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In a rapidly evolving digital world, the last week marked a monumental stride in the domain of Artificial Intelligence (AI). The realm witnessed remarkable developments from tech giants and burgeoning startups alike, expanding the horizons of what’s conceivable with AI.
OpenAI’s Multimodal Milestone
OpenAI made waves by unveiling multimodal capabilities for ChatGPT. This groundbreaking feature empowers the chatbot to comprehend images, interpret speech, and engage users vocally. Furthermore, in a bid to craft the “iPhone of AI,” OpenAI, under the aegis of Sam Altman and Jony Ive, is reportedly in discussions with SoftBank, eyeing a significant investment to propel their ambitious vision. The week also saw the re-introduction of browsing abilities in ChatGPT, broadening its scope to fetch real-time information from the web.
The recently unveiled multimodal capabilities of ChatGPT by OpenAI mark a pivotal advancement, heralding a more intuitive user interaction. Now, users can engage in voice dialogues or utilize images to communicate with ChatGPT, facilitating a broad spectrum of practical applications like travel or culinary inquiries. The rollout initially targets Plus and Enterprise users, with wider access anticipated soon. The underlying technology leverages sophisticated models like GPT-3.5 and GPT-4, amalgamating image understanding and text-to-speech innovations to deliver a seamless user experience1.
The ambition of OpenAI
The ambitious alliance between OpenAI, Sir Jony Ive, and SoftBank envisages crafting a groundbreaking AI device reminiscent of the iPhone’s iconic status. Spearheaded by Sam Altman of OpenAI, the collaboration involves brainstorming sessions with Jony Ive’s design firm, LoveFrom. Under CEO Masayoshi Son, SoftBank contemplates a substantial investment, exceeding $1 billion, to fuel this venture. Although a formal accord is yet to materialize, the tech realm is ripe with anticipation for a transformative consumer electronic device stemming from the synergy of OpenAI’s tech acumen, Ive’s design ingenuity, and SoftBank’s substantial resources1.
OpenAI reintroduced browsing capabilities to ChatGPT, enabling it to fetch real-time information from the web, citing “current and authoritative” sources in responses. This feature, dubbed ‘Browse with Bing,’ is initially available to Plus and Enterprise subscribers, with a wider release planned for the near future. This move eliminates ChatGPT’s previous limitation of being confined to pre-September 2021 data, offering users a dynamic, updated information retrieval system.
OpenAI, steered by Sam Altman, is reportedly in discussions to raise funds at an eye-popping valuation of $80-$90 billion, a significant leap from its earlier valuation. This sky-high valuation underscores the commercial potential and the groundbreaking advancements spearheaded by OpenAI in the AI domain. The valuation is seen in the backdrop of potential share sales, showcasing investor confidence in OpenAI’s trajectory. The valuation highlights the remarkable growth of OpenAI and reflects the burgeoning significance and commercial appeal of AI technologies in the contemporary tech landscape.
Meta’s AI Odyssey
Meta’s voyage into the AI cosmos took a giant leap with a series of AI integrations across its products. From introducing a new /imagined feature for image creation to crafting conversational AI characters, Meta is weaving AI into the fabric of its digital ecosystem. The grand collaboration with Raybans to forge smart glasses embellished with Meta AI accentuates Meta’s vision of an AI-augmented reality.
Meta is making significant strides in the AI domain, as evidenced by its recent launch of a range of generative AI products aimed at integrating seamlessly into the Meta ecosystem. These AI advancements include a new assistant that users can interact with akin to a human, spanning across Meta-owned platforms like WhatsApp, Messenger, and Instagram and soon extending to Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses and Quest 3. This assistant is underpinned by a custom model that leverages technology from Llama 2 alongside Meta’s latest ample language model research. These strides underscore Meta’s vision of making generative AI more accessible, thereby driving a more intuitive and enriched user experience across its platforms and devices.
Amazon’s AI Ascent
Busting skeptics, Amazon revealed plans to infuse a whopping $4 billion for a minority stake in Anthropic, a noteworthy player in the AI domain. This move, alongside unveiling new products and integrations via AWS, underscores Amazon’s earnest endeavor to elevate generative AI’s accessibility and prowess.
Amazon’s bold move of investing up to $4 billion in Anthropic, a solid rival to OpenAI, signifies a strategic step toward pioneering safe and highly controllable AI models. This investment goes beyond mere technological display, addressing growing customer demand. The collaboration with Anthropic amplifies Amazon’s stance in the AI realm. It potentially sets new industry benchmarks for AI safety and performance across diverse sectors, challenging other tech giants in the AI market1.
AWS’s recent product unveilings and integrations underline a focused approach to making generative AI more accessible. By launching the Amazon Bedrock AI service, AWS aims to facilitate the deployment of generative AI models, leveraging Anthropic’s Claude chatbot and Meta’s Llama 2 model. These developments are seen as a response to the growing demand for AI-powered solutions, driving AWS further into the AI domain and expanding its offerings to cater to a wide range of enterprise-level AI applications.
Tesla’s Optimus Breakthrough
The Tesla’s humanoid robot, Optimus, showcased its ability to sort objects autonomously, hinting at a future where Tesla’s identity transcends automotive boundaries, venturing into the robotic realm.
Tesla’s humanoid robot, Optimus, has showcased remarkable advancement by autonomously sorting objects and demonstrating yoga moves. This development highlights Tesla’s foray into robotics, gradually shifting public perception from viewing Tesla merely as a car company. The ability of Optimus to handle real-world tasks autonomously sets the stage for Tesla’s broader ambitions in robotics, aligning with its mission to address labor-intensive tasks and improve human-robot interaction.
French AI Vanguard – Mistral
Mistral AI, a French startup, launched its robust language model 7B, inviting innovators to harness its potential via an open-source license. Following a historic funding round, this initiative underscores Mistral’s commitment to democratizing AI.
Mistral AI, a French startup, has launched its first large language model named 7B, making waves in the AI community. This move comes after a record-setting $118 million funding round, emphasizing Mistral’s mission to make AI useful with public data. By offering 7B under an open-source license, Mistral AI encourages developers to build upon and utilize this model, showcasing a commitment to democratize AI and foster innovation.
Perplexity’s Mobile Mastery
Perplexity unveiled revamped mobile applications, promising a seamless user experience across platforms, embodying the ethos of continual innovation.
Perplexity has unveiled revamped mobile apps for both iOS and Android platforms, aiming to eliminate the lag between web and mobile experiences. This update signifies Perplexity’s continuous effort to enhance user experience across different platforms, meeting the evolving needs of its user base. The Perplexity team’s dedication to shipping improvements showcases a robust approach to delivering a seamless user experience, ensuring that the mobile apps remain in sync with their web counterparts.
Pika Labs and the Illusion Trend
Pika Labs joined the illusion bandwagon by launching an ‘encrypt text’ feature, a testament to the dynamic innovation encapsulating the AI sphere.
The Pika Labs recently unveiled an “encrypt” feature, allowing users to encrypt text messages or images within videos through the Pika Discord Bot. Users can encrypt a text message of up to 20 characters into their videos, with various inputs and optional parameters to customize the appearance of the encrypted text, such as font and text size. This feature provides a creative and fun way for users to embed messages or images subtly within their videos, adding a layer of interaction and engagement to their creations. 1.
Microsoft’s Windows 11 AI Amalgam
The much-anticipated rollout of Windows 11 brought along an AI’ Copilot’ assistant, amalgamating AI with core functionalities and heralding a new era of intuitive computing.
Microsoft’s highly anticipated Windows 11 updates have begun rolling out, bringing an AI’ Copilot’ assistant. This AI assistant and significant feature upgrades to core applications are geared to enhance user interaction and productivity. The AI’ Copilot’ assistant exemplifies Microsoft’s initiative to integrate AI seamlessly into the user experience, driving a new era of intuitive computing.
Whoop’s AI Coach
With the introduction of an ‘AI Coach’ feature powered by ChatGPT, Whoop has taken a quantum leap in delivering personalized insights for optimizing performance and revolutionizing the fitness tech landscape.
Fitness tracker Whoop has introduced an ‘AI Coach’ feature, powered by ChatGPT, to provide personalized insights and training plans based on the data from its wearables. This innovative feature transforms the way users optimize their performance, offering customized recommendations for a more tailored fitness journey. Whoop aims to elevate the user experience by leveraging AI, making fitness guidance more precise and personalized.
CIA’s AI Foray
The CIA’s endeavor to create a ChatGPT-style AI tool underpins the escalating AI rivalry on the geopolitical stage, emphasizing AI’s critical role in modern intelligence operations.
The CIA is reportedly crafting an AI tool akin to ChatGPT to sift through publicly available data for intelligence clues. This move reflects the broader geopolitical race in AI capabilities, positioning the CIA in a competitive stance against other global players, particularly China. The ChatGPT-style chatbot is anticipated to enhance intelligence gathering, underlining the rising importance of AI in modern intelligence operations.
Google’s Bard AI Hiccup
Despite a minor setback with Bard AI, Google’s endeavors in AI continue to carve out a future where AI seamlessly intertwines with daily digital interactions.
Google faced backlash as it was discovered that Bard chat transcripts were unintentionally indexed and appeared in search results, raising privacy concerns. The company confirmed this mishap and is working on removing these transcripts from search results. Users are advised to exercise caution when sharing sensitive information with AI chatbots. 1.
Zapier unveiled Canvas, an AI-driven flowchart tool designed to streamline business processes, epitomizing the continual integration of AI in enhancing operational efficiency.
Zapier has launched Canvas, an AI-powered flowchart tool designed to aid users in planning and diagramming their business-critical processes. This tool epitomizes how AI can streamline operational workflows, offering a visual representation of techniques to help users identify bottlenecks, optimize operations, and enhance overall efficiency.
The AI realm is throbbing with promise in a week brimming with AI innovations, from OpenAI’s multimodal marvel to Meta’s AI odyssey and Amazon’s strategic gambit in Anthropic. These developments epitomize the burgeoning prowess of AI and herald a future where AI intertwines with every facet of our digital existence. As tech behemoths and burgeoning startups race to harness AI’s boundless potential, we stand on the cusp of a new digital epoch, one where the fusion of human ingenuity and artificial intelligence will drive an era of unprecedented technological renaissance.


