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Postal Reform: Good News, But Only a Start
By Marrecca Fiore
The long-awaited passage of postal reform may have garnered the praise of the magazine and printing industry earlier this week, but the postal counsel for American Business Media cautions that the passing of the bill is just one small step in the right direction. "Until they find a way to control labor costs, we’re really just nibbling around the edges," said David Straus. "It’s better than not nibbling around the edges, but the postal service has to become less labor-intensive and that has to be reflected in the rates.
The postal service currently employs some 700,000 employees nationwide. The average postal carrier currently makes between $60,000 and $70,000 annually (including benefits). Straus says that’s just too much and little can be done to politically to change that. "The postal service just pays a whole heck of a lot more for labor costs than the private sector," he said. "The president’s commission suggested something be done to bring labor costs more in line with the private sector and maybe they can be controlled through attrition and automation."
The bill, passed late last week by the Senate and House of Representatives, requires that future postal rate increases will be capped and linked to the consumer price index; eliminates the mandate requiring the U.S. Postal Service to pay pension costs for postal employees who previously served in the military; and frees up the postal service from making postal pension payments into an escrow fund, which is expected to save it $78 billion over the next 60 years.
The bill also eliminates the need for the postal service to go before the Postal Rate Commission (renamed Postal Regulatory Commission in the bill) to raise rates. Currently, the postal service has a rate case pending before the commission that could raise rates for publishers upwards of 12 percent.
Straus says he worries that giving the sole power to raise rates to the postal service could have negative consequences down the road. "It’s more of a crap shoot," he said. "Now they don’t have to convince the commission that they need to raise rates through a rate case. And the complaint procedure to challenge a rate increase is extraordinarily expensive. So we just have to hope, and I believe they will, that they continue to use restraint in setting rate increases."
Straus said despite beliefs to the contrary, postal rates have, for the most part, been in line with the cost of inflation and that controlling labor costs would help to ensure that rates increase below the rate of inflation. "Productivity is improving and they should be able to increase at a rate less than the CPI," he said. "Maybe this will give them more incentive to do so."


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Azerion-owned HTML5 game distribution platform GameDistribution announced on Wednesday that it is teaming up with 3D game development company Moonlander.ai for the introduction of their new AI-powered software development kit to the gaming industry.
Moonlander launched its new SDK earlier in March to let game developers create high-end casual titles in a much easier way thanks to the generative AI technology.
In its press release, Azerion said that the new technology ‘’is set to revolutionise the way cross-platform 3D games are developed.’’
The companies are joining their forces to tailor the kit’s tools to meet the specific needs of GameDistribution, enabling its clients to build high quality games while saving money and time.
Through the partnership, Azerion also aims to add value to GameDistribution’s branded games, offering brands access to gamified products in a faster way through its ‘’game as a campaign’’ solution, and enabling them to distribute their titles through thousands of websites.
Commenting on the collaboration, Erol Erturk, Azerion’s Vice President of Games and Strategic Partnerships, said: “By joining forces, Azerion and Moonlander are paving the way for a new era of AI gaming, where the power of collaboration unlocks endless possibilities for immersive, intelligent, and engaging gameplay experiences.”
Ruben Vroman, Moonlander’s Chief Product Officer, said: “We are thrilled to work with Azerion’s developer network and reach millions of players daily. A company famous for their partnerships with Gameloft, Atari and ownership of titles such as Habbo hotel.”

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WSJ on touch BlackBerry; Intel 4-core; T-Mobile at 100K iPhonesA report by the Wall Street Journal further kindles rumors of a touchscreen BlackBerry going toe-to-toe with the iPhone this year. Meanwhile, T-Mobile Germany reports selling more than 100,000 iPhones since launch, Singapore Airlines offers passengers iPhone- and iPod-friendly in-seat entertainment, and Intel's first quad-core notebook chip may fit systems like the MacBook Pro.
WSJ backs claims of BlackBerry Thunder
Adding to speculation, the Wall Street Journal now says that it, too, has information supporting rumors of a rapidly-nearing launch for the BlackBerry Thunder.
Less non-committal than the original Boy Genius report, the newspaper's report cites anonymous people familiar with the smartphone who agree that the Thunder, also known as the BlackBerry 9500, will natively support both the Verizon and Vodafone wireless networks in addition to shedding a physical keyboard.
Little else is revealed in the Journal's account, though the earlier story would have the phone support both third- and fourth-generation data, despite neither Verizon nor Vodafone planning to debut 4G services for at least a year.
Nonetheless, the report bolsters the initial claims and says to expect a launch in summer that would pit both the Thunder and the Bold against an all but confirmed 3G iPhone.
T-Mobile Germany sells 100,000 iPhones since launch
Deutsche Telekom chief Rene Obermann on Thursday revealed that T-Mobile Germany has sold more than 100,000 iPhones since the Apple handsets first went on sale in November.
The report is the first since the end of January from T-Mobile, when the cellular provider said it had sold 70,000 units —indicating a significant slowdown after the iPhone's first few months in local stores.
Separately, T-Mobile board member Hamid Akhavan says the sales are still "in line" with predictions but admits that a promotional price cut has spiked sales since it was introduced in early April.
Singapore Airlines offers iPhone, iPod ports on flights
US travelers to the city-state of Singapore now have the option of plugging in their iPhone or iPod for most of the trip, Singapore Airlines announced on Thursday.
Effective immediately, certain long-distance flights will include special connectors to plug in dockable Apple devices and feed both audio and video to an in-seat entertainment system dubbed KrisWorld that will also keep the handhelds charged.
The system is intelligent enough to momentarily override audio in the event of a cabin announcement, the airline says, but must be used in Airplane Mode by iPhones to prevent interference.
Service starts with all Airbus A345 flights from Newark, New Jersey but should ultimately include all A340 airliners leaving Los Angeles starting from August and will spread to New York at a later date.
Intel quad-core notebook processor fit for thin systems?
A new report from the Inquirer alleges that Intel has refined the efficiency of its first quad-core mobile processor ahead of its summer release.
Although numerous sources have claimed the 2.53GHz Core 2 Extreme QX9300 will chew as much as 45 watts of peak power at its design limits —ruling it out for all but the heftiest notebooks —the British site now says Intel has reduced the processor's power draw to 35 watts without sacrificing its 12MB of Level 2 cache or other features.
The chip is believed to be part of the second wave of processors built for Intel's Centrino 2 platform, which enables a faster 1,066MHz bus speed and better power management, among other new features.
The drop would give it the same power consumption as most Core 2 Duo processors today, expanding the usefulness of the chip to thin-and-light notebooks. The processors in Apple's MacBook and MacBook Pro both consume 35 watts.
The cost of the chip, however, still calls into question its suitability for the MacBook Pro. A single QX9300 costs $1,038, or nearly twice as much as the 2.6GHz Core 2 Duo that Apple reserves as a build-to-order option for its premium MacBook Pro models.


