Windows 8, but the company has yet to share anything with us.


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Inflation and the struggling economy are slowing the rate of new start-ups across the East Midlands.
The Midlands branch of insolvency and restructuring trade body R3 said there were almost 2,200 start-ups in the East Midlands in April – 18 per cent down on March and 3 per cent down on February.
It said data from business intelligence provider Creditsafe suggested that spiralling inflation, a contracting economy and decreasing consumer confidence were making many entrepreneurs think twice about launching new firms.
Eddie Williams, who chairs R3 in the Midlands and is a Midlands partner at PwC said: “The statistics have revealed that, during the first quarter of 2022, there was an overall increase in start-ups in the East Midlands, many of which were led by individuals who were furloughed or made redundant during the pandemic and who used the lockdowns as a springboard to venture out on their own.
“However, with news that prices are now rising at their fastest rate for 40 years and that UK inflation jumped between March and April, it appears that the region’s entrepreneurial spirit has been significantly dampened.
“With the global, national and local economies facing enormous challenge, the majority of start-ups are having to fight hard to survive and grow, particularly as they set up and bed in new operating controls and procedures as well as establish and build relationships with suppliers, customers, employees and other stakeholders.
“For those new businesses whose directors may be worried about its situation, the sooner professional advice is sought, the more opportunities may be available to support a company’s survival and future success.
“Many R3 members offer a free consultation to those who are looking for such help and want to explore their options.”
It comes after the boss of East Midlands Chamber accused the Government of failing to help Britain’s businesses deal with the current economic problems.
Scott Knowles said: “Rising costs for energy, raw materials and people are having a huge impact on companies’ bottom line, with our latest Quarterly Economic Survey showing two-thirds of East Midlands firms expected to be forced into increasing their own prices in the first quarter of this year.
“A reduction in VAT to 5 per cent on firms’ energy bills and deferring the increase to national insurance contributions until April next year would directly alleviate some of this pressure to raise prices, giving them the breathing space they need to raise productivity and strengthen the economy.”
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Startup funding platform AngelList is getting $400 million from China-based private equity firm CSC Venture Capital for what is being dubbed as the world's largest fund dedicated to seed-stage startups.
The new fund, christened CSC Upshot, would focus on US-based startups and will be managed separately from AngelList.
"CSC Upshot will primarily invest in syndicates led by experienced angels and VCs. It will help syndicates make larger, faster investments in early-stage startups and their follow-on rounds. It will also help promising new syndicates make investments while they're building a backing from individual investors," AngelList said in a blog-post.
The deal is also seen as the "largest-ever single investment by a Chinese private-equity firm in a US fund," The Wall Street Journal said in a news report.
AngelList, which functions as a matchmaking site for startups and investors, was founded in 2010 by India-origin serial entrepreneur Naval Ravikant along with Babak Nivi. Since its inception, AngelList claims to have facilitated over $200 million in investments for about 650 startups.
Akin to Facebook or Reddit, AngelList relies on its thousands of members, as well as startups seeking investment, to create deal flow. In other words, AngelList uses the 'syndicates' model that allows highly influential investors to pool money from their personal funds for investments. Some of its portfolio companies, such as ride sharing app Uber, have gone onto become unicorns of the startup world.
"As we add more limited partner capital we are going to add more syndicate leads who are voting with their own dollar," Ravikant told The Wall Street Journal.
"We are going to deploy an army of leads," he added.
CSC Venture Capital has about $12 billion under management. The fund has already chosen 50 top leads on the crowdfunding platform that will be considered for investments with the help of AngelList.
"CSC Upshot is about Chinese LPs expanding globally and showing that Chinese companies can go out globally and compete in a way that gets them exposure at the very earliest stage, instead of waiting for the Series D round," Ravikant told TechCrunch.
In July, The Times of India had reported that AngelList intends to kick off operations in India. AngelList has already taken its platform outside the US with outposts now in the UK, Canada, Australia, and some parts of Europe.
Prior to starting AngelList, Ravikant had co-founded Epinions (which went public as part of Shopping.com) and Vast.com. He is also an active angel investor and has put money in companies such as Twitter, Uber, Yammer, Stack Overflow and Wanelo.


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EAST BRUNSWICK, N.J. (CBSNewYork) — Customers nationwide are accusing a New Jersey company of posing as a local florist.
They say instead of getting the flowers they ordered, they’re left with disappointing bouquets and broken hearts.
When his local florist closed, Brian Woodruff, of Toms River, ordered a $70 “Ruby Romance” bouquet for his wife from TroysFlorist.com.
“When I send her flowers, they’re usually nice and bigger. They’re big,” he told CBS2’s Lisa Rozner.
His wife ended up receiving something worth a fraction of the price.
“Very simple, very cheap, very disappointed,” Woodruff said.
It was the same story when Susan Hatch, of Texas, thought she was sending a $100 “Beauty in Bloom” for a relative’s 105th birthday.
“Googled ‘local florists in Park Ridge, Illinois’ and they came to the top of the search engine,” Hatch said.
Each time CBS2 searched for a “local florist” — from Plano, Texas, to West Milford, New Jersey — Troys Florist was one of the top results, boasting it’s a “family-run business” with a “huge loyal following within the community.”
A former employee who asked we hide her identity says orders nationwide really go through a house on Route 18 in East Brunswick, New Jersey.
“How would you find the real local florist?” Rozner asked.
“The same way like the people do. We go on Google,” the former employee said. “So once you put in your order for, let’s say, $100, we send it out to a local florist.”
But they allegedly called in a much cheaper arrangement, she says, at the discretion of owner Perry Kessisiades, who would keep a cut of the money as his commission.
“He would be on top of us in order to make that percentage everyday,” the former employee said. “Anywhere from 40% up was perfect.”
She says she was fired after complaining about two weeks’ worth of pay she was owed. She says she earned $15. She also alleges that arrangements under $60, some for funerals, were never fulfilled.
Legitimate flower shops told CBS2 confused customers ended up posting bad reviews about them.
Mario Milewski, the owner of Christy’s Florist, located across the street from Troys, says he stopped doing business with them months ago.
“That put my business, my name at risk, my reputation,” he said.
CBS2 showed him some of the arrangements people have been getting.
“Absolutely terrible. My kids can do a better job,” Milewski said.
At least 350 customers nationwide have complained to the Better Business Bureau, mostly in the last year. It’s given the company an F rating.
“We’re assuming our letters and our notices about the complaints that we have on file are reaching the business and they are choosing, for whatever reason, not to answer,” said Melissa Companick, president and CEO of the New Jersey Better Business Bureau.
CBS2 tried to get some answers. First, we walked in undercover and were told, “It’s an online company.”
Minutes later, Lisa Rozner approached with a mic, saying, “Excuse me, I’m looking for Troys Florist. I don’t see one flower in here … I see three people inside this business. Not one person wants to come to the door to answer why this business is being marketed as a local florist shop in Texas, in Minnesota, even in Hawaii.”
CBS2 also went to what ex-employees say is an affiliated restaurant down the street.
A woman there said, “Perry’s out of the country, actually.”
She also said CBS2 had inaccurate information about Kessisiades’ ties to Troys Florist, but the New Jersey Division of Revenue lists him as the owner.
He registered a sprawling Colts Neck mansion with a backyard pool as his home, living lavishly while angry customers say the company offers a measly 10% rebate.
Customers have disputed the charges with their credit card company to get a full refund.
“I’m going to stick to a local florist that I know, face to face,” Woodruff said.
Similar to customers’ experience, CBS2’s multiple calls and emails to Troys were never returned.
A Google spokesperson says it’s actively investigating whether Troys is violating company policy and could take action.
Google says if people believe sites might be spamming their results, they can report them here: support.google.com/webmasters/answer/93713?hl=en
The New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs says it has received at least 48 complaints against the business but it cannot confirm or deny whether there’s an investigation.