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Russia's war against Ukraine has been going on for over a year now, and there are still no sanctions in place in the EU against Russian diamonds. But that could soon change, as Rapaport reports.
In the future, the G7 countries could require companies to prove that their diamonds were not originally mined in Russian mines.
The background to this is that the Russian company Alrosa is the world's largest diamond producer, accounting for around one third of all rough diamonds mined. Since 33% of the company belongs to the Russian Federation, it can be assumed that the revenues from the diamond trade are helping to finance the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine.
Some countries, such as the U.S., have sanctioned Russian diamonds some time ago, but there are certain difficulties in implementation. Rapaport reported back in mid-March on the problem that the principle of "substantial transformation" applies to diamonds. This means that if a rough diamond undergoes substantial transformation in a country other than its country of origin that increases its value, i.e., this includes cutting and polishing, then from now on the country of further processing will be considered the country of origin. A rough diamond originating in Russia that is cut and polished in India can therefore be resold as "made in India" and thus end up in international markets such as the USA. As a result, many companies have difficulty proving to their customers that their diamonds did not originally come from Russia.
In mid-May, the heads of state and government of the G7 countries, which include the EU as the 8th unofficial member, plan to meet for a summit. By then, a plan is already to be worked out on how to prevent diamonds of Russian origin from entering the Western market, according to James O'Brien, head of the U.S. Office of Sanctions Coordination.
Important questions that need to be clarified are, in particular, above which stone size the sanctions should apply, how the measures can be reliably enforced, and how long to wait for Russian diamonds already on the market to disappear from the system.
At DIAVON, we stand for transparency along the entire value chain. We are therefore pleased that the G7 countries want to do something about the trade in Russian diamonds, which is difficult to trace. We hope that targeted measures can be worked out to ensure that no Russian diamonds enter the Western market undetected, thus indirectly helping to finance the Russian war against Ukraine. DIAVON offers with the MANUFAKTURDIAMANTs a 100% conflict-free alternative to the established mined diamonds. In the industry, the 4 C's have long been used to assess the quality of a diamond. However, we are setting new quality standards by committing to 6 C's. These include Cut, Carat, Clarity and Color as well as Climateneutral and Conflictfree. Please read more about our quality standards here.
Sources: Article "The Industry’s Russia Crisis: Formulating Sanctions" in Rapaport from March 16 2023
Article "Diamond Importers Might Have to Declare Russian Origin" in Rapaport from March 22 2023
Image: Adobe Stock | 344083008

domain: news


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The consultancy has worked with Tommy Hilfiger since 2004, and is retained by the brand to create the store interiors worldwide, including the UK flagship store in London’s Brompton Road, which opened late last year.
According to the consultancy, the store’s exterior is influenced by architect Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater house.
Nigel Collett, RPA: Vision chief executive, says, ‘Tommy regards the stores as a 3D extension of the brand. It’s retail theatre – we’re trying to create key phrases to amplify the ideas of American college, preppy and cheeky wit.’
The three-floor store uses a unique interiors concept that references other flagships in elements such as the taxidermy visual merchandise, creating an ‘umbrella concept’, according to Collett.
The Omotesando stores features campus league signage; wrought iron staircases, inspired by old elevator gates; crayon fixtures to highlight ‘pop colours’ and caged garden-like installations.
Collett says, ‘With each location we try to create a unique experience, but over the last 18 months there’s been a re-referencing back to the heritage of the brand to create a stronger character for the stores.’


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Most cars on the market today cost less than a grand to buy, but the average car is still expensive by modern standards.
In the United States, the average cost of a new car is about $27,000, according to Edmunds.
In China, where the average price is about 2,000 yuan ($30), the average is about 15,000.
The car industry is a multi-billion dollar industry, and there’s a growing body of research showing that buying a brand-new car can cost up to 30% more than buying an older car.
But how much does a brand New car cost in China?
According to the latest research, it’s more like 20%.
The study, published by The Economist, found that average prices for new luxury cars in China, including the Toyota Yaris, BMW 5 Series, Mercedes-Benz S-Class, Mercedes C-Class and Audi A3 have risen by more than 30% since 2012.
That’s a big jump compared to the global average, but it’s a far cry from the 20% that some experts have predicted.
According to Edmund’s latest study, the global brand-name market is worth about $1.6 trillion, and that includes carmakers that make luxury vehicles.
This means the average luxury car in China is worth around $20,000 and is cheaper than the average brand-New car, according the study.
The cheapest luxury car to buy in China today is a Toyota Yari.
It costs just $23,999.
But it’s not cheap, either.
That car, which is made by Toyota, starts at $39,995.
This is the car that the US car market is going to have to replace as the brand new car market in China will have to follow.
In the US, the cheapest brand-named car is the BMW 5 series.
That one starts at just $35,999, which would be cheaper than buying the BMW Yaris.
The car also comes with a three-year, $45,000 warranty.
So if you bought the BMWs and Yaris a few years ago, you’ll get some sort of credit for buying a car from BMW.
In China, the brand-Name is worth roughly 1.4 trillion yuan ($24 trillion).
This means that a brand car costs roughly 20% more in China than a brand brand-less car.
In a study published by the China Academy of Engineering in 2016, a team of engineers from the university analyzed data on more than 1.8 million cars from China’s top six car brands.
The researchers discovered that the average selling price for a brand of car in the country was $23.6 million.
This was more than double the average pricing for a comparable luxury car, and the cheapest luxury cars were also more expensive than the cheapest premium models.
According the study, it means that the Chinese car market has “increased by 40% in size and increased by 70% in number since 2012.”
This is a significant jump compared with the global market, where luxury cars are now the majority of cars sold.


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Vote for spicy sauce company, started in Manor Park garden shed, as it reaches national business competition final
- Credit: Archant
Our newspaper is urging readers to vote for a father and son, who started producing a spicy chilli sauce from the family’s garden shed in Manor Park.
It comes after Hardev Singh, 59, and his son Kuldip, 31, have reached the final of a start-up business competition, run by our newspaper’s regional organisation, the Newspaper Society.
The pair were among hundreds of entries from across the country and the only entry from London to reach the final of the Local Business Accelerators campaign.
Kuldip, who is the company’s CEO, has already received business mentoring from successful businessman Lance Forman, who runs a salmon smokery on Fish Island overlooking the Olympic Stadium, after reaching the local heat of the competition through the Newham Recorder.
The Singh family were already selling their Mr Singh’s sauces to supermarkets in the UK, other parts of Europe and South Africa. But with the help of Mr Forman and his contacts they have now signed a deal to deliver their spicy sauces to an upmarket delicatessen chain in New York, which could mark the beginning of them conquering the American market.
You may also want to watch:
The fifteen national finalists are now competing to win a year’s business support from TV’s Dragon’s Den panellist Deborah Meaden, the campaign’s national ambassador. Readers can watch online videos of the stories behind each individual businesses before casting their votes, as part of The People’s Choice.
The winner of The People’s Choice will be announced at the LBA Grand Final on October 15, along with the overall LBA winner as decided by a judging panel of business experts led by Deborah Meaden.
- 1 Things to do in east London this weekend (August 7-8)
- 2 Bus crashes into lamp post in Stratford
- 3 Man, 19, arrested in Newham during proactive police patrol
- 4 Junior Jah: Police release image of stolen car used in Custom House fatal attack
- 5 Cannabis factory discovered by firefighters tackling blaze in Upton Park
- 6 East Ham cannabis farm raided by police
- 7 Start Me Up: Rolling Stones legend Ronnie Wood opens studio in Canning Town for budding musicians
- 8 Leyton Orient could be without key forwards for season opener at Salford
- 9 'Beautiful' meadow blossoms at Wanstead Flats a year after Covid-19 mortuary removed
- 10 Excess death rates in Newham among highest in England and Wales, figures show
Please note that both are completely separate awards and the online vote will only count towards deciding which business wins The People’s Choice, not the overall winner.
To watch the videos and vote follow the link on the right hand side of this story.


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The Buick Avista is all about the style and performance of great Buicks of the past. Now we still don't know if they're going to make the Avista, but it's based on a possible relationship with the Chevy Camaro. The Avista concept has a twin-turbo V6, and it makes 400 hp churned out
[00:00:30] through the rear wheels.
Now speaking of performance coupes, the Lexus LC 500 could be the brand's next great sports car. We saw the concept nearly four years ago and we like this production car because it looks just like the concept, maybe even better. That doesn't happen very much. Now 0-60 comes in 4.5 seconds and with a 5.0L V8, we just can't wait to get behind the wheel.
Now the Pacifica. That's probably the single most important vehicle at the show. It has the potential of being
[00:01:00] the centerpiece for Chrysler for years, maybe decades. Now, there's plenty of modern tech and amenities, but the Pacifica stays true to the purpose of a traditional minivan. There's good looking touch screens and improved stow-and-go features. The most exciting thing might be the available hybrid option. This gets 30 miles on electricity and it can recharge in two hours. That makes it one of the most practical hybrids I think we've ever seen.
Also this week, the federal Government announced that it plans
[00:01:30] to invest $4 billion in autonomous testing over the next decade. It also will remove regulatory hurdles that should speed up the adoption of this groundbreaking technology.
Those are the highlights from the week that was. Be sure to come back this Saturday for my full recap where I'll have a deeper look at what the auto show here in Detroit means to the rest of the industry for the coming year. For Autoblog, I'm Greg Migliore.
Autoblog Minute is a short-form video news series reporting on all things automotive. Each segment offers a quick and clear picture of what's happening in the automotive industry from the perspective of Autoblog's expert editorial staff, auto executives, and industry professionals.