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Statement by Vice-President Andrus Ansip at the press conference on the adoption of the Digital Single Market Strategy European Commission - Speech - [Check Against Delivery] Brussels, 06 May 2015 Ladies and gentlemen, Today, the College of Commissioners approved the DSM strategy. Digitisation has changed the environment we live in. The internal market is not functioning as it should.
March 2015 compared with February 2015 Volume of retail trade down by 0.8% in euro area Down by 0.6% in EU28 European Commission - EUROSTAT Brussels, 06 May 2015 In March 2015 compared with February 2015, the seasonally adjusted volume of retail trade fell by 0.8% in the euro area (EA19) and by 0.6% in the EU28, according to estimates from Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union.
Joint statement by the European Commission, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund European Commission - Statement Brussels, 06 May 2015 The European Commission, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund share the same objective of helping Greece achieve financial stability and growth. The institutions continue to work closely together toward that goal.
Joint statement following the phone call between European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic Alexis Tsipras European Commission - Statement Brussels, 06 May 2015 President Juncker and Prime Minister Tsipras spoke on the phone today. They took stock of progress made in the talks between Greece and its partners over the last days on a comprehensive set of reforms to achieve a successful completion of the...


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Ontario doctors target junk food with grisly cigarette-like warning labels
The Ontario Medical Association (OMA) unveiled several mock-ups on Tuesday to promote their plan, including a pizza box with a picture of a liver discolored by fatty liver disease, a child's juice box featuring a photo of a foot affected by diabetic ulcers and other similarly grotesque warnings.“The recommendations… may appear radical to some, but the urgency of our situation demands aggressive action,” the OMA announced at the event. “The lessons learned from the strategies of the tobacco-control movement should be applied to the fight against obesity.”Doctors proposed several other measures to control obesity rates: Higher taxes on junk food and lower taxes on healthy products; putting health warnings on vendor displays; restrictions on marketing and sales in stores visited by children.
OMA President Doug Weir said that obesity-related diseases are already costing Ontario $2.2 to $2.5 billion a year. In Canada, 31.5 percent of children and teens are overweight or obese, the OMA reported.The Ontario government, which has the authority to enact the OMA’s suggestions, said they would consider their opinions and refrained from commenting further.
An industry association spoke out forcefully against the controversial propositions.“Food is not tobacco. Tobacco has no place in a healthy, balanced lifestyle. A tax on food and beverages is nothing but a tax grab that will hurt lower- and middle-income Ontarians the most,” Phyllis Tanaka, a Vice President of Food and Consumer Products Canada (FCPC) said in a statement.“I think it’s shocking that medical doctors would be comparing food to tobacco,” fellow FCPC Vice President Derek Nighbor told the National Post newspaper. “They’re demonizing individual products and certain categories, and they’re ignoring the overall balanced diet message, which I think is seriously irresponsible.”Promoting a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle would be more effective than “over-the-top” labels, Nighbor added.
In 2000, Canada became the first country to force cigarette makers to have labels featuring gruesome and explicit images of rotting gums and emaciated cancer patients. Several other countries have since adopted the approach. The United States, however, ruled that the visuals were an unfair attempt to manipulate consumers into quitting.


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- Chidozie Uzoezie
BON Hotels to Expand in Nigeria with 22 Hotels and Residences
The Nigerian hospitality industry can look forward to exciting developments nationwide with as BON Hotels group gears up to open over 22 hotels in major Nigerian cities and major towns.
Hotels are expected in major cities like Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt, as well as Kano, Yola, Kebbi, Ekiti, Ibadan, Warri, Enugu, Asaba, Owerri, and Awka, to name a few.
The BON Hotels group, which currently has 10 operational hotels in Nigeria, will open these hotels and residences in the next few years. Hotels in Kano, Ibadan, Warri, Asaba and Port Harcourt are coming first, opening within the next four months.
These properties will focus on not only local and international business travellers, but keen leisure travellers too.
The tourism landscape of Nigeria has long been dominated by business travellers, and many of these travellers have stayed in traditional, multinational hotels with a run-of-the-mill approach to hospitality, but one group set sights on this area a few years ago and has changed the approach to hospitality expansion in Africa.
Beginning in Abuja, BON Hotels first signed a management agreement to manage, market and administrate this quaint 28-roomed boutique hotel back in 2015 and refurbished the hotel into a flourishing business-focused space, determined to provide loyal clients with reliable conferencing facilities and outstanding hospitality.
BON Hotels, who manages and owns hotels, lodges and resorts throughout Southern Africa, as well as West and East Africa, continued with hotels in Enugu, Asokoro and further properties in Abuja, and the growth since then has been exponential.