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Today at Retail Expo, Caroline Baldwin – Editor at Essential Retail – led us through a discussion with some big brands on how they are engaging with their customers, what works and what doesn’t.
Joining Caroline are:
- Nicola Thompson – COO at Made.com
- Robin Phillips – CEO at The Watch Shop
- Beth Horn – Director, Head of Industry, Retail and Ecommerce at Facebook
Meaningfully engaging with consumers is not straightforward at the best of times, but the complexity of emotions in lockdown means it is even more of a minefield. So how do we do it well and what are some examples of success stories?
Consumer behaviour has changed a lot, with social media use increasing 70%, people seem to be more curious and open to shopping from new brands maybe through word of mount recommendations. The public are also more adaptive and flexible to how they shop with people using technology in new ways.
We have all seen and ignored countless emails from brands over the past few weeks beginning with “We are in unprecedented times…”. Clearly this dry and formal style of engagement doesn’t cut it for trendy brands such as Made.com. If you take one thing away from this post let it be this:
What consumers are responding to is content that they feel is authentic. Content that is to some extent gritty. Gymshark, always a disruptor, changed their Instagram handle to Homeshark “cause some of you need reminding to stay home” and it generated the more interactions than any other post before or since.
The Watch Shop has been posting videos of how their warehouse staff are keeping fit. Made.com has been showing how to make forts out of boxes for their customers’ children. Now is not the time for the hard sell, it is time to try to genuinely help your customers with what is on their mind right now. When are able to buy from you again they will remember you for it much more than a 20% off voucher.
The marketing mix will also shift. Spending on DOOH will have taken a hit while the rise in social media advertising will accelerate.
And what about in-store marketing?
Personally I believe the more authentic content that consumers find genuinely interesting or funny will be used here too. We have spoken about promoting a local feel and allowing store staff to put up their own (manager approved) content, maybe using or wearing a product themselves, will promote a much stronger customer response than the usual professional shots.


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Golden Bear to create toy line for CBeebies series.
The TV show debuted on CBeebies in 2011 and stars Justin Fletcher, who invites everyone to join him and his housemates “for fun and giggles at his house.”
No release date has been set for the toy line.
“'Justin’s House’ has immense popularity and it continues to be a huge success on CBeebies, so we’re thrilled to be adding the license to our toy portfolio,” says Katherine Pierce, senior licensing and marketing manager, Golden Bear. “It was a natural next step for us to add ‘Justin’s House’ to complement our highly popular, award-winning ‘Something Special’ range. It extends the huge appeal that Justin Fletcher has across this TV program, and we are delighted to be supporting this with new toy product.”
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Alert says criminals are going after expensive jewelry, watches and purses
A community alert issued by the Robbery-Homicide division says “victims have been followed from such places like Melrose Avenue, the Jewelry District of Los Angeles, nightclubs and high-end restaurants.”
“Suspects have been locating victims in Los Angeles, following them, and then committing the robberies as the victim arrives home or at their business,” it reads.
A portion of the Melrose Avenue shopping area in Los Angeles.
“The target of these robberies has been expensive jewelry, including watches and necklaces, as well as expensive purses,” the alert adds. “Victims also have been targeted based on the type of vehicle they are driving.”
Police said they became aware of the trend as a result of a recent “increase in violent street robberies.”
Authorities are now urging the public to be aware of their surroundings “for anything unusual or out of the ordinary before exiting your car, walking out of a restaurant, stores, malls or clubs.”
A Los Angeles Police Officer Badge. (iStock)
“If you are driving and believe you are being followed, dial 911,” the alert says. “If possible, drive to the nearest police station.”
And in the event a resident is being robbed, “do not resist the robbery suspects,” police say, and instead “cooperate and comply with their demands” and “be a good witness.”


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BOSTON – Restaurants, schools, hospitals and other foodservice organizations are invited to participate in Whole Grain Sampling Day on Wednesday, March 30th this year. The day highlights whole grains and celebrates outlets offering these healthy foods to their customers.
Organized by the Oldways Whole Grains Council (WGC), a Boston-based non-profit, this single-day event challenges restaurants, supermarkets, cafeterias and even food trucks across the nation to creatively promote their whole grain choices using coupons, tastings, marketing, and social media. Last year’s celebration prompted millions of Americans to taste a whole lot of delicious, healthy whole grains and the momentum continues in 2016.
The event also helps drive traffic, sales and media attention to participating organizations. Participation is simple and free − foodservice organizations just choose a plan of action that matches their marketing goals. The Whole Grains Council provides a full suite of resources for those planning to take part in Whole Grain Sampling Day. Events and activities are listed on the organization’s website and highlighted on social media.
Participants already on board for 2016 include Boloco, California Pizza Kitchen, Corner Bakery Café, Maggiano’s, McDonald’s and many more. Studies show that switching to whole grains lowers the risk of many chronic diseases. While benefits are most pronounced for those consuming at least three servings daily, some studies show reduced risks from as little as one serving daily − so every whole grain helps. Consumers know whole grains are healthy; now you can be the one to show them they’re delicious too.
Everyone is encouraged to join in the whole grain conversation on Twitter by using the hashtag #SampleWholeGrains. Restaurants, schools or other organizations interested in participating should contact Kelly Toups, WGC, at 617-896-4884 or email@example.com. Learn more and download Sampling Day graphics, Tweets and other resources at: http://wholegrainscouncil.org/get-involved/whole-grain-sampling-day


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Digital Health and Snake Oil
Digital health has many lofty but as yet unrealized goals. According to AMA CEO James L. Madara, the products of the digital health boom that span “from ineffective electronic health records, to an explosion of direct-to-consumer digital health products, to apps of mixed quality”, can be considered digital snake oil. John Halamka of Life as a CIO contests Madara’s statement with his piece, “Why I Disagree with the Snake Oil Analogy”.
Halamka argues that the current state of digital health has accomplished exactly what it has set out to do. The current ecosystem exists as a foundation for the next generation of health tools to come. The efforts put into digital health should not be considered as null, as suggested by Madara. The digital shift of the healthcare system has taken its first steps towards patient and consumer-centric engagement. Madara’s qualms are not with digital health itself. Halamka suggests that:
“Rather than suggest that vendors are selling the electronic equivalent of snake oil, the AMA should recognize that the regulatory efforts of the past several years have achieved exactly the result that was intended and that stakeholder organizations such as the AMA should suggest a small number of desirable outcomes as our next goals.”
It’s safe to say we aren’t where we want to be but the journey isn’t over yet.