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Comcast Business has made Houston the latest target for its cloud-based unified communications (UC) services set in a bid to win SMBs away from regional incumbent AT&T.
Kris Rinne, Senior VP of Network Technologies for AT&T Labs, has been named as ATIS' new chair of its board of directors.
AT&T has decided to drop a $1.15 million suit against Salem, Mass. business owner Michael Smith, a victim of a phone hacking scheme.
AT&T added several new features to apps it has developed for Apple's iPad and iPhone, and began offering subscribers on-demand content from HBO, Cinemax, Starz, Encore, Movieplex and Music Choice.
Sprint Nextel expects to offer unlimited data service for Apple's LTE-compatible iPhone 5 when it comes out this fall, that is, if the rumored iPhone 5 actually launches and if Sprint gets it.
Despite the benefits of FTTH, copper-based DSL continues to be king. According to ABI Research, there were over 367 million DSL subscribers worldwide in 2011.
ATIS' Cloud Services Forum has developed a new program to conduct live testing of network interconnection and interoperability of telepresence services in a service provider network environment.
Google rejected a proposal from nonprofit groups that wanted to resell high-speed Internet access from the fiber network the Internet giant is building in Kansas City, Kan., and Kansas City, Missouri.
AT&T has come to an agreement over content fees with AMC Networks, meaning the service provider will continue to be able to offer IFC, Sundance and WE tv content to its U-verse TV subscriber base.
AMC Networks lost 14 million subscribers over the weekend after Dish Network pulled its flagship channel, IFC and WE from its lineup. But the programmer signed a new contract with AT&T which will keep it in about 4 million U-verse TV homes.


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Status quo at OPEC
Iran, OPEC's second-largest oil producer, said on Saturday it does not foresee any change in the cartel's output ceiling being decided on at the Sept. 11 meeting in Vienna. "It seems that the current OPEC production is enough and that at the next meeting the current ceiling will be kept," caretaker Oil Minister Gholam Hossein Nozari was quoted as saying by the ISNA news agency. On Aug. 13, a day after Nozari's appointment by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad who had replaced the oil minister in a surprise decree, a ministry official said Tehran's policy towards OPEC would not change.
STC bids for expansion
Saudi Telecom (STC) announced on Saturday it will bid to acquire 26 percent of Kuwait's third mobile company, which is expected to start operations early next year. The Saudi company, which enjoys a monopoly over landline services in the kingdom in addition to its vast mobile-phone market, will present its bid before the deadline of Sept. 7, SPA state news agency reported. "This is a chance to continue Saudi Telecom's policy of pressing with foreign expansions, and to enhance the possibilities for operational consolidations in the Gulf region," STC chairman Mohammad al-Jasser said, according to SPA.
Intel intros secure chips
Intel Corp, the world's biggest semiconductor maker, said it will introduce a version of its vPro product aimed at helping companies better protect their machines from hackers and viruses. Dell Inc, Hewlett-Packard Co and Lenovo Group Ltd (聯想) will make notebook and desktop computers using the technology, which includes a processor, other chips and software, vice president Robert Crooke said on Friday during a briefing in San Francisco. Intel has sold more than 4 million of the vPro products since they went on sale a year ago, Crooke said. The updated product has filters that can detect attacks by analyzing patterns of data, he said.
China, NZ close to FTA
China and New Zealand may reach a free-trade agreement by April, trade officials from both countries said today. "Ninety percent of the substance of negotiations has already been settled," Chinese Minister of Commerce Bo Xilai (薄熙來) told reporters in Manila, where he met New Zealand Trade Minister Phil Goff. Talks are "proceeding smoothly." New Zealand's imports from China rose 13.5 percent to NZ$2.94 billion (US$2.1 billion) in the first seven months of the year, while exports were little changed at NZ$1.12 billion, according to Bloomberg data.
Lufthansa eyes BMI
Lufthansa increasing its 30 percent stake in British airline BMI is "an option," Wolfgang Mayrhuber, CEO of the German carrier, said in an interview pre-published on Saturday. "We have decided to keep quiet on the details, but BMI is an option," Mayrhuber said in an interview with German business weekly Wirtschaftswoche to be published today. Press reports have for months said that Lufthansa was very interested in buying the 20 percent stake in BMI currently held by Scandinavian Airlines System.


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The European Food and Safety watchdog has approved the consumption of mealworms by humans.What was once mistaken for a fringe food should now find its way into the mainstream. Yellow mealworms make a good dinner table delicacy, whether served as a curry or flour, or used to make bread, chocolate biscuits, and pasta. Retailing on the supermarket shelves should kick off right away.
Trading a beef burger for a mealworm burger does not seem to be popular at the moment. However, if we observe the rapid population growth across the planet, alternative sources of nutrient-rich foods such as insects are bound to become viable alternatives. Besides, insects are a rich source of healthy protein.
Not everyone qualifies for the yellow mealworm delicacy. Anyone with prawn and dust mite allergies will likely suffer an oral or skin reaction from the Tenebrio molitor larvae. Food scientists across the EU are likely to be swayed by the findings of Agronutris, a French insect-for-food production company.
Yellow mealworms are composed of protein, fat, and fibre not forgetting their suitability as a sustainable, low carbon-emission food source for the future. To give a description of what they taste like when dried, you can equate it to peanuts. Despite all the fuss mealworms elicit, the consumption of insects is not a new concept. According to a legislative Report, over 2.5 billion people across the globe frequently consume insects. This trend is still new to Western nations.
Approval by the European Food and Safety Authority (EFSA) means it can now be sold to other European countries. At the moment, they are already on sale in the UK, Denmark, Netherlands, and Finland while other countries still had restrictions. Companies such as Protifarm and Micronutris in the Netherlands, Entogourmet in Spain, and Essento in Switzerland.
Mealworms for dinner?
The EU’s food safety watchdog has ruled that the bugs are safe for human consumption. pic.twitter.com/kXDaY4AqaY
— DW News (@dwnews) January 13, 2021


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23 Feb Vboost Helps Auto Dealerships Increase Referral Business and Convert More Leads with Release of Vboost 2.0
Vboost 2.0 Increases Viral Shares, Views and Response, with More Customer Options and Flexibility
Huntington Beach, CA – February 23, 2015 – Vboost Inc. (www.vboost.com), a viral marketing company focused on the auto industry, today announced the release of Vboost 2.0. The new platform dramatically increases dealer flexibility and customer interaction. Vboost customer video views exceeded the 1 million mark in 2014, and the company has quickly become an Industry leader in digital viral marketing.
Vboost is the first proactive process to bring more referral business to auto dealers by creating positive viral marketing that is delivered quickly and gets shared. It involves a streamlined process via a mobile application and three unique technologies, which collect customer photos at the time of vehicle delivery and convert them to custom music videos. These videos are then sent directly to the customer. As these branded messages are sent during the emotional highpoint of the customer’s buying process, Vboost has found that most buyers are compelled to upload and share these videos with family and friends via Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, email and other social
media platforms. Vboost then monitors and quantifies results from each viral marketing campaign and reports the results back to their dealers.
“We’ve had Vboost in our dealership for over two years. We see more referrals and our customers love getting their photos. Now that it’s faster and gives customers more options, we are seeing even higher share numbers than before,” said Jared Miller, Vice President & General Manager of Lexus Stevens Creek.
The program, built by automotive experts just for car dealers, is a photo taking process that customer’s love. It is so simple and fast, even low tech team members find it easy to use. With Vboost 2.0, customers now have the additional option of sharing their customized video or any of their photos taken at delivery. They can also connect directly to their sales rep and dealership sites – post public reviews, and book their first service appointment – all from the new Vboost landing page. The new version 2.0 also allows dealer personnel to walk customers through online public reviews directly from the Vboost platform on the customers’ cell phones.
“Since the release of our new platform, we are seeing increased shares, views and interaction with the dealership,” said Paul Moran, Vboost CEO. “We have dealers with customer share rates over 75 percent and individual dealers getting over 1,000 video views every month.”
Over 100 dealers have moved to the new Vboost 2.0 platform and are enjoying the results. With Vboost 2.0, dealers can now add offers for their sold customers through their very first communication, which reaches the customer before they even leave the dealership. Once the message is shared, the offer changes, so as to be more compelling for these new prospects. Vboost is the only product of its kind that targets the “Family & Friends” of every buyer.
“Speed and volume are key. Our program is so easy that it actually gets used. When you can send hundreds of viral messages every month, your dealership feels the lift,” says Moran. According to Moran, Vboost works because a message coming from a friend has much more social influence than anything coming from a dealership.
Future plans for Vboost include the release of a new app in the second quarter of 2015 that promises to bring even more innovative ways to expand dealership branding.
To find out more about Vboost play this video.
# # # # #
Based in Huntington Beach, CA, Vboost, Inc. is the first proactive process to bring more referral business to dealers by creating positive viral marketing that is delivered quickly and gets shared. It involves a streamlined process via a mobile application and three unique technologies, which collect customer photos at the time of vehicle delivery, convert them to custom music videos and sends them directly to the customer. By sending these branded messages to customers during the emotional highpoint of the buying process, we have found that most buyers are compelled to upload and share these videos with family and friends via Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, email and other social media platforms. Best of all, results from each viral marketing campaign are being monitored, quantified and reported back to the dealers. For more information or a demonstration call 800.799.3130.