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Joseph Wilkins produces funny sales videos proven to generate millions of views and dollars for his clients. Today he shares his 8-step process for doing just that. Call the 24-hour Hotline +61 480 015 150 and let me know what you loved about this episode, or maybe you’d like to share a marketing idea that’s working for you.
Independent Australian production studio, The Woolshed Co. have released the results of a two-year social experiment exploring the phenomenon of ‘viral’ videos and shareable content. They repeatedly achieved world wide news coverage and gained over 200 million views with a series of fake viral videos without any paid media, promotion or publicity.


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MUMBAI: The appropriateness of a brand tie-in to a new film is less important than the amount of publicity that can be generated ahead of its release, leading industry figures in India have suggested.
"Today, only 15-20% of brand tie-ups are actually relevant to the target audience, the brand communication and brand DNA," Navin Shah, joint managing director of EMC Solutions Worldwide, a branded entertainment solutions firm, told Livemint.
He was speaking after characters in the popular Indian comedy show Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah appeared in bright blue paint as Smurf ambassadors, ahead of the recent release of The Smurfs 2.
The logic was to widen the appeal of the film beyond English-speaking children who already knew about the Smurfs and to reach a Hindi-speaking audience with the dubbed version.
"This is a sustained effort to build audiences for the (Hollywood) animation franchise," declared Divya Pathak, director of marketing at Sony Pictures India.
A more obvious link was that between Amul milk and the recent sporting biopic Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, based on the life of Indian athlete Milkha Singh. But the fit of Getit Infomedia as the official search partner for the movie was less clear.
"While both brands have derived some value from the association, assuming that the cost of association is the same, one (Amul) has derived more value than the other," said Shah.
"If it is a good fit, then there is a multiplier effect for the brand, as the association is memorable and likable, and therefore more impactful," he added.
The aim of brands in these cases is threefold – getting the implied endorsement of the stars, piggybacking on the success of a hit film and breaking through the clutter of communication.
But while filmmakers are careful what brands they associate with in the months preceding a launch, that reticence disappears as the release date nears.
"Any publicity is good publicity, to ensure that the film is on top of the consumer's mind," said Shah. "At that time a brand can help, even if the association is not relevant."
Data sourced from Livemint; additional content by Warc staff


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Video games are too addictive. That's according to researchers who think game-makers should make games less compelling, before the government is forced to step in and tackle addiction.
Around one in ten gamers are "pathological" players. In extreme cases, gamers are bashing buttons in sessions lasting 90 hours.
New research from experts at Cardiff, Derby and Nottingham Trent universities, published in the Addiction Research and Theory journal, identifies massively multiplayer online roleplaying games (MMORPGs) as being more conducive to addiction in players.
The problem with online role playing games like World of Warcraft is that they're open-ended and ongoing, as opposed to console and PC games that follow a story to an actual ending.
Many MMORPGs show messages warning players not to over-do it, but the researchers believe game developers and publishers need to go further and adjust "the structural features of the game design" to prevent players from getting so deeply absorbed.
Elements that could be changed include "the character development, rapid absorption rate and multi-player features, which could make them addictive and or problematic for some gamers."
The Association for UK Interactive Entertainment (UKIE) says there are measures in place to make sure players enjoy games safely, but admits that, "like anything enjoyable in life, some people play games excessively."
The researchers warn that if the problem is not tackled, the government could be forced to follow the example of China, where a time limit is imposed on games.
Do you think gaming addiction is a growing problem? Should games be made less fun? Tell me your thoughts in the comments or on our thoroughly addictive Facebook wall.


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Let’s get riding: Rallymoto release 2022 events calendar
Adventure bike event organisers Rallymoto have released their calendar for 2022, although you’ll have to be quick to bag a spot on their popular ‘500’ series.
Rallymoto specialise in navigational challenges, where entrants use a Dakar-style paper ‘roadbook’ to get around a set course. Riders are judged on the accuracy of their navigation rather than overall time (or speed).
Related articles on MCN
The 500s take in a mixture of on and off-road routes, with riders completing 500km over two days.
The Kielder 500, which takes place in Northumberland, is set for March 26-27, with tickets already on sale for £260.
For more information, head to www.rallymoto.co.uk.
Rallymoto bring their popular navigation events to tarmac-only riders
First published 7 May 2021 by Jordan Gibbons
A new road-based navigation event is coming this summer that will see road riders get a taste of the Dakar spirit without having to venture off the black stuff. The Cannonball Challenge is being organised by Rallymoto, who have had huge success organising similar events for adventure bike riders over the last few years.
“We see lots of guys who want to have a go at rally-style navigation but without the huge investment,” says Robert Hughes, founder of Rallymoto. “We also get a lot of guys who love the navigation aspect but don’t want to take their newer machines off-road, so we’ve created the road orientated Cannonball Challenge.”
Related articles on MCN
- Rallymoto Ice Breaker Challenge
- Armchair Adventure Festival heading to Cornwall
- MCN reader’s global riding adventure
The challenge works in a similar fashion to other Rallymoto events, where riders take on a long-distance course with points awarded for the accuracy of the navigation, rather than speed. Just like at the Dakar, the route is provided on roadbooks that have nav instructions (known as tulips) paired to an accurate trip meter. There will also be timed sections with points deducted for falling outside of the target.
To make things even easier than ever the Cannonball Challenge will run on a dedicated app that distils the function of a full rally set up into a smartphone. Inside the app is an accurate trip meter, speedo, compass and of course the roadbook itself. The app uses GPS so Rallymoto can track riders to see who has completed the route successfully.
The first Cannonball Challenge, which will be available to ride throughout June and July, will be a route through Wales from Ruthin Castle to Raglan Castle – a distance of nearly 300 miles. Unlike other events which take in green lanes, the route will be entirely on road, making it suitable for all kinds of bike.
There will also be a series of routes taking in well known cafes, dealers and biking hot spots around the country. There are even plans for longer distance overnight ‘marathon’ events taking riders from one end of the country to the other. For more info on the challenge, head to www.rallymoto.co.uk.