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Augmented reality is revolutionizing online shopping, turning it into an immersive experience, like the metaverse.
The best part? You can test it yourself using your smartphone camera. A recent Snapchat study reveals that Gen Z are at the forefront of this technological leap, seeking interactive and personalized recommendations. The trend has already been adopted by brands in Brazil such as Magazine Luiza, Adidas, L’oreal, Estee Lauder, Renner, Calzedonia and Jacob & Co.
The report of Snapchat “Generation Z in 2022: culture, commerce and conversation in Brazil” shows that there are some key aspects of the boom in purchases of augmented reality.
Social distancing measures during the pandemic have accelerated the growth of e-commerce, and the lack of access to products in physical stores has led brands to implement technological solutions, such as virtual changing room experiences using augmented reality. Today, the reach is impressive: more than 100 million people around the world currently shop using augmented reality, according to data from Deloitte.
Play to earn was 2021 trend, what could wearn-to-earn dominate 2023?
At the forefront are adolescents and young people between 13 and 24 years old, digital natives who were born and grew up with technology at their fingertips, connected to the Internet. The Snapchat study shows that 93% are interested in using augmented reality for their purchases.
Furthermore, 80% of those surveyed believes that augmented reality will make their lives easier. This suggests that there are ample opportunities for augmented reality commerce to grow in Brazil in the coming years. Generation Z is already making the leap to adulthood and joining the economically active population. According to IBGE, 24% of the Brazilian population is made up of GenZs.
Not just glasses, but interactive experiences.
Augmented reality allows brands to offer online shopping experiences never seen before and this technology puts the consumer back at the center of the shopping experience. Anyone with access to a smartphone can interact, try and buy products using a lens simple. Snapchat report reveals that 90% of Gen Z’ers are interested in using AR glasses to try on makeup or clothes from their phones smart.
One of the most successful examples of recent times was Christian Dior launching its new B27 sneaker models and allowing Snapchatters to try them on from their cell phone camera using augmented reality. This lens generated 2.3 million organic visits, which boosted Dior’s website sales.
Music licenses will now be implemented on the blockchain
Create a direct connection between the brand and its audience.
But it’s not just about sales; there is no limit to what augmented reality can do. Developers and brands are increasingly creative in engaging with their audiences in unique, inspiring and fun ways.
To give you an idea of the scope, the study of Snapchat reports that 72% of Gen Z interact with brands digitally more now than before the pandemic.
For Max Rivera Global Commercial Expansion at Snap Inc., augmented reality has the power to enhance the environment around us and change the way we experience it.
“ What we are seeing is that what started as a fun way to communicate and share has become one of the most innovative tools that brands have at their disposal today. today to connect with your audiences. It is a new market for business and the companies that experience it are at the forefront”, he explains.
The ability to create connections is a quality highly valued by modern consumers. 65% of teens and young adults say that using augmented reality glasses or filtersallows them to feel more connected to brands.
A personalized shopping experience
One of the most surprising applications of augmented reality in commerce comes from makeup brands . Is there a more personalized shopping experience than trying on lipstick using your phone in selfie mode? This use of augmented reality is already being adopted by brands such as MAC, Kaja and Dior.
The latest Snapchat report highlights a characteristic trait among the young people of the Generation Z: they are not afraid of change and are willing to experiment, alter their traditions and modify aspects of their appearance or appearance .
To that end, they are 2.6 times more likely to buy from brands that offer immersive shopping experiences (for example, using AR). Additionally, they are 1.4 times more likely than Millennials and Gen Xers to use AR on social apps to help them shop.
The metaverse promises to enrich the job market
This is because 65% of Snapchat respondents say AR experiences feel more personal. In other words, a virtual “tester” of a product can make consumers confident enough to buy it.
It is a fact that commerce is changing, since Generation Z looks for social and fun experiences, even when shopping! 71% of young people say they are more likely to pay attention to an ad that incorporates augmented reality. Among the main brands that have joined this trend around the world are Nike, Gucci, Prada, Fendi, The North Face, Ralph Lauren and even McDonald’s.
An example of high engagement was American Eagle’s “pop-up store”, which digitized several pieces of their catalog, literally creating an online store that generated $2 million in sales. Snapchat data reveals the true reach of brands today: the use of augmented reality glasses in their application continues to increase, with more than 6 billion daily interactions and 200 million users from Snapchat worldwide.
Disclaimer: The information and/or opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views or the editorial line of WattPress. The information set forth herein should not be taken as financial advice or investment recommendation. All investment and commercial movement involve risks and it is the responsibility of each person to do their due research before making an investment decision.