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The Google Pixel 8a, successor to the well-received Pixel 7a, is generating significant buzz in the tech world. While official details are scarce, a growing number of leaks and rumors hint at exciting upgrades and a potential release date that’s closer than you might think.Google’s A-series Pixels have carved a reputation for offering excellent value, packing flagship-level camera performance and Google’s software smarts at a more accessible price. The Pixel 8a looks to continue this trend, with rumored upgrades that promise to make it an even more compelling mid-range smartphone.
One of the most anticipated changes is the potential inclusion of a higher refresh rate display. The Pixel 7a featured a standard 60Hz screen, but leaks suggest the 8a could sport a smoother 90Hz OLED display, aligning it with many of its competitors. This would translate into a more fluid user experience when scrolling or playing games.Under the hood, the Pixel 8a is expected to be powered by Google’s new Tensor G3 chipset, a successor to the Tensor G2 found in the Pixel 7 series. This could deliver improvements in performance and power efficiency, ensuring the phone handles everyday tasks and even some demanding games with ease.
While Google rarely compromises on camera quality, the Pixel 8a could see some refinements. There are murmurs it might retain the same primary camera sensor as the Pixel 7a but may receive upgrades to other lenses or improved computational photography features for better low-light performance or portrait shots.
Speculation is rife that Google might stick to its traditional May launch window for the Pixel 8a. This aligns with the possibility of an announcement during the Google I/O 2024 developer conference, scheduled for May 14th and 15th. If accurate, pre-orders could begin shortly after, with the phone hitting shelves later in May or early June.Pricing remains one of the biggest questions. The Pixel 7a saw a slight price increase over its predecessor. While the Pixel 8a could see another bump, it’s likely Google will aim to keep it competitive within the mid-range market segment.
The tech world is buzzing with anticipation as Google gears up to release its latest offering in the budget smartphone segment, the Pixel 8a. Expected to build on the success of its predecessors, the Pixel 8a is rumored to pack significant upgrades in camera technology, battery life, and charging capabilities, making it a highly awaited launch in 2024.
At the heart of the rumors is the camera setup of the Pixel 8a, which might feature a 64 MP Sony IMX787 sensor for its main camera, complemented by an ultra-wide angle camera with a larger field of view. The front camera is expected to remain the same as the Pixel 7a, with a 13 MP sensor. However, these specifications are still in the realm of speculation, with Google’s track record of exceptional post-processing hinting at promising photographic capabilities regardless of the hardware used.
The battery and charging features of the Pixel 8a are also under the spotlight. While the device is anticipated to maintain the 4385 mAh battery capacity of its predecessor, rumors suggest a notable improvement in charging speeds. The Pixel 8a may support 27W fast charging, a significant leap from the 18W charging of the Pixel 7a, and even surpassing the Pixel 8’s 23W charging speed. This enhancement could position the Pixel 8a as a contender for the mid-range battery performance crown, despite the unlikely increase in battery capacity due to the phone’s compact form factor.
Color options for the Pixel 8a are expected to be Bay and Porcelain, though these names could change upon the official release. In terms of pricing, there’s speculation about a modest increase from the Pixel 7a’s launch price of $499 to around $550 for the Pixel 8a, with a 256GB storage variant also rumored to be in the lineup.
The Pixel 8a is not just a device to watch out for due to its potential improvements in camera technology, battery life, and charging capabilities, but also for its role in continuing Google’s legacy of providing high-quality, budget-friendly smartphones. As we approach its anticipated release, the tech community remains eager for official announcements to confirm these promising rumors


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Finisar and Apple are transforming the future of Sherman Texas and Showing the U.S. Working Class a Little Respect
In Part Two of the Apple-Finisar story, Apple covers the human side of the impact of such an investment in Sherman Texas. "Over the last five years, Bruce Armstrong has walked thousands of miles through the corridors of an empty manufacturing plant in Sherman, Texas, keeping the lights on. Since the plant closed in 2012, he's been its caretaker, always holding out hope it would come alive again. Thanks to new business from Apple, that hope is about to become a reality.
The 700,000-square-foot plant expects to begin shipping in the second half of 2018, and its output will make Sherman the VCSEL capital of the US. Finisar will soon start hiring 500 highly skilled workers and Armstrong, born and raised there, is busy getting the building ready. 'It will be great to see people come back through the door," he says. "This means a lot for the Sherman area.'"
Bruce Armstrong thinks this growth with Apple will mark a new beginning and a better future for his hometown. "Down the road, we used to have Johnson & Johnson — we were the dental floss capital of the world. But that's since closed. What defines Sherman now? This new facility. It's just that significant." He won't be walking those corridors alone for long. And that suits him just fine.
Machine operator Jerrod Wright knows firsthand how getting a good job can change a life. Before Wright was hired in 2014, he was homeless, sleeping inside a car wash at night.
During his last four years at Finisar, Wright has married and bought a home. “This company changed my life,” he says. The new Apple business is something he’s proud of. “Finisar is like a family so this means a lot.”
With U.S. manufacturing closing shop in the U.S. and running to Mexico, China and Vietnam due to lower taxes and wages over the last few decades, it's great to see the current U.S. President trying to pass a tax bill that will support investments in the U.S. like the one Apple is making there in Sherman.
When you read the human side of factories closing and then reopening, it's great to hear. It's positive and inspirational and it's definitely a two thumbs up moment for Apple in supporting more working class jobs in the U.S.A.
About Making Comments on our Site: Patently Apple reserves the right to post, dismiss or edit any comments. Those using abusive language or negative behavior will result in being blacklisted on Disqus.


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Dan was doing the Kylie Jenner lip challenge before it was a thing
Kylie Jenner puts her toned abs on display as she shops with Tyga #dailymail
Casual look: Kylie Jenner wore black Adidas leggings and matching top as she shopped at Ne...
Shopping date: Kylie Jenner, left, and her beau Tyga, right, were seen shopping at the mall in Topanga, California on Thursday
Always time for a selfie: Kylie Jenner took to Instagram on Thursday to post a shot to social media
Turning heads: The teen TV star rocked Barbie-style hair for the outing and was seen hopping back into her Range Rover
Kylie Jenner in Tights - Out in Beverly Hills, November 2015
Festival fashion show continues: Kylie Jenner, 17, proves she's got festival stamina as sh...
Levi’s starts selling Wedgie Fit Jeans in January — and Kylie Jenner took to Instagram to show off how they look on her.
Get the latest products to help you with your #workout or whatever #sport you are into at http://stores.ebay.com/goldengloveproducts/Sport-/_i.html?_fsub=13726798016


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(Recasts lead, adds production recovery outlook in fourth paragraph, full-year results in seventh paragraph.)
TOKYO -(MarketWatch)- Struggling to bring operations back to normal after the devastating March 11 earthquake, Toyota Motor Corp. (7203.TO) reported Wednesday a 77% drop in net profit for the January to March quarter due to production disruptions and the effects of the strong yen.
The world's biggest automaker by sales volume didn't release an earnings forecast, a production plan or other guidance for this fiscal year through March 2012, citing uncertainty over when it will be able to return to normal output levels. Nor did it offer an assumption for the dollar/yen exchange rate in the coming year.
Toyota was the latest Japanese car maker to withhold an earnings projection for the current fiscal year, underlining the scale of the disruption to the key auto industry after the disaster in March.
The magnitude-9.0 earthquake and subsequent tsunami that devastated northern Japan damaged parts production facilities in the region and created supply-chain problems at home and overseas. A crisis at a nuclear-power plant also caused power-supply shortages.
Separately, the company said it expects a recovery in production from June in Japan and overseas, instead of an earlier outlook for a recovery in Japan from July, and overseas from August. Although the anticipated production comeback may vary depending on region and type of vehicle, Toyota said it expects global production in June to reach about 70% of the normal level.
Toyota posted a net profit of Y25.4 billion in the three months ended March 31, down from Y112.2 billion in the same quarter a year earlier. The result undershot an Y81.20 billion mean estimate in a survey of five analysts compiled by Thomson Reuters.
Sales in the quarter ended March fell 12% to Y4.642 trillion, from Y5.280 trillion. Operating profit declined 52% to Y46.1 billion from Y95.3 billion.
For the full fiscal year ended March, Toyota said net profit nearly doubled to Y408.18 billion, compared with Y209.46 billion a year earlier. Full-year sales edged up 0.2% to Y18.994 trillion from Y18.951 trillion, while operating profit totaled Y468.28 billion from Y147.62 billion.
The company said the natural disaster cut operating profit for the fiscal year by Y110 billion from the a forecast made in February.
Executives at some Japanese automakers have said they may consider further diversifying parts sourcing to prevent future shortages--a move that would likely increase purchasing costs. That would come as Toyota has worked to reorganize its parts procurement to reduce costs and speed up its relatively slow earnings recovery after the global financial crisis.
"Things went from bad to worse" for Toyota, said Takaki Nakanishi, an analyst at BOA Merrill Lynch.
The scarcity of parts and subsequent production disruptions, if prolonged, could even see Toyota lose its crown as world's biggest car maker by volume.
The company reports earnings under U.S. accounting standards.


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RUSSELLVILLE, Ky. (WBKO) – Inflation and workforce shortages, issues most communities are currently facing as the economy recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic. On Tuesday, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell was in Russellville to discuss these issues, among others, with local leaders.
“My view of it is the new administration and the new democratic congress are still looking backwards instead of forward,” Senator McConnell said. He and the executive director of Logan County’s Economic Alliance of Development both said the federal government is spending too much.
“We’ve got to encourage people to get back into the workforce and discourage them from staying at home,” Jim DeCesare said.
Many economists would also argue that supply chain issues caused by COVID-19 are also causing inflation along with a newly opened economy as more consumers are suddenly spending, bottlenecking the demand for goods.
Senator McConnell also…