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In 11 years, across the PlayStation 2 and PlayStation 3, Sony Interactive Entertainment released 13 different Ratchet and Clank products, many of which were fully-fledged new releases. Since 2013, it's released one Ratchet and Clank game: a remake of the original on PlayStation 4 in 2016. This means we've only received one Ratchet and Clank game this generation, which is crazy when you step back and look at how many titles starring the Lombax and his robot sidekick were released the last two generations. That said, it looks like we may actually get more of the duo before the PS4 rides off into the sunset and is replaced by the PS5.
During a recent episode of the Knockback podcast, former IGN editor and Kinda Funny co-founder Colin Moriarty, talked about Ratchet and Clank, saying, "You haven't seen the last of Ratchet and Clank on PS4." Now, this doesn't seem to be speculation from Moriarty, but rather a cryptic tease of sorts. How would Moriarty have such a scoop you ask? Well, during his time at IGN Moriarty led the site's PlayStation division, and in the process, accumulated numerous sources within Sony Interactive Entertainment, its first-party studios, and the studios it works with, like Insomniac Games, makers of Ratchet and Clank. In other words, Moriarty has his sources. Further, he's never been one to carelessly add to the rumor mill or tease something he's not 100 percent positive on.
What's also interesting is that Moriarty has teased in the past that there's a fairly substantial PlayStation 4 exclusive in the works from a second-party studio that hasn't been announced yet. Could this be a new Ratchet and Clank? I don't know, but it fits the bill.
Of course, like any report or tease, this should still be taken with a grain of salt. Moriarty may know something we don't, but until we hear official word from Sony itself, I wouldn't advise going the bookies on any of this.
Anyway, as always, feel free to leave a comment letting us know what you think or hit me up on Twitter @Tyler_Fischer_ and let me know there. Would you like to see a new Ratchet and Clank on PS4?
Thanks, Gaming Bolt.
Have you subscribed to ComicBook Nation, the official Podcast of ComicBook.com yet? Check it out by clicking here or listen below.
In this latest episode, we talk about that Joker trailer, WWE Wrestlemania 35 and more! Make sure to subscribe now and never miss an episode!


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How to Make Holiday Season Success for Your Small Business
Just like the big retailers, your small business is planning for a holiday shopping season that looks very different this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
On one hand, everyone wants to have a traditional holiday shopping experience, says Matthew Wagner, vice president of Revitalization Programs at National Main Street Center Inc.
“On the other hand there is continued fear around the virus, and consumers have gotten used to—and show an increased preference for—convenient delivery and pick-up options,” ” he writes in a post on the Main Street America website.
That said, the importance of holiday sales to retail businesses is undeniable. Overall, holiday sales represent about 20 percent of annual retail sales each year, but the figure can be higher for some, according to the National Retail Federation, with hobby, toy and game stores reporting the highest share at about 30 percent.
“In addition, holiday sales can be more profitable because the increased volume of purchases comes without significantly increasing retailers’ fixed costs of doing business,” the NRF notes.
The Ongoing Need For Creative Approaches
Half of U.S. shoppers say the pandemic will affect how they’ll shop for the holidays this year, according to a Google study.
“This reaffirms the need for Main Street retailers to remain nimble and agile in order to respond quickly as we gain more clarity around the response of shoppers during the holidays,” says Wagner in the Main Street America post.
If you’re among the retailers who count on holiday sales every year, check out these ideas to help your small business be more successful during this unique shopping season.
1. Start promoting holiday sales ASAP. Most big retailers have announced they’re skipping the day-after-Thanksgiving sales to kick off their holiday season, and instead are just moving up the season. And so should you.
Plan on starting your holiday season sales as soon as possible. Whether you’re an online-only retailer or have a physical space open for business, this is the one year that businesses can take a no-apologies approach to declare an earlier than usual start to the holiday shopping season.
Customers are planning to shop earlier too, given the onsite store restrictions on capacity and hours as well as mail delivery delays. So, waiting until the traditional November timeframe to launch your holiday season could mean lost potential sales.
Instead, create your holiday marketing and sales around a shopping season that starts in October – give them a reason to shop at your business as soon as possible for gifts.
2. Outdoor pop-up sales. Pop-ups have long been a popular marketing tool for businesses wanting to kick up sales during the summer, holidays and otherwise. In the same vein as sidewalk or district-wide sales, a pop-up event gives you a chance to showcase your products. Right now, they especially appeal to customers who prefer in-person experiences over online shopping.
It’s been critical to build up your website for online sales, but analysts also say businesses need to find ways to safely accommodate consumers who want to browse and buy in person, says a Washington Post story by Abha Bhattarai.
“Pre-covid, there was a lot of real world discovery: People would go to stores to browse and make a mental note of things they wanted to buy, either for themselves or others,” says Liad Agmon, chief executive of Dynamic Yield, in the Post story. “Now that discovery is going to have to take place differently.”
More than 65 percent of consumers in the Google survey said they plan to shop local small businesses this season, yet there remains a hesitance by many customers to do that shopping inside. An open-air pop-up event could reach that group.
Find potential sites near your business, i.e., a sidewalk, parking lot, or look for a community location like a park or a farmer’s market area conducive to a pop-up experience that allows for customer browsing (and sales!) while following capacity and mask requirements.
3. Expect and plan for strong holiday sales. The good news is that despite the pandemic conditions, it seems customers are looking to do plenty of shopping this season. In fact, as much as they did pre-COVID.
A majority of consumers in a survey by Radial say they plan to spend the same amount as last year on holiday gifts. Retailers should expect similar or higher order volumes as previous years and be prepared to respond, said Radial, an omnichannel commerce technology and operations.
“The pressure is on for retailers to meet the demands of the holiday season,” the company said in a press release about the survey.
4. Create new versions of holiday cheer. Come up with ways your business can bring the fun part of holiday shopping to those customers who enjoy shopping during the holidays.
If you’re offering curbside delivery, consider decorating the parking area to reflect the holiday season through the new year, according to a post on Mobquity, which provides end-to-end omnichannel digital consulting services to businesses. This way customers may bask in the holiday spirit atmosphere they wait for their orders, it says.
“But if you wanted to take it a step further, maybe your store could partner with a nearby coffee shop to offer seasonal beverages to guests waiting for their order? The possibilities are endless and could go a long way toward helping your store stand out and brightening your customers’ days,” writes Brittany Mills in the Mobquity article.