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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: Barbara Zamost
June 11, 2014 firstname.lastname@example.org
TESSER AND FOOD MARKETING INSTITUTE UNVEILED A GLIMPSE INTO THE FOOD RETAIL STORE OF THE FUTURE
-- Key Findings Show Industry Must Reinvent Itself to Stay Competitive
CHICAGO – You don’t need a crystal ball to get a glimpse into the future of grocery, one of the nation’s most influential industries.
Tesser, a San Francisco brand strategy and design firm, was tapped by Food Marketing Institute (FMI), representing 40,000 retail food stores and 25,000 pharmacies, to lead an intensive, one-year creative exploration with food industry thought leaders, grocery CEOs and technology innovators on what key drivers and marketplace trends to expect in the next 10 years. With its multidisciplinary team of creative thinkers, strategists and designers, Tesser envisioned the future of grocery.
The Retail Experience of the Future (RETF) was unveiled at FMI Connect, the food retail industry’s largest conference in the country with more than 12,000 attendees, on June 11, 2014, at McCormick Place in Chicago.
"The grocery industry is at a big historical crossroads; essentially, the castle is surrounded," says Tré Musco, president and chief creative officer at Tesser. "Competition from the restaurant industry, rise of online shopping and numerous food retail options available to consumers have splintered how consumers shop for food. The time is ripe for the grocery industry to reinvent itself to stay relevant and grow in the coming decade. Grocery has a powerful impact on day-to-day life and the potential is enormous to capture additional market share while improving people’s lives."
Tesser’s team worked closely with FMI, and fellow sponsors including American Express, Coca-Cola Refreshments, The Hershey Company, Hussmann Corporation, Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy, MyWebGrocer, PwC, SAP and SupermarketGuru.com. Tesser’s highly collaborative discovery and strategic design process brought to life a preview of the future that featured the changing role of the retailer, food marketing, consumer behavior and technology’s function in the marketplace. The findings inspired optimism and stimulated positive thought and discussions around planning for the future. The RETF exhibit featured thought-provoking vignettes around these key topics:
- Grocery stores will become more consumer-driven destinations, moving from a mostly functional "need" state to a more emotional "want" state-of-mind much like successful non-food retailers
- Hyper-showrooming™, a term coined by Tesser, will combine a multi-sensory in-store experience with instantly accessible proprietary data, creating a shopping experience that is more compelling than either traditional bricks and mortar or online
- Enhanced stores will offer micro-personalization on a macro scale for allowing consumers to purchase the exact product or service they are looking for in real time
- Changing demographics, and lifestyles will drive retailers to have an even larger role in facilitating shoppers’ well being
- Store environments will become highly responsive, transforming to match consumers’ needs based on time of day, season, and promotions
- Advancements in training, automation and wearable technology will allow store associates to provide a concierge level of service
- Technology will enhance the consumer experience without being disruptive
- Tesser sees the entire shopping experience evolving based on the RETF to accommodate the changing needs of consumers and to maximize industry growth.
"This is an exciting time to re-invent the food retail industry in order to leverage its historical strengths and its huge number of conveniently located stores," Musco adds. "For leading retail food companies the store of the future will help build deeper relationships and loyalty with consumers, empower store associates, create closer partnerships with product companies, and ensure the vibrancy of the industry into the future."
Since 1993, Tesser has been building powerful brands by focusing on the big picture: 360 degrees of uncompromised thinking on brand strategy and integrated design. As strategic consultants, designers, and branding experts, Tesser helps clients create both long-term brand value and highly effective design programs. For further information on Tesser’s innovative work, visit www.tesser.com.
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It’s been announced today that Hammerhead (maker of the Karoo 2) has been acquired by SRAM for an undisclosed amount. The sale was officially completed back on December 30th, 2021, though it is only being announced today. Both companies say that effectively nothing will change, at least for the short term anyway. Down the road, Hammerhead simply says that they’ll “work with SRAM to identify future opportunities”. Hammerhead will be operated as a standalone brand in SRAM’s portfolio, roughly akin to what we see with Zipp, Quarq, etc…
Still, this is gonna have big ramifications for the bike computer industry – both consumers and other competitors. For their competitors, the news will undoubtedly give them heartache, likely more so Wahoo and Stages than Garmin. Inversely, consumers should be celebrating this. Hammerhead’s been doing some incredible stuff over the last year especially, and unquestionably this will help further that goal. There’s only so much you can do with limited resources to compete with the resources of a company like Garmin’s size, and this will certainly help those efforts.
Now, before we get to some of that analysis, here’s a slew of things I’ve confirmed with Hammerhead & SRAM:
- No changes for consumers for things like support, etc… all of that stays with Hammerhead
- No changes for dealers/distributors, that will remain with Hammerhead (though honestly, I don’t believe that longer-term – the core point of a consolidated brand is ease of distributor access, and that’s something that SRAM does really well today across their brands)
- I asked whether Hammerhead would leverage SRAM’s software divisions, and they said not – specifically “Hammerhead staffing and development teams will not change. The acquisition structure means Hammerhead will be able to focus 100% on innovation and product to best serve customers.”
- They confirmed all employees are being retained (nobody is losing their jobs)
- They confirmed their current company locations will not change
- They confirmed all existing production facilities/partnerships will remain the same (this is surprising to me, so we’ll have to see about this down the road – though SRAM doesn’t make Android phones, so they probably don’t have better partners today in that area)
- They confirmed all existing investors were fully bought out as part of this. You’ll remember that Lance Armstrong’s investment group was one of those investors (of many)
- Finally, they confirmed that Chris Froome will continue to be involved with the company “as a friend of the brand and as a member of Israel – Premier Tech team.”
In other words, virtually nothing changes today. In fact, SRAM even went so far as to use the name of their primary competitor, Shimano, in their press release:
“Together, SRAM and Hammerhead will continue to develop an innovative cycling technology platform ensuring riders can seamlessly integrate with a wide variety of existing hardware and software products and services including both Shimano and SRAM electronic shifting.”
In other words, they wanted to reassure people that the Karoo will continue to work with Shimano Di2 shifting, even if it can’t record the actual data (yet?).
Most of this seems to be well summed further in the release, with them saying:
“Hammerhead is an amazing brand with award-winning products, and we do not plan on changing anything about how they innovate,” SRAM’s VP of Growth, Clint Weber”
Now like most corporate acquisitions, the press release tends to be fairly bland. Usually, you’ll only pick up one or two useful tidbits in there, with the remainder being circular corporate speak. And honestly, that was pretty much the same here. It included phrases like “Moving forward, Hammerhead will connect the cycling experience” – what does that mean? Connect with what?
However, there was this line item that caught my eye:
“SRAM saw tremendous potential in Hammerhead after the award-winning cycling GPS computer (the Karoo 2) hit the market in late 2020 and landed on the handlebars of many of the world’s top athletes. In just the last year, Hammerhead achieved 7x revenue growth and their community of riders have clocked over a million hours of gravel, concrete, and trails covered.”
This is interesting because they basically didn’t start shipping units till December 2020, though, most of those were from pre-orders in summer 2020. For regular sales, it was all from Q1 2021 that you could actually buy one. And between January and Summer 2020 – you couldn’t buy any units at all (they had sold all their previous Karoo’s). So for them to basically 7X their pre-order period is strong, since pre-orders periods tend to be huge spikes.
Inversely, a ‘million’ (singular) hours actually isn’t that much in the grand scheme of things. So I’m not sure what to make of that. Still, I like random quirky stats, and this was one of them.
In any case, the interesting bits are what comes next. Obviously, this gives Hammerhead huge amounts of money to work with, but also deeper engineering talent, as well as more athlete sponsorship opportunities. All those individual and team athletes that SRAM has? You can bet by next year they’ll largely be on Hammerhead bike computers (most stuff for this season will already have been finalized months ago).
And while Hammerhead talks about their development team staying, SRAM has a deep bench of both software and hardware engineers that’ll undoubtedly get leveraged. Even if it’s for trivial stuff, like ensuring better compliance with ANT+ & Bluetooth Standards, areas in which SRAM is heavily involved.
But the real question is how this will accelerate Hammerhead’s software and hardware plans. The company has already become the clear leader in software update frequency, releasing updates roughly every 2 weeks, usually with at least a few new features. Many are small features, but over the course of a year, it adds up. For example, I’ve now filmed my ‘Wahoo vs Garmin vs Hammerhead’ Climbing Bakeoff video four times, because somehow, inexplicably, the next day after I film it, Hammerhead comes out with new climbing features. Given I re-filmed it last week, I presume in a few minutes I’ll get a notification about new climbing functionality that voids my video again.
From a competition standpoint, they’ll continue to take mostly minor bites out of Garmin’s sales. Instead, I think they’re largely drawing sales away from Wahoo, who largely hasn’t released much in the way of new software features for their ELEMNT series bike computers. But Wahoo’s strength is consumers’ brand recognition and community aspects, something which is far harder to compete against than pure technical wizardry.
Finally, my personal hope here is to see Hammerhead develop a Karoo 2 Mini, or whatever you want to call it. Something akin to an Edge 530 series device in size, but with the same features and display as the Karoo 2. Plus of course, better smartphone connectivity. I mean, just saying if this is a wish list – those are my two.
In the meantime, I’m excited about this – and think this is great news for consumers. More choice is always good, and in this case, this empowers Hammerhead to give us all more choices (and more features).
With that – thanks for reading!
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French consumers’ level of confidence is stable compared to the first lockdown in the spring of 2020. Spending intentions are still negative (groceries excepted), however they are higher than they were in March 2020, possibly in anticipation of the upcoming holidays. More than half—58 percent—of French consumers have now tried new shopping behaviors such as new places to shop, new websites or brands, and methods such as in-store pick-up and self-checkout. Of those, approximately 70 percent intend to continue the new habit beyond the crisis. Brands are more constrained by price than retailers are: value is the most cited reason for trying a new brand, while convenience is the top reason for choosing a new place to shop. Regarding out-of-home activities, using public transport is the main source of worry, while shopping is no longer a concern. Cleaning and sanitization are a number-one priority when choosing a store to shop from, with masks now widely used by individuals.
These exhibits are based on survey data collected in France from November 9–16, 2020. Check back for regular updates on French consumer sentiments, behaviors, income, spending, and expectations.
Global surveys of consumer sentiment during the coronavirus crisis


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Intel will retire its most affordable quad-core processor early next year—and the CPU might become even more affordable just before vanishing off the market altogether, according to DigiTimes. The Taiwanese news site says Intel will issue a discontinuation notice for the Core 2 Quad Q6600 next quarter. Industry insiders reportedly expect "several" PC vendors and distributors to cut prices in a bid to clear inventory before the year's end.
Right now, Intel's price list has the Core 2 Quad Q6600 at $183 in 1,000-unit quantities, although our price search engine shows some e-tailers selling the CPU for as little as $175.99. That's not bad for a 2.4GHz processor with four 65nm cores, especially considering this one launched at around $850 almost two years ago.
Of course, Intel isn't discontinuing this CPU for no reason. Newegg currently sells the 45nm Core 2 Quad Q8200 for only $179.99 shipped, and this 2.33GHz offering has more power-efficient 45nm cores, better clock-for-clock performance, and a speedier front-side bus than the Q6600.
|Samsung's Galaxy Note 4 with the Exynos 5433 processor||66|
|You can now unlock your Chromebook with your phone||11|
|Deal of the week: A Radeon R9 290X for $233||116|
|AMD's new Fixer video is even crazier than the last||93|
|Leak pegs desktop Broadwell, Skylake for mid-year||55|
|Battlefield Hardline open beta scheduled for February 3||21|
|WSJ: Microsoft to back Cyanogen with $70M investment||56|
|You've goat to check out Silicon Power's new thumb drive||54|
|nvidia already released an official response: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spZJrsssPA0||+95|