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Never Miss a Beat: Get a snapshot of the issues affecting the IT industry straight to your inbox.
Eric Ogren, Contributor
January 28, 2010
3 Min Read
Today Motorola confirmed that it is working on a new Android phone that it plans to sell directly to consumers through Google. Will its unnamed device be the Nexus Two? Perhaps.There's zero surprise in learning that Motorola plans to offer an Android phone directly to consumers through the new sales model Google is attempting to carve out with is Nexus line of Android devices. Motorola co-CEO Sanjay Jha said as much during the company's fourth quarter earnings call today, "We plan to launch ... at least one direct-to-consumer device with Google."
Jha didn't say anything more about that specific device. It may be called the Nexus Two, or some other Nexus-branded equivalent. Jha had a lot of other interesting things to say about its device portfolio for 2010. Here's the full transcription from Seeking Alpha:
As we head into 2010, I think of our portfolio across three market segments; smartphones, feature phones, and voice-centric low-end phones. First, in smartphones, we plan to launch at least 20 devices ... We expect to ship between 11 million to 14 million smartphones over the course of the year, with smartphones accounting for over 50% of our total sales this year.
In feature phone, in the mid-to-high tier, we expect our legacy portfolio to meaningfully decline throughout the year as consumers migrate to smartphones. Finally, in voice-centric low-end phones for emerging marketplaces largely, our focus will be to build brand awareness and meet customer needs for products at multiple price points. We will utilize an ODM model for these devices and expect the unit volumes to ramp throughout the year.
Motorola had previously confirmed that it was going to target about 20 new smartphones for 2010, with most of them (if not all) running Google's Android operating system. We've already seen one, the Backflip that's headed to AT&T later this quarter. I expect Motorola to unveil about two Android phones per month for the rest of the year.
Jha also talked up its MOTOBLUR social networking service. He said:
Some of our plans for MOTOBLUR include enhancements to address the prosumer segment of the market. These are users who pay for their own devices and use it for both of their personal and work lives. By expanding MOTOBLUR to offer additional security and device management functionality, we will address the need of this part of the market. We also plan to broaden the scope of MOTOBLUR by doing to multimedia what we did to social messaging by enabling users to share music, photos and other content in an interactive and dynamic way.
This is all good news. Motorola needs to make some changes to its social networking software. In particular, I am interested in seeing tweaks to how it manages Twitter follower lists in the contact database. Also, creating its own media-syncing software (or partnering with an outside developer) would be a great help to those Android owners looking to more easily transfer media back and forth on their device.
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While there are plentiful options in cyber resiliency and business continuity tools and platforms, there isn’t one that can knock out everything from sudden cloud outages to prolonged ransomware attacks in a single punch. What can you do to keep the company on its feet no matter what is thrown at it? Find out in this new virtual event.Reserve Your Seat Now


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The Grand Rapids Public Museum is opening next month. Members can return on July 1 and the museum reopens July 6 to the general public.
Safety, of course, is their top priority, so several high-contact areas, along with virtual reality experiences will be "off-limits".
A couple of popular exhibitions are being extended too. The museum is restricting the number of people allowed inside at one time.
They are also asking guests to bring a face mask and social distance.
For one night only, Garth Brooks will perform a live concert streamed to about 300 drive-in theaters across the country.
On Monday night Brooks announced the full list of theaters playing the June 27 event.
Here in West Michigan, it'll be at the Capri Drive-In Theater in Coldwater with other participating venues being listed on Ticketmaster.
Garth Brooks released a statement on his website saying he's just excited to play again and this is a safe way to do it during these unprecedented
Tickets will go on sale this Friday at 11 a.m. and will cost around $100 per passenger car or truck. All the details are at ticketmaster.com/garthbrooks.
A popular toy is now honoring frontline healthcare workers.
American Girl is releasing an exclusive doll outfit as part of Mattel's "Thank You Heroes Line" and for every American Girl Scrubs outfit sold, the brand will donate one craft activity book to First Responders Children's Foundation.
The foundation benefits the children of first responders leading the fight against COVID-19.
The $24 outfit, which includes a fabric face mask, is available for pre-order through the end of the year.
The scrubs outfit is expected to ship starting in August.
As they leave their high school years behind, these New Hampshire graduates are riding high, like the seniors at Kennett High School.
We're faced with the probability of not having a graduation ceremony. That changed when the local ski area presented an uplifting opportunity; let the graduates have their procession on the chairlift up to the summit where they received their diplomas.
Now it's onward and upward for these young minds. As far as their futures are concerned, the sky is the limit!
Get your sweet tooth ready for National Fudge Day!
Fudge is a confection made of milk, sugar, and butter. Make it with chocolate, peanut butter, vanilla, coffee, maple syrup, or countless other ingredients.
If you didn't already know, Mackinac Island in Upper Michigan is America's Fudge Capital.
There are 14 fudge shops there that make more than 10,000 pounds of fudge on the island every day.


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Original 1976 Apple computer sells for $375,000
Think the iPad’s price tag is steep? One famed Apple product, the original Apple I, sold for $374,500 on Friday.
Auction house Sotheby’s sold a 1976 Apple I Computer — which still works! — in New York on Friday, after a bidding war broke out between two potential buyers.
The lucky winner? An anonymous telephone bidder.
That bidder’s final price more than doubled the high estimate of $180,000, said Sotheby’s, which hailed the Apple I as “the start of the personal computing revolution.”
For $374,500, the buyer could have bought 750 entry-level iPads, more than 1,880 iPhones (with a two-year contract, of course) or around 650 shares of Apple (AAPL, Fortune 500).
Sotheby’s touted the device’s backstory in an email to press. Apple founders Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak built the Apple I Computer in 1976 and attracted the attention of Silicon Valley store chain Byte Shop.
Store owner Paul Terrell ordered 50 of the computers for $500 each, which the late Jobs and Wozniak put together in just 30 days.
Terrell sold them for $666.66 each, and the Apple duo made 150 more to sell to friends and other stores.
The Apple I was a marvel for its time, but it was quite different than today’s computers, Sotheby’s noted: The Apple I lacked a monitor, keyboard, power supply and case


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NextDocs raises $10.3 Million Series A from OpenView Venture Partners
King of Prussia’s NextDocs, which helps life science companies though the compliance processes, has raised a hefty $10.3 Million Series A round, according to a press release. We spoke with NextDocs CEO Zikria Syed last week about the companies rapid growth, which includes being recently named Best Life Sciences partner by Microsoft.
From the release:
OpenView Venture Partners, based in Boston, is the same firm behind Conshohocken-based Monetate’s $15 million investment round.


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We’re pleased to present new and improved sample packs for Multicopy and Multicopy Zero. The new packs are paper, through and through instead of having a plastic wrapping, and therefore 100 percent recyclable. Just the way we like it!• Sample pack Multicopy Zero – 20 A4 sheets, 80 gsm
As of April 27th , 2021 the biogas plant at Nymölla mill is in use. We are very happy and proud that this unique facility, built in partnership with Gasum, is now a reality. It changes the game for Stora Enso, customers and consumers alike.
In many ways and areas, digital is the new normal. That goes for planning and time management tools as well, however, the old-fashioned paper planner has a large fan base. Which suits you? They both have pros and cons but there are at least seven good reasons to pick pen and paper over keyboard and smart applications. Stora Enso recently published an article that lists them, we’ve made a selection:
The ream wrappers for Multicopy, Multicopy Zero and Multicopy Presentation are now dispersion coated – plastic-free and biodegradable, hence compostable (EN13432). That makes the sustainability total of our products even greater.


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Channel99 launches today with a free mobile app and the promise of a full platform offering in the New Year. It aims to provide technology that can measure not just the activity driven by marketing channels and the vendors that power them (i.e. LinkedIn and Facebook in the social media channel), but the impact that activity has on business outcomes.
By integrating spend data with measurement of outcomes, it also aims to provide visibility into the cost of generating those outcomes, allowing marketers to allocate budget more efficiently. The twin objectives are boosting pipeline while reducing acquisition cost. Channel99 is selling into B2B marketing organizations and the app is already being used by dozens of enterprise and mid-market customers.
Why we care. Two reasons. First, this could prove to be a major contribution to addressing the age-old attribution problem — a problem that increases in complexity as channels multiply: “Half the money I spend on advertising is wasted; the trouble is I don’t know which half,” as the old saying goes.
Second, Channel99 is the brainchild of Chris Golec who founded enterprise ABM giant Demandbase in 2006 and ran it for more than 13 years (he remains a member of the board). After a period as an investor and adviser, he’s excited to be back in the startup game — for the first time trying to do it remotely.
“Some of our engineers are here, some are in Poland,” he told us. “It’s just very hard to innovate and build a company remotely. I miss being in the office with people.”
After so many years with Demandbase, how does it feel to lead something completely new? “It’s fun,” he said.
Independent source of truth. The vision for Channel99, said Golec, is to be an unbiased source of truth for marketers by measuring the impact of spending on dozens of channels and the many vendors operating within them. It has raised $5 million dollars in seed funding led by Jackson Square Ventures.
“More than 90% of activity driven to a B2B website provides little to no value when it comes to driving new business,” said Golec in a release. “With investments across hundreds of vendors and channels, the industry desperately needs a single source of truth to consistently measure the efficacy of their efforts.”
The mobile experience. It’s unorthodox for a new B2B martech solution to lead with a mobile offering. “This notion of launching a free mobile app first is a way to engage with a customer a lot more efficiently than having them fill out a form and calling them 20 times over the following two weeks,” Golec told us.
The app provides insight into channel and vendor traffic, matching it to accounts and scoring it based on whether it fits a business’s addressable market. “It’s really an onboarding strategy because our next product will include financial information and really help marketers improve where they’re spending money and how they’re making decisions.” It will also include CRM data
“I wouldn’t call it pure attribution,” he said, “but it’s clearly going to show what’s working and what’s not.”
Bad news for some channels and vendors? Of course, if Channel99 can indeed identify areas of wasteful spending, that might not be good news for the channels and vendors that are under-performing. “That may happen,” Golec conceded. “If anything it will expose opportunities for them to get better, but if you’re using a vendor or a channel that is not reaching your target audience, then you shouldn’t spend money there.”
Of course, just because a vendor under-performs for one business doesn’t mean it under-performs for others. “It all depends on who your target audience is.”
Get MarTech! Daily. Free. In your inbox.
About The Author
Kim Davis is the Editorial Director of MarTech. Born in London, but a New Yorker for over two decades, Kim started covering enterprise software ten years ago. His experience encompasses SaaS for the enterprise, digital- ad data-driven urban planning, and applications of SaaS, digital technology, and data in the marketing space.
He first wrote about marketing technology as editor of Haymarket’s The Hub, a dedicated marketing tech website, which subsequently became a channel on the established direct marketing brand DMN. Kim joined DMN proper in 2016, as a senior editor, becoming Executive Editor, then Editor-in-Chief a position he held until January 2020.
Prior to working in tech journalism, Kim was Associate Editor at a New York Times hyper-local news site, The Local: East Village, and has previously worked as an editor of an academic publication, and as a music journalist. He has written hundreds of New York restaurant reviews for a personal blog, and has been an occasional guest contributor to Eater.