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NAIROBI, June 13 (Xinhua) -- Kenya's umbrella body for local entrepreneurs on Wednesday signed an agreement with Chinese e-commerce platform Amanbo to promote export of high-value goods to China.
Officials said the new partnership between Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) and Shenzhen-based Amanbo is expected to revolutionize Sino-Kenya trade.
"Kenyan manufacturers and upcoming businesspeople will be able to explore the vast opportunities in China with the launch of an online marketplace where they can showcase their products," said James Mureu, National Vice-Chairman of KNCCI.
He said that a partnership with Amanbo will help address logistical hiccups that previously denied Kenyan exporters a chance to penetrate the vast Chinese market.
"It will be possible for our entrepreneurs to position their products and raise their visibility to Chinese consumers. There is need to leverage on technology to showcase Kenya's leading exports such as coffee, tea and carvings," said Mureu.
Liao Xuhui, CEO of Amanbo, said that a partnership with Kenya's trade lobby will open a new chapter in trade relations between China and Kenya.
"The Amanbo Kenya platform will help the country's importers and exporters order and supply products in the Chinese market directly without incurring transaction cost," said Sunny.
"It will help Kenya export tea, coffee, nuts, flowers and leather to the Chinese market," he added.
He revealed that Amanbo that was launched in 2015 has built the first museum of African culture and African products showroom in southern China.
Yin Yingbin, General Manager of Amanbo in Kenya, said the launch of an online platform to connect Kenyan and Chinese entrepreneurs will foster trust alongside exchange of market information.


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NEW YORK — If you want to sell a sports car, think red. If carpeting provides your bottom line, bank on beige. If you like to stay ahead of the curve, invest in a hot shade of teal. If you`d rather play it safe, blue will keep most products in the pink. But, if you hope to sell anything at all, beware of a sulphurous shade of yellow-green. Consumers pick up this hue and cry, don`t buy.
Such are some of the tony tidbits dispensed by the new Pantone Consumer Color Preference Study released at a news conference here Friday.
The study, the first of its kind to examine color preferences not only in terms of demographics but also lifestyle segments, analyzes current and future color trends. Conducted by the Pantone Color Institute, a New Jersey-based international color consultancy to designers, manufacturers and consumers, and the Cooper Marketing Group, a Chicago firm specializing in consumer products, the study covered 25 key categories in apparel, home furnishings and automobiles.
Conducted during January and February, the survey contacted a statistically balanced sample of 5,000 people, each of whom received a questionnaire and a chart of 109 numbered colors drawn from the 1,701 specific shades that comprise Pantone`s Textile Color System.
Color is typically one of the top three factors governing most purchases and may even be the motivating factor, according to Mimi Cooper, vice president and a principal in Cooper Marketing, the firm that designed and executed the study.
``One of the reasons this research could only be done with Pantone is because they have this color system,`` said Cooper. By presenting the respondents with actual colors-neutral numbers substituting for Pantone`s possibly suggestive descriptors-vague consumer descriptions were eliminated and the entire sample could, in effect, speak a common color language, she said.
The 3,370 respondents were fairly evenly spread in terms of geographic region, age groups, income brackets and education levels achieved. Fifty-two percent were women, and 48 percent were men.
The overall favorite color, hands down, is blue. The most popular blue was an inky shade that Pantone calls ``limoges,`` said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute. The most-hated color, by far, is a sickly yellow-green Pantone appropriately calls ``sulphur.`` ``As a color psychologist, I can tell you this is the color most associated with nausea, or, as one client put it, squished caterpillars,`` said Eiseman. Neon orange is also a no-no.
The big news, however, is in the forecasted color of the future: teal, a commingling of blue and green. ``In every category, blue-green is coming up,`` said Cooper, whose research shows the color becoming particularly popular in clothing, towels, tabletop accessories and autos.
Right behind teal is a growing demand for colors in the red-violet range, such as fuchsia and magenta, which is forecast as the coming trend in swimwear and neckties.
In a new twist in color research, Pantone and Cooper, working with the answers to 70 questions geared to shopping habits, came up with five broad consumer types and color profiles.
``Prudent`` people, illustrated at the news conference by a photo of President Bush, are the list-makers and comparison shoppers. They plan for everything, stick to their budgets and tend to be the kind of people who would buy you tube socks for Christmas. With an average age of 42, median income of $37,000, two-thirds of this group have one or more years of college. You can spot them by their favorite colors: navy, light blue, clear pink and, somewhat surprisingly, the cutting-edge color of the moment, teal.
They may sound boring, but prudent people could become the most influential consumer group in the `90s, according to Cooper. ``What I find interesting, from a marketing point of view, is that the prudent segment is growing because of the economy, even among people in the higher-income segment,`` she said, noting that the prudent group could displace the
``impulsive`` and ``confident`` groups as the darlings of marketers.
If ``impulsive`` people ever make a shopping list, they rarely consult it and almost never concern themselves with comparison prices. Shopping adventurers, they blithely set off without budgets and come home with surprise purchases, large and small. Two-thirds of them have some college education. With an average age of 43 and a median income of $35,000, they share an affinity for black, gray, royal blue and a shade of neon red-orange called Firewater.
A rather depressing color duet of lavender and brown characterizes the
``pessimistic`` among us. Typically, insecure homebodies with heavy debts and heavier hearts, this gloomy group is the least-educated-two-thir ds have no college-level education-and the least well-off, with a median income of $25,000. Their average age is 51.