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Say what you want about Amazon. The company is set to clear $140 billion in its fourth quarter. Its founder Jeff Bezos is one of the richest people in the world. And although it's facing layoffs and antitrust lawsuits, it's as convenient, affordable, and addictive.
"There are years that I've placed 1,000 or 2,000 orders," cybersecurity expert Joseph Steinberg said.
Steinberg may get most of his groceries and gadgets from the mega retailer but he's drawing the line at its new service launched Tuesday — Amazon Clinic.
Amazon Clinic provides virtual care for more than 20 health conditions, ranging from acne to asthma, UTIs to birth control, balding to erectile dysfunction. You click on the condition that's ailing you, choose a provider, answer a questionnaire, and the clinician sends you a personalized treatment plan and prescriptions.
"Will Amazon create a real wall between their medical side and their retail side?" Steinberg said. "Or will there be data that is shared, and we don't know the answer to that question."
Amazon Clinic is available in 32 states and is only for adults ages 18 to 64. It joins the ranks of similar telehealth companies like HIM & HERS and Teladoc that are growing in popularity.
Telehealth is not only convenient; it helps the uninsured. Amazon Clinic charges a flat fee for services and doesn't take insurance.
"Medical data is sensitive, and it reveals a lot of interesting things about people," Steinberg said. "And that's part of the problem."
Steinberg said he is concerned Amazon could diagnose people and immediately push its pharmacy's prescriptions, giving Amazon an unfair advantage. Amazon might use the data from a patient's questionnaire and blast their devices with related product marketing. And the marketing — for a condition you intended to keep private — could been seen by others in your household.
Amazon Clinic states on its website that it cares about customer privacy and data security.
"We have extensive experience protecting data of all kinds appropriately across a variety of businesses and remain focused on the important mission of protecting customers' health information," Amazon Clinic states. "We have stringent customer privacy policies and comply with HIPAA and all other applicable laws and regulations."
"The question is what is the price that is being paid behind the scenes for that service? That may not be a price that the person using the service pays, but it may be a price that we as a society pay," Steinberg said. "And we may not know until after some time passes and we see what happens."


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Exponential progress in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning, fuelled by the combination of cloud, big data and new algorithms, is transforming the retail industry.
H&D Wireless, an Internet of Things (IoT), cloud and platform system provider, has launched GEPS for Industry, H&D Wireless’s new IoT enterprise indoor real time localisation service (RTLS) of Returnable Transport Packages (RTP).
Dürr AG and Software AG have entered into a strategic partnership to develop new Internet of Things (IoT) and Industry 4.0 solutions. Dürr’s new cloud-ready IoT platform will include best-of-breed digital solutions, technologies and applications from iTAC Software AG – the company’s IoT software subsidiary –
Industry 4.0 (I4.0) is positioned as the next industrial revolution and it is already starting to change the way we manufacture and drive new levels of efficiency into shop-floor processes, says Francisco Almada Lobo, CEO, Critical Manufacturing.
The Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA) has launched a new white paper outlining the key priorities for operators and technology vendors, and the monetisation potential for unlicensed technologies for IoT.
ZTE Corporation, has announced a shared and co-built carrier-class IoT solution in conjunction with the China LoRa Application Alliance (CLAA). ZTE has simultaneously unveiled its Smart Street 2.0 – Highlights Your City solution.
The Internet of Things (IoT) has already proven its vitality in the business and the economic world. IoT has touched almost every corner of the business world, says IoT writer Yash Mehta, and one such corner which is transformed by IoT in marketing is social media.
IoT solutions for the industrial manufacturers will typically employ services such as remote management, OTA software updates, preventative and predictive maintenance as well as the ability to integrate operational information with the company’s enterprise systems.
Actility, a provider of Low Power Wide Area Networks (LPWAN), announced the launch of ThingPark X, a data mediation and transformation platform.
The Internet of Things (IoT) is a big growth area for 2017. This year’s CES conference in Las Vegas saw more ‘connected products’ showcased than ever before, from driverless cars and smart homes, to internet-connected hairbrushes and dustbins. It seems almost anything can now create data.
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Mickey Thompson Tires & Wheels has unveiled its Baja Pro XS tire—the world’s tallest DOT-approved light truck tire. “With the launch of...
TIA to offer online class for Retail Tire Store Manager Training
SEMA Data Co-op expands data services with PartsHub acquisition
Maxam announces its new large haulage tire: The MS453


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Reports suggest Apple’s MagSafe Duo wireless charger has been found on the website of Korean compliance. When Apple introduced its iPhone 12 series, it also introduced the support for MacSafe wireless charging. This will include iPhone 12 models including iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro max, iPhone 12 Mini, And basic iPhone 12 model.
Accessories like MagSafe charger, MagSafe Duo accessory, and some wider range of cases were also introduced at this event. MagSafe’s wireless charger and some cases were on sale in the market by October 16, but the availability info and price range of MagSafe Duo were not announced back then.
As the accessory has now been found on Korea’s compliance site named National Radio Research Agency (NRRA), this indicates that Apple might be working on the product now and is planning to unveil it shortly.
It was MacRumors that found out about MagSafe Duo wireless charger first on Korea’s compliance site. In the listing, MacRumors could not find any info about the availability or price but it hinted that Apple is working on the launch of MagSafe Duo wireless charger.
MagSafe Highlight: MagSafe Duo wireless charger is known for its ultimate efficiency to charge both the Apple Watch and the iPhone simultaneously, while MagSafe wireless charger is capable of charging just the iPhone.
At the launch event of the iPhone 12, Apple stated that MagSafe Duo will be launched after quite some time. It did not mention any specific date of launch. In India, the MagSafe charger is available at the cost of Rs 4500. As per the US rate, it costs about $39. So, the MagSafe Duo will be quite expensive than this price for its functionalities.
According to a recent report published in Apple support pages, it has stated that iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro, and iPhone 12 Max will support charging capacity up to 15 W using MagSafe Chargers, while iPhone Mini supports MagSafe wireless charging up to 12 W. The lightning headphones that are workable with MagSafe charger will provide wireless charging speed up to 7.5 W, which is of standard capacity.
According to Apple, the iPhone 12 series phones with cases that are of thickness above 2.1mm might not get charged using a MagSafe charger. Though the thickness recommendation is 2.0 mm, the cases that support MagSafe should be uniformly thick at 2.1 mm.


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30 of the Punniest Support Puns You Can Find
It's evident that Instapaper is talked about a lot. The company went live a week earlier, the demise took place the day it was its third day of its operations. Plans to go live for another two weeks were put in place. This news was met by many different currency traders who believe this is a direct result of the uncertainty in the global economy right now. The instapaper crash was met with suspicion because it seems to be an incidental failure rather than the start of a new business that is expected to prosper within the next few years.
Instapaper remains online and hasn’t completely disappeared. There are still a lot of currency traders who have invested on this new platform. They haven't lost their entire portfolios. They're likely to be focusing their attention on other things because they know that they're much more likely to not lose their funds in the event of a sudden drop in the currency they own. https://ccm.net/profile/user/t1rshwr944 Investors could actually witness a growth in their investment over only a short time particularly if large amounts have been purchased in either the EUR/USD currency or the GBP/USD.
Not to be ignored However, is the fact that Instapaper news has caused a polarization in the global market for financial services. A lot of people blame the collapse of the company on the world economy. Some have noticed a parallel with similar companies that have failed in recent times, such as Lufthansa and Zulip. Even though it may not be fair to put these businesses into the same category as large-scale companies however, it is essential to realize that nobody is able to predict exactly where the market will go the next time. There is a chance that the instapaper could trigger the market to shift in the positive direction. However, most investors who are watching the market are expecting it to consolidate in a downwards direction. However, investors who are following the market expect it to consolidate in a downward direction.
There are indications that consolidation could be happening for traders who watch the market. Investors may begin to notice a drop in trading prices for the most sought-after currencies. This could indicate that traders are beginning to sell their positions that will lead to a decrease in liquidity. If traders start withdrawing from the market, this will decrease both the total quantity of each currency as well as the demand for it. Since more units will be available with less money, this could result in the price falling even more.
It is important to keep up with the most recent information from major markets if you want to purchase an investment before it occurs. While you may already have been aware of many important events, it's important to know more regarding the news that is of interest to your. The easiest method to accomplish this is to use a popular search engine like Google and search for "news". Then, you can save any news story you wish and come back later to go through them. It's worthwhile to look for specific events that are particularly interesting to you. If you are interested in the Arab Spring surge in Egypt You might want to investigate how it's impacting other countries in the region.
Another benefit of looking for news from around the world is that you can get an interesting view of major business events occurring in your country. This will enable you to think from a different perspective on what's taking place in your particular industry. It is also possible to find information about new laws that might be coming into force for your particular industry in the future periods. This will be especially interesting to those who watch business news with a keen eye, since they will get an accurate idea of what they can expect in the future.