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Appeals court makes Google revisit Viacom copyright lawsuit
The 2nd US Court of Appeals decided that a jury stood a reasonable possibility of finding that Google’s YouTube knew there was bootleg material being uploaded to the site. Google was dealt a major setback after a court sided with Viacom’s appeal to its loss against Google in a copyright lawsuit. Google was allowed a safe harbor provision guarding it against lawsuits for content it didn’t know about, the appeals court said, but it wasn’t certain whether or not Google was aware of specific content….
Five Best Practices to Building a Loyal Video Audience
There are several best practices that any Web producer, marketer or brand can follow when making a video series.
Since only one in twelve branded videos pass the one-million mark, brands and producers are better off building an audience than going for a viral hit. Jay Miletsky, CEO of online network MyPod Studios, shared several with the New Media Minute.-Daisy Whitney


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New VAT rules are good news for online businesses – EU member states should endorse them, say S&Ds
S&D Euro MPs today welcomed the VAT rules proposed by the European Commission to make life easier for e-commerce and online businesses in the EU, and called on EU member states to support them.
S&D Group spokesperson on economic, financial and tax issues Pervenche Berès said:
"It is clear that the VAT rules had to be modernised in order to respond to the needs of the digital economy and the increased complexity of business structures in the EU.
"These proposals will simplify VAT rules for start-ups and micro-businesses selling online. The VAT one-stop shop for e-commerce will help to increase compliance. It will reduce compliance costs as well as reducing VAT fraud, estimated at €5 billion in lost VAT on online sales every year.
"We are pleased that the Commission is taking action against fraud coming outside from the EU. It is crucial to ensure fair competition with our external competitors.
"We also welcome the Commission’s proposal to allow member states to harmonise VAT rates on e-publications such as e-books and online newspapers. This was a request from the European Parliament and once the proposal is adopted by the member states it will bring equity with taxes on printed publications.”


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It’s worse this time. Microsoft was roundly pilloried for low functional storage rates in the Surface RT tablet. It appears that the big sibling to that device, the Surface Pro, suffers from similar woes. The 32 gigabyte Surface RT had 16 gigabytes of free space. The 64 gigabyte Surface RT had 46. In short, for the lower-end Surface RT tablet, only half of the reported storage was up for user files. But like we said, it gets worse. For the Surface Pro 64 gigabyte device, a shockingly low 23 gigabytes are open, The Verge has confirmed with Microsoft. That is it. At the moment, TNW cannot confirm figures for the Surface Pro 128 gigabyte model. However, the figure for the 64 gigabyte device means that a mere 36% of the listed storage is open for general file storage. If there was ever an argument for SkyDrive, this is it.
About Shelly Palmer
Shelly Palmer is the Professor of Advanced Media in Residence at Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and CEO of The Palmer Group, a consulting practice that helps Fortune 500 companies with technology, media and marketing. Named LinkedIn’s “Top Voice in Technology,” he covers tech and business for Good Day New York, is a regular commentator on CNN and writes a popular daily business blog. He's a bestselling author, and the creator of the popular, free online course, Generative AI for Execs. Follow @shellypalmer or visit shellypalmer.com.


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AMA urges food Ministers to stick by health star rating system
The AMA is calling on the nation’s food and health Ministers to resist industry efforts to modify and complicate the Health Star Rating System for front of packet food labelling endorsed earlier this year.
As Ministers from around the country prepare to attend the Legislative and Governance Forum on Food Regulation in Canberra tomorrow, AMA President Dr Steve Hambleton urged them to back the system agreed upon in June.
“The Health Star Rating System provides consumers with a quick and simple way to check and compare food,” Dr Hambleton said.
“The more stars, the healthier the product.”
The system was developed through detailed and extensive consultations involving the AMA, the food industry, consumer organisations and public health groups, and Dr Hambleton said it was now time to get the labels on products on shop shelves.
“Following the consultations, all stakeholders agreed that the Health Star Rating System was the form of labelling food manufacturers should adopt.
“But since then, the food industry – led by the Australian Food and Grocery Council - has tried to make additions and modifications that will not add any useful information, and will instead make the system more difficult to use.
“Food and health Ministers should ignore this tinkering, which will only confuse shoppers and dilute the simple ‘at a glance’ nature of the system.”
In addition to the five-star rating scale, the system includes an information panel detailing how much saturated fat, sodium and sugar, as well as one other ingredient (chosen by the manufacturer) the food contains.
Dr Hambleton said the system would be a great tool for doctors when advising patients, who come from a wide range of backgrounds, on how to make healthy choices in what they buy and eat.
“The nation’s waistline is bulging. Obesity is an increasingly serious health problem, and doctors are at the front line in tackling it.
“The AMA’s plea to Ministers is, don’t let industry tinker with a system that can help doctors make a difference.”
12 December 2013
CONTACT: John Flannery 02 6270 5477 / 0419 494 761
Kirsty Waterford 02 6270 5464 / 0427 209 753
Published: 12 Dec 2013


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Microsoft pledges support to five African startups
In an effort to empower the next generation of entrepreneurs and developers in Africa, Microsoft is offering financial support to five of the continent's brightest startups. Under the 4Afrika initiative, the American Goliath will act as both financial backer and entrepreneurial mentor to a fortunate handful of David enterprises.
In October 2013, Microsoft announced the expansion of its Microsoft Ventures partnership into Africa. The expansion is part of the Microsoft 4Afrika Initiative, which prioritises startups in key sectors, including education, healthcare and agriculture. Amrote Abdella, director of 4Afrika Venture Capital noted: "Through the 4Afrika Initiative, we are deeply committed to fostering African innovation and to fuelling Africa's economic growth and competitiveness, and we are very proud to see Microsoft Ventures extend its reach into the African continent."
The five startups, including Africa 118, Gamsole, Kytabu and Save & Buy, were selected on the strength of their uniqueness and scalability, business model and the relevance of the problems they aim to solve. In addition to financial backing, Microsoft will provide the startups with optimised desktops, technical support, unified communications and access to its data platforms solutions. Gamsole CEO Abiola Olaniran was vocal in his praise for Microsoft's initiative, noting that it enables startup enterprises to transform into world-class Goliath companies through fast growth, without losing equity or control.


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Coborn’s has a well-earned reputation for great service, a strong product assortment and community service, making it a logical choice for the 2011 Grocery Headquarters Independent Retailer of the Year Award.
By Seth Mendelson
“They just seem to care.”
That was what one consumer told Grocery Headquarters on a frigid Minnesota morning standing outside of a Coborn’s supermarket when asked why she shops there instead of other supermarkets in the area.
“I get the very strong feeling,” she added, “that Coborn’s is involved in the community because they want to help and are interested in giving me and my family the best shopping experience possible. It’s why I keep coming back here instead of the Target down the road.”
It is no secret that independent grocery stores are struggling to keep up with the major national and regional chains. Fighting back through lower pricing is simply not going to work, particularly when a chain like Walmart or Kroger can cut its pricing on a product or in a region to combat what others are doing. So independents have to think creatively and, at the same time, look for ways to connect or re-connect with consumers on a different level.
Coborn’s, by all accounts, does that. The privately held St. Cloud, Minn.-based chain has established a niche in its turf in the upper Midwest by stressing a combination of savvy merchandising and marketing with a real down-home philosophy. Coborn’s, led by its president and CEO Chris Coborn, is not only surviving against intense competition, it is thriving. That is why Grocery Headquarters has selected the chain as its 2011 Independent Retailer of the Year.
Accolades by themselves will not get the job done, though. And, it appears that Coborn’s officials are well aware that they must stay ahead of the curve to stay ahead of the competition. As you will read in our cover story this month, Coborn’s has not only invested in the future, it is finding other paths to ensure success in coming years.
Over time, the chain has branched out into other formats, including limited assortment stores, liquor stores and pharmacies. It has developed new software programs that allow for more efficient ordering and it has incorporated the NuVal nutritional scoring system to assist those customers looking for healthier food alternatives.
Most importantly, Coborn’s is making its workers feel like part of the family. The 90-year old chain started an accelerated employee stock ownership program four years ago. So despite the fact that the fourth generation of the Coborn’s family continues to run the company, the 6,700 employees of the operation are its future.
It is amazing what that does for employee morale. Every lost sale to a cluttered meat section or disorganized HBC aisle means a little bit less for each employee participating in the stock program. Conversely, every extra sale means a bit more for them.
Chris Coborn practices what he preaches. Company officials say that Coborn relies on a number of able lieutenants to get the job done. Not surprisingly, he also gives the credit for the success of the company. It is the Coborn’s way of doing things. As we can see, it is working very well.
Seth Mendelson can be reached at 646-274-3507, or firstname.lastname@example.org.


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HAMPSHIRE’S police and crime commissioner has launched an online survey to help tackle business crime.
Simon Hayes has set up the survey to engage with local business communities and help shape his business crime strategy.
It is being run with the Federation of Small Businesses, Southampton Businesses Against Crime and the county’s Chamber of Commerce.
The survey aims to establish what types of crime have been committed against businesses, the impact this had on them, whether they were reported and whether any police response influenced how they would react in the future. It also seeks to establish what the Commissioner can do to improve the ways in which crime against businesses could be reduced.
To take part in the survey visit surveymonkey.com/s/businesscrime.
The deadline is noon on October 17.


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PETALING JAYA, MALAYSIA: Malaysia Airlines (MAS) is in discussions with more banks to provide additional payment modes to its customers worldwide.
This follows the success of the national carrier's partnerships with Maybank and CIMB Bank since May by which clients of the two banks can pay for their tickets online without using credit cards.
"We are looking at giving our customers additional payment modes in order to simplify their air travel transactions," said MAS network and revenue management senior general manager Datuk Bernard Francis.
Francis said MAS was in talks with three other banks in Malaysia and several others in the Asean region on similar partnerships.
On its partnership with Maybank and CIMB Bank, Francis said once bookings were finalised, customers would be guided to the online payment option page where they could authorise payments to be debited directly from their bank account.
"This will encourage more customers to buy online as it is more cost effective, and travellers can view, select and purchase value-for-money deals from the airline from the comfort of their homes and workplace," he told reporters at a news conference here yesterday.
"At the global level, we are in discussions with big financial institutions, especially those with branches around the world," he said, adding that MAS was soon introducing over-the-counter payments through its partnered financial institutions locally and globally.
It is learnt that the exercise is to further strengthen the airline's distribution network.
Since its e-ticketing service was wholly implemented in May, MAS has seen nearly three million hits a month, equivalent to RM100mil in online ticketing sales.
The carrier aims to do 60% of its transactions online by 2010.