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A Star Wars Battlefront game is currently in development for PlayStation VR, Sony confirmed at a PSVR showcase event hosted this evening (15 March) during GDC 2016 in San Francisco. No further details about a release window were revealed.
The virtual reality headset will launch in October 2016 for £349 / $399 and will require no more to function then what comes in the box and a PS4 console.
"This will be a Star Wars Battlefront gaming experience like nothing else," said president and CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment Andrew House, "where players can transport themselves to a galaxy far, far away."
A full console Star Wars Battlefront game launched in November, shortly before the release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens - the latest entry in the cinematic series. It's safe to say Star Wars is extremely popular right now, so this is a major exclusive for Sony, and not just in the virtual landscape.
Sony announced PlayStation VR, which was codenamed Project Morpheus at the time, back at GDC 2014 where Sony Worldwide Studios president Shuhei Yoshida showed off the first prototype model (similar to the final product) and said it would "shape the future of games".
Back in November we put together a list of the 50+ games and demos known to exist for PlayStation VR, many of which will see the light of day this year. In January Sony CEO Kaz Hirai stated that over 100 games are currently in development for the headset.


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Plaid’s new head of Europe, Brian Dammeir.
U.S. financial technology firm Plaid has hired former Adyen executive Brian Dammeir as its new head of Europe, the company told CNBC exclusively.
Dammeir was previously Adyen’s global head of unified commerce, a role he led out of the Dutch payment company’s San Francisco office. Dammeir oversaw a key part of Adyen’s business — joining up different payment experiences including online, in-store, and app-based, in one single platform.
Dammeir will take over the reins from Ripsy Bandourian, who previously oversaw the company’s expansion across Europe, at a pivotal time for the company as it branches out into other areas of finance including payments and lending.
Plaid, which was last valued by investors at $13.4 billion in a funding round, offers technology that enables financial technology apps to retrieve data from people’s bank accounts and initiate payments on their behalf.
It is part of a movement in finance and technology known as “open banking,” which encourages the opening up of financial data to non-bank financial institutions to encourage competition in the sector.
Dammeir told CNBC in an exclusive interview Monday that the thing he was most excited by in joining the company was “the opportunity around open finance,” an evolution on open banking that looks to innovate in all areas of finance, including lending.
“When we think about Europe, it’s about how can we be more relevant globally … how can we find more and more use cases outside of our starting point in fintech.” Dammeir told CNBC.
“Right now, that’s really about expanding into account-to-account payments as well as into lending and traditional banking,” he added.
Bandourian, a former Booking.com executive, was appointed the company’s first head of Europe last year. She worked with Keith Grose, formerly Plaid’s head of international, who has since left the business to join business-to-business billing platform Sequence.
Bandourian left Plaid to “pursue…
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More companies are searching for ways to de-risk defined benefit (DB) schemes
Companies trying to bring defined benefit (DB) schemes under control are increasingly turning to de-risking solutions offered by the likes of Just Group, which has today announced a 99% increase in the service compared to the first quarter of year.
For the first three months of 2018 Just reported sales of its DB de-risking proposition of £249 million, up form £125 million over the same period the previous year.
It reached a peak in the last quarter of 2017, with £434 million. Just said it had seen a ‘marked increase’ in activity this year compared to the same period last yea , but also put that down to more proactive employee benefits consultants.
Just reports DB de-risking sales as part of overall retirement income sales, which increased 43% from £317 million to £454 million.
Another component of that is sales of guaranteed income for life products, which increased from £174 million to £188 million (8%) and care plans (£17 million, same as the previous year).
Drawdown sales decreased very slightly, from £12 million to £11 million.
Group Chief Executive Rodney Cooke said: 'We have taken full advantage of buoyant market conditions to make a strong start to the year, especially in DB. We have maintained our financial discipline and are in a position to price even more selectively over the balance of the year. The pipeline remains strong across our main products, particularly in DB De-risking, and we look forward to the remainder of the year.'