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Even as more US consumers adopt subscription streaming from Netflix and other services, the majority of feature-length movies are still rented on physical discs., according to The NPD Group’s VideoWatch VOD report.
Vevo, the all-premium music video and entertainment platform, is committed to launch with the online gaming platform Ouya when it comes to market in March 2013.
The cord-cutting debate continues to rage –at least in the US, where the number subscribers to pay-TV services operated by publicly traded cable, satellite and phone companies fell by 200,000 in the second quarter.
WATCH VIDEO. Aereo, the New York based TV streaming service, has had a victory in court, with a judge refusing to grant a preliminary injunction shutting the service down.
CNN and Facebook have partnered to offer a social experience for CNN’s on-air, mobile and online audiences and Facebook’s more than 160 million US users.
The Walt Disney Company and Hearst Corp. will acquire NBCUniversal’s 15.8% stake in A+E Television Networks for $3.03 billion (€2.46 billion).


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This business man is being indicted for swindling over $500,000 by creating a fake meet and great scam to meet K-pop boy band BTS.
The man whose last name has only been released, Choi is being accused of fraud by another firm for offering a meet and greet opportunity with the Korean heartthrobs.
The firm suing Choi said that they paid him over $550,000 to cover the expenses of a fan meet and greet and BTS promotional merchandise that could be sold in China.
But why did he start scamming people for meet and greet money?
As it turns out Choi didn’t just randomly pick BTS as the fake meet and greet artists.
Choi operates a fashion manufacturing firm. His fashion manufacture had a deal with Big Hit Entertainment, BTS’ label, to create bags and backpacks with band members name and photos on it.
Choi’s deal with Big Hit Entertainment included him to invite the band, with the agency’s agreement, to a promotional even for his products. This was supposed to be a one time promotional event. He didn’t have the right to host other meet and greets or events with the band.
But Choi couldn’t keep up with his monthly royalty payments to the agency. The royalty payments allow Choi’s clothing manufacturer to own the exclusive rights at producing official BTS backpacks.
His monthly royalty payments with roughly $290,000 a month. But Choi was already over $1,700,000 in debt.
Choi’s building debt is what drove him to start a BTS meet and greet scam.
Thank goodness he got caught before more companies and fans lost thousands of dollars.


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Phishing attack promises a free version of Windows 8
On Friday, Microsoft launched Windows 8 to consumers.
Today, the experts at SophosLabs have intercepted a phishing attack which plays upon interest in the new operating system.
Story added 29. October 2012, content source with full text you can find at link above.


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Chevrolet has made ordering a Domino's Pizza possible from behind the wheel.
The brand said on Friday a Domino's Pizza app joins a host of other apps as part of the GM Marketplace system, which is built into most 2017 and newer Chevy vehicles. Marketplace debuted in Dec. 2017 and the automaker periodically approves new apps. For Domino's Pizza lovers, it will make ordering their favorite pie mighty simple.
Owners will need to set up a Domino's Pizza Profile, if they haven't already. The profile includes a delivery address, preferred store, payment method, and the possibility of a saved order for the Easy Order function. The Domino's in-car app is not connected to an owner's mobile phone, which makes the system truly independent. With preferences set in the GM Marketplace app, drivers can place an order for pick-up or delivery from the car. Marketplace works to make functions easy with as few taps on the screen as possible.
Don't look to customize a pizza from the touchscreen. Instead, the system keeps track of saved or favorite orders to make them available to order through the touchscreen.
Domino's debuted its in-car app this past March and said General Motors and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles would be the first two companies to take advantage of it.
The pizza company's debut on GM Marketplace follows Dunkin' Donuts, Applebees, and other restaurants. Drivers can place their favorite coffee order from the car and even reserve a table ahead of time at some restaurants included in the system. Marketplace also debuted an in-car payment system for Shell gasoline stations in Chevrolet vehicles, too.
Owners of properly equipped 2017 and newer Chevy models can now take advantage of Marketplace, and the Domino's ap.


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- House and Senate negotiators reach two-year budget deal
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- Ron Paul on son Rand: ‘I think he probably will’ run for president
- Cold War heats up again in the Arctic: Russian airfield reactivated after 20 years
- 6-year-old boy suspended for sexual harassment over kiss
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PURSER: Celebrating the repeal of Prohibition
December marks turning back of regrettable law
From office parties to family gatherings, the special celebrations of the holiday season are upon us. The month of December gives Americans reason to celebrate the anniversary of the repeal of Prohibition. Americans have one more reason to celebrate: We enjoy a more extensive beer selection than any other country, with 13,000 labels of beer.
From 1920 to 1933, the United States undertook an ultimately failed, 13-year experiment -- the national ban on alcohol -- that resulted in increased crime, widespread abuse and a decreased respect for the rule of law. In December 1933, the 21st Amendment was ratified, ending Prohibition. In its place, a state-based regulatory system was created to maintain localized, flexible controls to ensure a safe, efficient and orderly marketplace for alcoholic beverages.
Today, the American system creates new businesses, supports hundreds of thousands of quality jobs and generates robust interbrand competition, which means consumers have incredible selection when they walk down the beer aisle or visit their local pub. This system enables an entrepreneurial brewer to start a new business and work with a distributor to reach retailers and build brands. Consumers from coast to coast can buy a beer of their choosing, with nearly unlimited options. It's why you can order a California craft beer from a menu in Illinois, see a neon sign light up a Tennessee restaurant promoting a Vermont brewery, or see a tap handle from Pennsylvania in a Texas bar. Within this system, iconic brands, imports from around the world and fast-emerging American craft labels are able to reach a wide network of retailers and ultimately customers.
It's hard to find another system in the United States that has seen such growth and job creation over the past three decades. During the 1980s, fewer than 50 independent breweries were operating, and today there are more than 2,000 brewers in the United States. The beer industry's rapid growth has fostered tremendous innovation and creativity, and consumers benefit from a wide selection of beer suitable for every occasion and season.
In addition to helping new businesses grow, today's system gives each state the ability to enact and enforce alcohol laws consistent with the desires of its citizens. People in Nevada feel very differently about alcohol than people in Utah, for example. The state-based regulatory system allows each state the flexibility to deal with local needs, concerns and circumstances. States continue to have the authority to make and change their own alcohol laws to adapt to local needs.
As Americans come together over the holidays and toast the coming year, beer distributors in local communities across the country are honored to play a part in delivering choice, variety and value to these cherished festivities. Cheers!
Craig A. Purser is president of the National Beer Wholesalers Association.
Correction: The original subhead incorrectly referred to Prohibition as an unconstitutional law. The Washington Times regrets introducing the error into Mr. Purser's article.
By Donald Lambro
Growth spikes are little more than trend-free anomalies
Get Breaking Alerts
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Russia is having an economic downturn, and Apple is pulling out of the country.
The ruble, Russia’s currency, went as low as 80 per dollar today, prompting Apple to stop all online sales in Russia, according to Bloomberg.
“Our online store in Russia is currently unavailable while we review pricing,â€ said Alan Hely, a spokesman for Apple. “We apologize to customers for any inconvenience.â€
Sales in Russia from Apple are mostly handled online. There is no Apple-owned retail store in the country.
This isn’t the first time Apple has adjusted its business to deal with the ruble’s value.
The iPhone 6, Apple’s newest smartphone, was originally 31,990 rubles (around $522), prompting people from nearby countries to purchase their iPhones in Russia. The price was increased to 39,990 rubles.
The reason? A fall in oil prices, in conjunction with Russia’s growing financial issues.
Apple sold over 1.5 million iPhones in Russia, according to IDC.