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A Toronto woman is voicing frustration over what she views as a possible bias in the beauty industry.
Dr. Tamika Hamlet has noticed a concerning trend surrounding make-up designed for consumers with darker skin tones.
The naturopathic doctor keeps encountering the same challenge and wonders why her favourite beauty products keep getting discontinued.
“I think that the industry is shadist — in the sense that they do show preference to lighter and they have a habit of discontinuing darker shades,” Hamlet said, adding she feels cosmetic companies typically offer more variety of pressed powders and foundations for those with lighter skin tones.
After years of purchasing the same product, Hamlet encountered this situation after buying her go-to colour from Sephora.
She said she brought the product home and it was about “10 shades lighter” than what the colour used to be.
“So I brought it back to the store and asked them about it – saying, “I think this is mislabelled,'” she said. “And they were like, ‘No, no, they revamped their colours,’ so that was really frustrating.”
Hamlet said she’s speaking out to raise awareness about the inequality that still exists in the beauty industry.
“That’s a blanket statement. It’s not necessarily wrong,” beauty expert Bahar Niramwalla said, adding ultimately it comes down to sales.
“What is being sold? This is a numbers game as well — if it sells well they’ll restock, if it doesn’t they won’t.”
Annoyed with the lack of choices — a group of Canadian women came up with their own formulations so that women of all races would be able to find a perfect match.
“What we did with the powder foundations was remove the titanium dioxide from our foundations — it’s a thick white powder that sits on top of your skin and makes it look ashy,” Pinki Gosal, co-founder of Vasanti Cosmetics Inc., said.
“So what we did was replace it with an ingredient that makes the skin look more natural. So that’s why when you go to our brand, you don’t have to go two shades darker than your own skin.”
Gosal added Vasanti has never discontinued a shade in the nearly 10 years they’ve been in business.


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CHRISTIANSBURG — One of America’s largest, most unique and discreet classic car collections sits inside an industrial district warehouse not far from Interstate 81.
It belongs to Gary Duncan, a businessman who jokes about being unable to fit into half the cars he owns. He’s always been the kind of guy who would give a tour to anyone who asked, but few knew it existed.
That was until earlier this year, when one of Duncan’s employees reached out to a reporter at Jalopnik, a leading automotive news website previously owned by Gawker. If auto writer Jason Torchinsky made the two-hour drive up from North Carolina, the tipster promised to show him “a few Honda Beats.”
Torchinsky said Beats are pretty unique: They’re not sold in the U.S. It was worth the trip.
“Of course, when we get there it’s bonkers,” Torchinsky said. “It’s absolutely insane and there are like 60 Honda Beats.”
Hondas were just the beginning, as the entire collection at that point included over 700 vehicles.
Standing outside the 110,000-square-foot warehouse on Prospect Drive, there’s little evidence of what’s inside. Duncan, whose family has owned car dealerships across Southwest Virginia since the 1950s, bought the facility in 2015. It was never supposed to be full to capacity with collectibles.
“I didn’t mean to but that’s what it turned into,” Duncan said during a recent tour, before turning his attention back to the row of cars he found much more interesting than his own person story. “That’s a Mazda Cosmo.”
Torchinsky, who has toured dozens of car collections around the world, remembers stepping inside for the first time. The warehouse is split between multiple sections. Even if the collection had ended after the first room, he said it would have been an amazing find.
But it just kept going on and on as he walked through, slowly realizing what he had stumbled upon in rural Southwest Virginia.
“I’m amazed it’s been kept secret this long,” Torchinsky said. “It’s certainly in America, and for his specific interests – like the Japanese fire trucks – I think there’s no question this is the best one anywhere.”
The article he would eventually write, “Have Your Mind Blown By The Most Amazing Secret Car Collection In America,” has been read by over 100,000 people.
“Talking to Gary, it was interesting because I don’t think he realized other people would appreciate this collection,” Torchinsky said. “When he saw how excited we were, it felt like he even got a little emotional. It was the first time he realized he’s not alone. … I think maybe now he’s started to understand the gravity and level of what he’s got here.”
Since Jalopnik’s visit in March, Duncan’s collection has grown to 900 cars worth a total of $10 million – counting those either on display today or en route from overseas.
For comparison, the renowned collection owned by Jay Leno, the retired late night TV star and well known car enthusiast, boasts somewhere around 200 vehicles.
In 2010, The Wall Street Journal reported on the dismantling of Texas lawyer John O’Quinn’s collection with 800 rare vehicles, noting at the time it was believed to be one of the largest in the world.
Duncan’s stockpile isn’t as expensive as the others, but it’s hard to find one larger.
“He’s not doing it for notoriety or fame,” Torchinsky said. “This is a collection purely from one person’s own passion and interest.”
The Jalopnik article set off a firestorm of attention. Since then, car enthusiasts from across the country have visited for the free tour. Some – like NASCAR driver Joey Logano – have even bought one to take home.
Duncan’s collection has been profiled in more magazines than he can name, from leading German publication Auto Bild, to Sports Car Market and Hagerty in the U.S. Auto Week has scheduled an upcoming visit and Jalopnik hopes to return sometime soon for test drives.
Even Duncan admits things have gotten carried away more recently as he’s gotten a sense of the level of interest people have in buying his cars.
He’s turned the hobby into a company called Duncan Imports and Classic Cars. With each car sold, it’s becoming harder to distinguish where his passion ends and the business venture begins.
“This is kind of a working hobby, I guess,” Duncan said. “We don’t know where it’s going to head, what it’s going to do.”
Duncan’s collection doesn’t focus on flashy, luxury vehicles to which most collectors are drawn. He does have a few Rolls Royces and he did recently sell a 1989 Porsche Speedster for $180,000.
But most of his cars are the types average people used to drive. He said he tries to stay below $50,000.
Duncan said that’s one thing that pulls him in.
“I grew up with these cars,” he said. “Everybody who comes through here, you’re going back to a time in our lives that we enjoyed. We remember a family member having some of these. Really, you’re buying art. That’s all it is; it’s rolling art.”
Duncan has an affinity for cars with a steering wheel on the right side, just because they’re so unusual in the U.S.
He has an entire section of Japanese fire trucks and hearses, complete with ornate wood decorations on top.
He doesn’t like cars that have been restored; since that means many of the parts aren’t original. He also likes low mileage, like the three 1977 Volkswagen Beetle convertibles he displays with just 80 miles, 33 miles and 25 miles, respectively.
“People who collect hyper expensive supercars, any idiot with money is going to do that. That’s not that big of a deal anymore,” Torchinsky said. “But somebody who is going to take the time to find a Japanese dump truck because they think they’re cool – that’s the kind of car collector I love.”
Duncan has a sweet spot for the Nissan Figaro, a small, cheap, retro-looking two-door that was never sold in the U.S. He and his brother were at the 1989 Tokyo car show when the Figaro made its debut, and he knew then he would import those whenever it became legal.
Nissan only produced the model for one year in 1991, releasing 20,000 Figaros into the world. Of those, 125 are sitting in Duncan’s warehouse.
“Your brain can’t even process it. This is an unusual car anywhere,” Torchinsky said of his experience walking into the Figaro room at Duncan’s collection. “It was wonderful; it was surreal and strange and beautiful.”
As a lifelong auto dealer, Duncan has no problem parting ways with pieces of his stockpile. He even lists them online for out-of-town buyers.
Duncan recently took a truck full of cars to auction in Pennsylvania. He sold 11, but couldn’t help himself from buying three more to bring home.
“This is all about fun, this is not about selling cars,” he said. “I’ve already sold cars; I’ve sold cars all my life. I won’t try to sell you anything. But I’ll tell you all about them and if you want to take one away…”
Not all the cars are for sale, like his butterscotch 1974 British Motor Corporation MGB. Duncan sold that car new when he was a 22-year-old getting his start at his dad’s dealership. When he bought it back three decades years later, he said he found his handwriting scribbled all over the original paperwork.
He’s also not about to get rid of his mosport green 1966 Corvette. That car is identical to the one his late father, Paul Duncan, gave him when he turned 16 in exchange for years washing cars at the family business.
It took Gary Duncan just two weeks to lose his license over a speeding ticket, and less than a month to wreck the car into a tree.
He found an identical twin at an auction in Greensboro, North Carolina, 42 years later. When he called his dad on the way home, Paul Duncan laughed and pointed out he just spent $62,000 replacing a car that originally cost $2,500.
“I’ve got a lot of good memories,” Duncan added.
Most of the others are available for purchase – though Duncan admits he can’t imagine who would be interested in some of them.
He’s heard from more than a few mail carriers who like the vehicles because the reverse steering wheel gives easy access to mailboxes.
One of his Japanese hearses only cost 300,000 yen, or $2,600. But Duncan acknowledges he’s going to have to find a special kind of niche collector to ever get rid of that one.
“If you would have told me two years ago I would have 700 or 800 right-hand-drive vehicles, I would tell you you’re out of your mind,” Duncan said. “But that’s kind of the novelty of it. That’s the originality of it. They’re cool and they’re different.”
The man behind the cars
The Duncan Automotive Network got its start in 1955, when Paul Duncan would put his kids to bed on Sunday night, then take a train to Washington, D.C.
Selection was scarce in the New River Valley back then, but Paul Duncan realized he could sell cars that no one else had if he began bringing them in from the city.
The strategy worked, as the business grew and eventually began selling new vehicles. Gary and Paul Duncan ran the dealerships together, until Paul’s death in March.
Today, the Duncan Automotive Network has 14 stores from Roanoke to Pulaski.
Gary Duncan grew up inside the business. He began washing cars when he was 12 years old. He dropped out of community college and got his first dealership franchise to sell Triumph Motor Company vehicles at 19 years old.
David Hagan, co-owner of dealership competitor Shelor Motor Mile, said he considers Gary Duncan a friend, despite decades of going head-to-head over car shoppers. The rivalry began in 1974, when the Shelor family opened the Chevrolet store and the Duncans had Ford.
“Gary is probably as knowledgeable of a used car guy as I’ve known, especially when you talk about his collectibles and things like that,” Hagan said. “It’s overwhelming. You have to have two things: a lot of passion and a lot of money. He, obviously, seems to have both of those.”
Growing up, Duncan said the family was never particularly flush with cash, as they pumped most of their profits back into the business.
But that changed in 2005, when the owners of the New River Valley Mall decided to purchase a piece of neighboring property that the Duncans owned. Today, the site is surrounded by Best Buy and other major retail chains.
Duncan used that money to buy his first collectible car – a 1929 Packard – that same year. By 2015, he said he had amassed over 200 vehicles.
That’s when he bought the warehouse on Prospect Drive – and developed an obsession with Japanese imports.
In a way, it’s a return to his dad’s strategy of towing cars you couldn’t get in Southwest Virginia down from Washington, D.C.
“This is back to where I started, buying and selling,” Duncan said. “I don’t have to listen to no factory tell me what I’m going to do. I don’t have to take stuff I don’t want to take. I don’t have to build buildings.”
Duncan hand selects each car in the warehouse, sifting through online auction sites multiple times each day for unique finds.
“It’ll be four o’clock in the morning and I’ll be on the mouse clicking,” Duncan said, noting that his wife isn’t a fan of the late-night noise while she’s trying to sleep. “I tell everybody to just come to my estate auction. I’m sure my wife will sell them all.”
Duncan works with buyers in Japan, England and Spain. When he finds one he likes at an upcoming auction, he’ll tell his associate to bid whatever it takes up to a certain price.
When they win, Duncan wires his partner money. Then he works with shipping companies to arrange pickup and transportation on container ships to Newport News or Baltimore, where the vehicles are loaded onto trucks and delivered to Christiansburg.
Once here, Duncan’s team cleans the cars and takes photos. They don’t do many repairs, since he wants the cars to stay as close to original as possible.
The whole process takes about two months from the time he clicks his mouse until it’s on display in Christiansburg.
Duncan doesn’t know what the goal is. He could probably turn a profit if he gets to the point of selling around 50 classic cars each month. Today, he estimates he sells about 20.
Duncan is approaching retirement age, and says he’s thought about what will happen to the collection whenever he doesn’t want to deal with it anymore. One possibility is that he’ll auction off the whole lot at once, donating the funds to charity.
“I’m just playing it by ear and whatever God has in mind,” Duncan said. “He made it happen. I guess he’ll tell me what I need to do with it. It’s all his, not mine.”
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Mack Pinnacle trucks are now being built at the company's Macungie assembly plant.
LEHIGH VALLEY, Penn. — The first Mack Pinnacle tractor rolled off the assembly line at Mack’s Macungie Assembly Operations on Aug. 13, the company has announced.
The Macungie operation already produced Mack Granite, TerraPro and Titan models and now assembles Mack’s complete product line.
Previously, Mack Pinnacle trucks were produced at the company’s New River Valley plant in Dublin, Va. However, Mack says the move will improve efficiencies and create a brand-specific environment for Mack customers.
Pinnacle production will be completely transferred to Macungie by the end of November, according to the company. The first 1,000 Pinnacles to roll off the Macungie line will be adorned with a special Mack Bulldog decal on the hood.
Truck News is Canada's leading trucking newspaper - news and information for trucking companies, owner/operators, truck drivers and logistics professionals working in the Canadian trucking industry. All posts by Truck News