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India and the US are likely to explore an alliance to manufacture semiconductor chips during US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo’s visit to New Delhi on March 8-10, a source tracking the matter has said.
Raimondo, accompanied by a senior business delegation, will co-chair the US-India CEO Forum and US-India Commercial Dialogue meetings with her Indian counterpart Piyush Goyal, focusing on issues such as supply chain resilience, inclusive digital economy, energy security, and post-pandemic economic recovery, a source told businessline.
“If all goes well, the two sides could sign a memorandum of cooperation on semiconductor partnership during Raimondo’s visit. The US wants to insulate its critical technology supply chain from China, secure against shortages, and also bring down the world’s dependence on Taiwanese chips. It views India as a reliable option,” the source added.
Private-sector task force
On January 31 this year, the US Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) and the India Electronics and Semiconductor Association (IESA) announced plans to form a private-sector task force to strengthen collaboration between the two countries in the area of semiconductors.
The goals of the task force include developing a readiness assessment regarding the semiconductor ecosystem in India and making recommendations on opportunities and challenges to increase India’s role within the global semiconductor value chain, including chip manufacturing.
“India’s large labour force, sizeable English-speaking population and democratic rule of law make it an attractive destination for the manufacture of chips,” the source added.
Last year, the Union Cabinet approved the Semicon India programme with a total outlay of ₹76,000 crore to provide financial support to companies for the development of the semiconductor and display manufacturing ecosystem in the country.
Less Taiwan dependence
Promoting chip manufacturing in India fits in with Washington’s intention of relying less on supplies from Taiwan and cutting out China from critical technology supply chain because of existing geo-political tensions.
The global semiconductor foundry market size was valued at $101.6 billion in 2022 and is projected to reach $182.9 billion by 2030.
Taiwanese companies, led by TSMC, account for over 60 per cent of the market share of the global foundry market (factories contracted to make chips designed in other countries). China accounts for 8.5 per cent of the global foundry market.
Washington wants to check Beijing’s market expansion plans.
“While the US is eager to get into a semiconductor partnership with India, it may want to put in place some conditions related to labour regulations. The Democrats are very focussed on labour, but India needs to be comfortable with what is proposed,” the source said. The Hindu BusinessLine


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Drones are currently the biggest thing in the technology community these days due to the technology’s almost infinite number of possible applications and it looks like Xiaomi may be getting into the drone game and may show off its first drone this year at the 2016 Mobile World Congress later this month.
According to recently published patent documents from the Chinese Intellectual Property Office, which Xiaomi applied for last year, the drone the company is working on will feature a four axis design like many of today’s drones as well as a built-in camera.
The patent documents also reveal that the drone may be controlled using gestures when a wearable like Xiaomi’s Mi Band is worn. As seen in the images from the documents, users may be able to connect their Xiaomi drones with the Xiaomi Mi Band and control it using simple gestures such as the flick of a wrist.
The Xiaomi drone may also come with a follow feature that, after a gesture command, will make the drone follow you around and record videos or take pictures. The Xiaomi may drone may even adjust the to the elevation and incline of the ground it is flying above.
The company may be unveiling this new product at the 2016 World Mobile Congress this year maybe along with a new wearable.


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Drugmaker: Take cautious approach to CBD regulation
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – State governments should take a cautious approach to regulating products containing Cannabidiol (CBD), an active ingredient in cannabis derived from the hemp plant, said an official from the pharmaceutical company that developed Epidolex, the only cannibis-based drug that has won approval from the Food and Drug Administration for disease treatment.
In 2018, FDA approved Epidiolex (cannabidiol) [CBD] oral solution for the treatment of seizures associated with two rare and severe forms of epilepsy, Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome, in patients 2 years and older. This is the first FDA-approved drug that contains a purified drug substance derived from marijuana.
“It is important that regulators take a deliberative science-based approach,” said Mark Bolton, senior director of U.S. public policy and senior counsel for GW Pharmaceuticals.
Bolton said that state policies should encourage development of FDA-approved cannabis-derived medicines for serious and life-threatening diseases but that consumers need strong quality control over products to be sold in a mass-market setting without physician oversight.
Bolton added that he is certain FDA will take this approach. “There is a lot of therapeutic value left to be explored,” Bolton said.
While federal law says that hemp only contains less than 0.3 % tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive component also contained in marijuana, Bolton said that consumption of products derived from hemp can lead to consumption of higher amounts of THC. He added that products containing CBD can degrade over time.
Because the 2018 farm bill decriminalized hemp but said that the states have to develop hemp policies and license growers, the states will have an important role in regulation.
Farmers have showed great enthusiasm for planting hemp this year, even though there are concerns about the size of the market for the products.
Most states are trying to help farmers grow the crop and market it, but South Dakota Republican Gov. Kristi Noem vetoed a hemp cultivation bill and has said the legalization of hemp is a step toward the legalization of marijuana.
–The Hagstrom Report


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India’s jobless rate fell to the lowest level in four months in July, adding to signs of a nascent recovery in the economy where sales tax collections and demand for some commodities have signaled a rebound. The unemployment rate dropped to 6.95% last month from 9.17% the previous month, according to latest data from private research firm Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy Pvt.
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GAFAM has largely exceeded its annual forecasts, with growth of 76 billion dollars over the year 2021.
The pandemic and the release of the highly anticipated Pixel 6 have made Google happy. The parent company of GAFAM Alphabet has just formalized a record financial balance sheet in 2021. After a visibly profitable holiday season for the company, it now records an annual net profit of $76 billionalmost double compared to 2020, which peaked at “only” 40 billion.
A record fourth quarter
In the last quarter of last year alone, between October and December 2021, the American group exceeded the 75.3 billion dollars in turnover, for a net profit of 20.64 billion dollars, reports an official press release published on Tuesday. After this announcement, Alphabet’s share price rose 7%. An excellent annual result, made possible largely thanks to Google’s advertising activities, said Ruth Porat, Alphabet’s financial director: “Our quarterly revenue, up 32% year-on-year, reflects strong ad spend across all formats and strong online consumer presence, as well as substantial revenue growth for Google Cloud.”
Despite a shaky start to the year, Google has finally been able to take advantage of the pandemic, and in particular of our new online browsing habits. Like Meta, Amazon, or even Microsoft, which took advantage of last year to greatly develop its cloud offer, Alphabet has been able to multiply the sources of income. In addition to online advertising on Chrome and YouTube, which alone allowed the web giant to garner $61 billion in revenue, the company’s cloud branch has also made significant progress, with $5.5 billion. dollars in sales and growth of 45%.
Company boss Sundar Pichai also used his year in review to praise the popularity of the Pixel 6, which “despite supply chain challenges” managed to achieve “record quarterly sales”.
Big projects in 2022
After a year 2021 beyond expectations, Google is expected to continue growing in 2022. Digital advertising is expected to bring more than $171 billion to Google this year, according to analyst firm eMarketer. 30% of the world market. A hegemonic situation that should attract even more attention from antitrust regulators in the future.