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How do we protect our kids’ data and privacy in an increasingly online world? Tech officials claim the responsibility lies with parents. Parents, in turn, say they are often overwhelmed or unaware of the hundreds of ways their children’s privacy and data can be breached.
As federal regulators begin to crack down on tech companies such as YouTube, that have accessed and shared data from underage users, California State University, Northridge marketing professor Kristen Walker found one solution that lies in empowering children to protect their data and privacy online.
“There is no easy answer to the question of how we protect our kids’ data and privacy online,” said Walker, who teaches in CSUN’s David Nazarian College of Business and Economics. “But there are things that we can do to empower our kids and educate them into taking those steps — steps we all should be taking — to ensure that they don’t share information inadvertently, or leave themselves vulnerable while they are online or using an app on their phone.
“The key is education,” she continued. “But, like a lot of lessons, if you make it too hard, they aren’t going to pay attention.”
Walker co-authored with Marquette University marketing professor Craig Andrews and Villanova University marketing professor Jeremy Kees the article, “Children and Online Privacy Protection: Empowerment from Cognitive Defense Strategies,” recently published in the Journal of Public Policy and Marketing. It highlights their research that shows once children become aware of how vulnerable their data and private information is, they are more likely to take precautionary measures.
Walker and her colleagues used a video and a questionnaire that she, fellow CSUN marketing professor Tina Kiesler and CSUN marketing students created in 2016 for a campaign by a Digital Trust Foundation grant to help young people and their parents learn how to safeguard their privacy online. Walker and her fellow researchers wanted to see if just a little education about online privacy perils would change the behaviors of children in the age-group categories: age 6-7; 8-12 and 13-15.
“The reality is, it’s very hard to set boundaries around online interactions,” Walker said. “But, as our paper indicates, once kids are aware of what happens to their information when they go online, they are more willing and able to put constraints and boundaries on the information that they are willing to share online.”
The children were divided into three groups in each age category. One group was shown a short educational video, “Be A Smart Cookie,” which highlighted online privacy perils. A second group was given a quiz with elaborate feedback based directly on the video. The feedback not only told the children whether their answers were correct, but also explained why. The third group, the control group, was not given warnings about the dangers to their online personal information.
“The quiz with feedback was more effective than the educational video, and the video was better than the control group in influencing online safety beliefs,” Walker said, adding that the findings could have policy implications.
“For years, federal, state and self-regulatory agencies, as well as companies providing websites and online services, have struggled with efforts to protect children online and their personal information,” Walker said. “But these efforts still focus on parental consent and protecting or controlling the access to information gathered by companies about and from children online. Our findings indicate that using cognitive defense strategies, such as a simple quiz with feedback or an educational video, can help empower children to protect themselves online.”
Walker noted that the study examined whether digital literacy knowledge was important for online safety, and found that the quiz, with its elaborate feedback, was more helpful for positively affecting children’s and teens online safety beliefs.
“Federal agency privacy guidelines could be offered to nudge online companies to expand online safety quizzes with feedback for children and teens in building their online safety and privacy knowledge and beliefs,” she said.
She pointed out that the current self-regulatory effort among leading advertising organizations focuses on data protection solutions, “not addressing children’s privacy knowledge specifically at this point.”
Walker noted that most apps and some online sites have “terms and agreements” that users have to “agree” to before being able to use them.
“Why couldn’t something like an elaborate quiz or the video with information about privacy safeguards be added before one can use an app or a website?” she said.
Walker pointed to the warning her daughter’s high school science teacher makes before every class involving experiments using Bunsen burners.
“Sometimes, when kids are around fire, they just think it’s cool. They don’t think about the dangers involved,” Walker said. “The fact remains, they are still developing. That’s why they are a vulnerable population and, sometimes, they need specific guidance.
“Using technology — from websites to apps on our phone — is becoming so ubiquitous in our society,” she continued. “You can order from the local fast-food restaurant and have it delivered to your home with an app. You can learn how to do just about anything by clicking on a YouTube video or searching online. We’re acting without thinking about the consequences — about what happens to our data, our personal information and, if the app or online site taps into our contacts, the personal information of our family and friends. And when we act without thinking, especially when it comes to our children, that means you are likely to run into problems later.
“Don’t forget, once this information is out there, it is out there forever, where anybody can access it with the right tools or simply buy it.”
Walker presented the paper in July at the Federal Trade Commission’s PrivacyCon 2019, an event that brings together a diverse group of stakeholders, including researchers, academics, industry representatives, consumer advocates and government regulators to discuss the latest research and trends related to consumer privacy and data security.
Policymakers were pleased to see research that provides potential solutions to the growing problem of children’s online privacy protection, Walker said.
During her panel presentation, Walker told the audience that “if the government does not take action now, it will lead to long-term problems and negative implications for consumers that will ultimately be far harder to solve.”