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If you’re taking someone out “on the cheap” in Paris, expect to drop a little over $US100.
That’s according to Deutsche Bank’s “Cheap Date Index,” which compares the cost of a simple date — cab fare, McDonald’s burgers, soft drinks, a pair of movie tickets, and a round of beers — across 32 major global cities.
Deutsche Bank priced out the cost in US dollars — it turns out a truly cheap date is hard to come by in some cities.
Here’s how much it will cost you for a night of fast food, movies, and beer in the 11 most expensive global cities for daters:
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Oh look. The latest ads from Apple — the ones created by Apple itself — haven’t scored as well as those created previously by its longtime agency.
I know it’s true, because I read it on the Internet.
These news stories are all based on a single report from Ace Metrix, which bills itself as “the new standard in television and video analytics.”
Please, say it ain’t so.
First, be aware that what appears to be a news story is actually a marketing pitch. It’s the same technique used by assorted computer security companies to drum up new business, which we’ve seen many times before.
They release a report with a sensational headline (New Virus Blows Up Mac Security Myth!), watch the news organizations eat it up, then happily field inquiries from clients impressed with their skills.
Ace Metrix sells marketing analytics software and competitive comparisons. Their findings generate stories, which at the same time generate PR for Ace. An excellent way to build “the new standard” in analytics.
But what exactly is the “Ace Score” of which they speak? If you have the stomach, read on. Continue reading →


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Former MGM chief Harry Sloan and former CBS entertainment president Jeff Sagansky are teaming up with Videocon d2h Limited, one of the fastest growing direct-to-home broadcast providers in India, to create the first U.S.-listed Indian Pay-TV operator.
In exchange for cash, the founders of Silver Eagle Acquisition Corp. will receive new equity shares of Videocon, initially valued at an estimated $303.7 million, representing no less than 33.5 percent of the company’s equity capital.
“We created Silver Eagle for the purpose of finding a fast-growing media opportunity, which is taking full advantage of the digital revolution,” said Sloan. “With almost 10 million digital subscribers, this well-managed company has passed the inflection point to become a leader in India’s explosive television growth.”
With Silver Eagle’s investment, Videocon will now have an enterprise value of more than $1 billion.
While the multichannel home universe in the U.S. and Europe has leveled off, India is expected to grow by 33 million new Pay-TV subscribers over the next four years.
Sagansky continued: “Videocon’s DTH business is in what we believe to be the fastest growing segment of the media industry in India in part because of the government’s ongoing mandatory digitization plan in addition to millions of Indian homes subscribing to pay TV for the first time.”
Mumbai-based Videocon d2h distributes over 500 digital television channels and other video and audio services to subscribers via direct satellite feeds.
Sloan and Sagansky, the Company’s Chairman and Chief Executive and President, respectively, are expected to join the board of directors of Videocon d2h at closing.


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Tilly Lockey, 14, lost her hands as a toddler, but sees it as a massive opportunity to embrace technology. She chatted with ARTHUR GOLDSTUCK about the human of tomorrow.
By NIRAL PATEL, Managing Director at Oracle South Africa
The Galaxy S10 is about to get a very welcome update
New and existing MTN customers can get 20GB of data to use on YouTube when signing up for or upgrading to new plans.
The multi-award-winning open-world adventure game The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt has been ported to the Nintendo Switch.
Recent Fortinet research has revealed that South Africa was among over 100 countries targeted by a Phishing actor or group using the same techniques.
The tenth edition of an ICT Skills Survey by Wits University’s Joburg Centre for Software Engineering (JCSE), in partnership with the Institute of Information Technology Professionals South Africa (IITPSA), shows the 4th Industrial Revolution is...


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Gas Prices So Low You Have To Crouch At The PumpIt's becoming a joy for motorists to pull up to the pump as gas prices continue to drop toward levels not seen in years, if not decades. Friday's national average is $1.69, but prices are even better in the Twin Cities.
AAA: 2015 Gas Prices Second-Cheapest In A DecadeAs 2015 went one, gas prices went down. In fact, AAA said we enjoyed the second-cheapest gas prices in a decade. The national average was just $2.40 a gallon last year. That's nearly a dollar cheaper than 2014.
Falling Gas Prices Make For Record Number Of Holiday TravelersIt's on track to be the busiest holiday for travel ever, and the American Auto Association (AAA) says you can credit that to falling gas prices.
The Reason Behind The Price Jump At The Pumpf you filled up your car recently, you might have noticed a price jump at the gas station. Gas prices went up about 10 cents a gallon in the Twin Cities Wednesday, and have gone up over 20 cents a gallon since last week.
Gas Prices Should Continue Falling, Experts SayDrivers taking that summer road trip can expect to see even more savings at the pump in the coming weeks.
AAA: 41.9M Americans Expected To Travel For Fourth Of JulyRoughly 41.9 million Americans are expected to travel 50 miles or more from their homes this Independence Day, according to AAA. AAA said this is up .7 percent from 2014 and the most Fourth of July travelers since 2007.
5 Discounts Any City OffersFrom discount dining to free admission to museums, here is a look at five discounts any city offers.
How To Plan A Trip With Your GrandchildrenHere are five great tips towards helping you plan the best and safest trip with your loving grandchildren.
Subzero Temps Make For Rough StartThe bone-chilling cold Minnesotans woke up to Monday had drivers kicking cars that wouldn't start and parents in the metro bundling kids up for the bus stop.
Minn. Company Touts Tool To Protect Stolen Credit CardsWith all the security breaches in the past year, many shoppers are concerned about using their credit or debit cards. But carrying large amounts of cash has its own risks. A survey by Bankrate.com in November found more than a third of American shoppers planned to use debit cards for Black Friday purchases. Many of those cards are tied to checking and credit accounts, and hold a wealth of personal information if hackers and thieves get their hands on them.
Reality Check: Why Are Gas Prices So Low?AAA is forecasting more travelers will hit the road this Thanksgiving than at any time since 2007.
Gas Prices Could Keep DroppingGas prices have dropped nearly 20 cents over the last two weeks, and they could keep dropping. The average price for gas is now $3.05 nationally, according to AAA.