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As part of this and in the light of Veganuary, Uswitch have researched and calculated the effectiveness of going Vegan and its environmental impact on the planet.
The UK Net Zero pledge has a long way to go, with the Government pledging to hit its target for 2050. Interestingly diet is one of the UK's larger contributing factors when it comes to Co2 production, with an estimated 91mt created by diet alone - 20% of the countries' overall output. This is made up of a mixture of importing, farming and transport in the sector. Hitting a Net zero carbon would mean that overall the UK would have to significantly reduce its Co2 footprint, as well as offset anything that is produced.
Based on survey results, if meat eating Brit’s partook in Veganuary this year (31 days of going vegan) then they would collectively save 4.87 billion kgs of CO2 (4,870 tonnes) this year alone:
That's around 541,100 flying hours on a Boeing 737-400 (164 passengers on board cruising at 780km/hr).
More than 582,000 world wide signed up to Veganuary in 2021, compared with 400,350 in 2020. Data also states that the UK has the most amount of sign ups worldwide (compared with USA - second, India - third, Germany - 4th and Argentina - 5th)*.
Surprisingly, two-thirds of Brit's with New Year resolutions haven't considered reducing their CO2 footprint, and for the third of those who do, nearly half are students (45%). Our recent survey showed that almost half of the UK population are currently unaware that going vegan could reduce their carbon footprint.
For those who had tried going vegan in the past, over half (54%) only managed to last up to two weeks.
To add further context to our research and identify how an individual or household could make a difference, we created the Carbon Offsetting Calculator, which asks simple lifestyle questions related to transport, home appliances and communication. This calculator generates a summary which shows where the most CO2 is produced and how going vegan could help offset bad habits.
Survey results further highlighted that 98% of Brits think they know how to reduce their carbon footprint, with only 34% actually actively attempting to do so.
The data showed that those who were not attempting to reduce their carbon footprint didn't because they were not prepared to use less household appliances, heating, shorter showers/ less baths, change their diet, driving less and fly less.
By just partaking in Veganuary, the UK could collectively save around 4,870 tonnes of CO2.Uswitch decided to look at the bigger picture, and work out just how much CO2 the UK could save on average from swapping to a meat free or vegan diet for a year.
Our survey results showed that 86% of participants eat meat or fish, 11% are vegetarian and 3% are vegan. When we apply these percentages to the UK population (66.65 million), on average this means 57.31million of us eat meat or fish as part of our diet.
Looking at the meat/fish eaters, they produce just over 117.4 billion kgs (117.4 million tonnes) of CO2 a year purely from their diet alone.
If all the meat/fish eaters in the UK switched to a vegetarian diet for a year, they would save around 37.9 billion kgs (37,900 tonnes) of CO2. So what does this equate to exactly?
The average energy consumption of 4,373 UK homes for a year.
Or 85,315,881 miles driven by an average car on the road, which is equal to driving around the world 3426 times (point to point).
It would take planting 568,519 tree seedlings and letting them grow for 10 years to be able to offset this.
If all the meat/fish eaters in the UK switched to a vegan diet for a year, they would save around 57.1 billion kgs (57,100 tonnes) of CO2. So what does this equate to exactly?
The average energy consumption of 5,977 UK homes for a year.
Or driving 128,536,591 miles by an average car, which is equal to driving around the world 5170 times (point to point).
It would take planting 856,528 tree seedlings and letting them grow for 10 years to be able to offset this.
These shocking statistics are proof that going vegan,- even for just a few days a week - could make a huge difference to the planet.
It’s evident that going vegan isn’t just about the animals anymore, though their safety is an added benefit of reducing animal product consumption, going vegan can actually help reverse the effects of climate change by significantly reducing the world’s CO2 production.
Siobhan Dolan from leading Vegan charity VIVA!, comments:
"Over the last ten years, a vegan revolution has been gathering pace and now it couldn’t be easier to be vegan. Supermarkets, pubs, cafes and restaurants are falling over themselves to get the widest range of vegan products. This is great news as it’s now easy to shop, eat and live vegan wherever you are.
Animal farming is at the heart of the climate crisis. The impact of eating animal products reaches far beyond the cow that you’re eating. It is contributing to the world’s sixth mass extinction and hurtling us towards a catastrophic temperature rise of up to 5°C by the end of this century.
If we are going to avert an environmental disaster, we have to take urgent action and drastically reduce our dairy and meat consumption. A global switch to a vegan diet could save eight million lives by 2050 reducing greenhouse gas emissions by two thirds. Using energy efficient light bulbs, or switching to an electric car, just won’t cut it if you continue tucking into steak and eating burgers.
Going vegan is the single biggest thing you can do to cut down your environmental impact. Start your journey today."
Common reasons for not wanting to go vegan include deeming a vegan diet ‘too unhealthy’, with a large proportion of respondents stating they would not go vegan due to the stigma associated with going vegan and what their friends and family might think.
Common reasons for trying veganism from those who said they would give it a go were:
Animal cruelty (33%)
Weight loss (30%)
To reduce their carbon footprint (22%)
Because their partner is vegan (12%)
Herefordshire has the highest amount of vegans compared to other regions in the UK (25%).
Those working in arts and culture are most likely to be vegan, whereas those working in HR, legal and travel industries are least likely to be vegan.
Will Owen energy expert at Uswitch comments:
"Climate change is a harsh reality for many. Although making the more obvious changes such as driving less, using less household appliances and recycling are all part of reducing our carbon footprint, something as simple as adapting our diets also has a huge impact on climate change.
If going strict vegan isn't for you, then having a few vegan diet days a week can still make a huge impact on reducing your carbon footprint. It's about thinking outside the box when it comes to food we buy and eat, thinking about where it comes from, how it's packaged and who or what might have suffered for it to make the journey to our plates.
The carbon off-setting tool is a great way to highlight which areas of your habits you can adjust in order to live a more sustainable lifestyle, and it will also tell you how long you need to go vegan for should you wish to off-set it instead."
*According to Veganuary.com


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By FWi staff
INCREASED farmer selling last week has eased with little trading seen over this week. Traders believe this reluctance will now continue until Christmas.
Some nearby crusher demand was reported during last week, although interest in forward positions was limited, since large volumes are expected in the new year, noted the Home-Grown Cereals Authority in its weekly report.
Oilseed prices have remained stable over the week, with the high value of the Pound preventing prices from rising further from their recent gains.
Spot ex-farm values inched up to about £106.98/t ex-farm, while the price variation in December deliveries has increased. East Anglia is offering £114.50/t, Liverpool £117.50/t and Erith £116.50/t.
Deliveries made to Scottish ports are behind at £108/t.
EU values were supported by from a recent Indian purchase of EU rape oil.
“However, the quantity sold was too small to significantly reduce the large oil stocks currently stored in Rotterdam,” noted the HGCA.


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Full profile →'">
The author is a Forbes contributor. The opinions expressed are those of the writer.
The Super Bowl, between the Denver Broncos and Carolina Panthers, will continue its dominance as the world's most valuable sporting event brand by generating at least $620 million in revenue. My calculations include media advertising, licensing and sponsorships, tickets (excluding the giveaways by the league) and concessions, and the Pepsi halftime show.


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Jan. 19, 2022 (BRUSSELS) — As the European Parliament considers proposals to ban targeted advertising, a new survey shows that 93% of European small business leaders have embraced data-driven advertising that enables advertisers to reach recipients based on products and services that interest them, 76% percent called targeted ads valuable and 34% say they are critical to their business.
“Targeted advertising is one of the most important small business innovations of the past twenty years,” said Brandon Mitchener of the Connected Commerce Council. “It allows even the smallest firms to find niche audiences for their products, and has been a pandemic lifeline for SMEs across Europe. Advertisers understand privacy concerns and do not want to alienate their customers, which is why targeted ads are only utilized with consumers who approve them under GDPR. It is remarkable that some Members of the European Parliament, notwithstanding consumer approvals, are still relentlessly advocating against targeted ads that deliver clear and unrebutted consumer and small business benefits.”
3C commissioned the survey of 1,380 European small business owners and decision-makers to better understand their use of targeted ads run through platforms such as Facebook, Google, Instagram, and YouTube. Members of the European Parliament have repeatedly proposed amendments to the Digital Services Act (DSA) that would ban targeted advertising. They have also sought alternative legislative paths to limit or prohibit targeted advertising, by amending the Digital Markets Act (DMA).
The report’s key findings on the importance of targeted ads to small businesses and their benefits include:
- 93% of EU SME leaders report that data-driven targeted ads are useful to running their business
- 76% say they are valuable and important
- 34% say they are critical
- “Behavioral” targeting of consumers including:
- 39% use them because they target customers in very specific ways
- 39% use them because they allow their business to expand beyond their immediate area
- 36% use them because they allow targeting some products to some customers and different products to different customers
- 40% use targeted ads because they are cost-effective
- 34% believe they could not operate without targeted advertising
- 24% say targeted ads are among the most important digital tools they use
“As a small business owner and business coach for women entrepreneurs, I know the value of targeted advertising,” said Joana Beldade from Portugal, founder of the Digital Women Academy. “For very little cost, targeted ads allow small businesses to choose who sees ads based on their likes, activities, or location. No other form of advertising has the same impact and return on investment.”
This online survey of 1,380 decision-makers at small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) was conducted by Catalyst Research. The survey was fielded from Dec. 27, 2021 to Jan. 10, 2022, and has a margin of error of +/-2.6%.