text: CapitaLand’s VC arm backs $1.75m funding for retail data analytics startup Omnistream Mars Woo June 6, 2018 PremiumC31 Ventures, the venture capital arm of Singaporean mall operator CapitaLand, has joined Singapore and Silicon Valley VC firm Wavemaker Partners in leading a $1.7-million seed funding round for retail data analytics startup Omnistream. Continue reading this story with a subscription to DealStreetAsia. Subscribe Already a subscriber? Log in Should your colleagues be reading this article too? Contact us for corporate subscriptions at email@example.com.


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Demand for convenience and food and drink ‘on-the-go’ is helping to drive sales of snacking products, particularly crisps and salty snacks, across Europe.
This is according to IRI, the big data and technology expert for consumer industries, which has analyzed the Top FMCG Categories in 2017 across six major European countries (UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the Netherlands).
A key driver within the ambient food category, the growth in snacks is being boosted by consumers’ increasingly busy lifestyles and preference for eating on-the-go – often as an alternative to traditional meals eaten at home. Overall, ambient food was worth €96 billion across key IRI European countries last year, and grew by +1.4% on average, with Germany and the Netherlands showing the biggest growth, both up +2.3% year on year (YoY).
Within the ambient category, crisps and salty snacks, with total sales of €6.3 billion (+3.7% YoY), was a common growth driver across all countries, ranking inside the top 10 for absolute growth YoY in all but two countries. Category sales grew fastest in Italy, with underlying volumes up +7.5% YoY led by increasing rate of sale.
The health-conscious consumer
As highlighted in IRI’s European Shopper Survey last year, health and wellbeing is increasingly important for shoppers, dictating their food and drink choices and helping to drive growth in organic, vegetarian and gluten-free products.
IRI’s analysis shows that consumers are opting for healthier or lighter products, such as individually portioned fruit, nuts, popcorn, baked and vegetable crisps/chips, as their snack of choice. Double-digit growth of vegetable chips, for example, is being fuelled by new product development, including root vegetable, pea, rice and lentil variants, from niche and mainstream brands.
IRI also shows that bottled mineral water volumes are now growing ahead of colas across all countries (+3.3% vs -3.4% YoY), suggesting that more consumers are opting to re-hydrate, detox and consider their general wellbeing. Concerns regarding high sugar content linked to health issues like obesity and diabetes are playing an influential role. This decline in fizzy drink sales could be compounded further in the UK with the impending introduction of a soft drinks tax (April 2018) and proposed further hikes in France where a levy has been in place since 2013.
Olly Abotorabi, Senior Regional Insights Manager at IRI, comments: “Our analysis of the bestselling macro categories in 2017 throws up some interesting developments in terms of the changing profile of the typical European shopper. Quick and easy access to food and drink choices is becoming more important, so manufacturers and retailers will need to maximize opportunities here.
“Portability and re-sealable packaging, for example, are increasingly valuable assets in delivering convenience for the on-the-go consumer. But they will need to balance this with demand for healthier options, as sugary snacks become less attractive to shoppers, and offer alternatives more suited to guilt-free grazing, such as nuts and seeds, fruit and popcorn.”
Trends in alcohol
Total sector value grew strongly across all countries, worth €62 billion, up 2.6% YOY.
Beer was the leading growth category in terms of absolute value growth year on year in most countries. Premiumization of beers, and especially craft beers, helped to drive sales in most countries, including the UK and Spain (+4% YoY). Perhaps surprisingly, sales of beer in Germany were down -0.5 YoY, driven by a decline in Pilsner lager, overshadowing the growth from Radler (beer mixed with soft drink) and craft style Hell Lager from Munich.
Spirits emerged the main winner in the German alcohol category, up 2.3% YoY. In France, spirits also did well, with Rum up +12% YoY, leading the surge in popularity of more modern spirits as traditional liqueurs decline. A star performer across Western Europe in 2017, Gin saw a strong upturn in fortunes, with double digit growth in Germany (+39%), Italy (+10%) France (+17%) and the UK (+24% YoY).
IRI’s Olly Abotorabi adds: “It’s no surprise that the likes of Gin are proving very popular in many countries driven by an increasing number of small and niche batch distillers, celebrity culture and enhanced in-store exposure via displays during key seasonal events. Spirits in general are seeing good growth across most markets. Notably the move towards premiumization, flavour innovations and an increased appetite for beers and ciders with crafty credentials provide a huge opportunity for brands in this category.”
To see a copy of the IRI Top Categories 2017 Special Report, visit: https://www.iriworldwide.com/IRI/media/IRI-Clients/International/Top-Categories-Special-Report-2018.pdf


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BNP Paribas has launched an online training game that enables new recruits to learn about the business by building their own virtual banks.
The "Starbank" programme, available in French, English and Italian, calls on players to build a fictitious bank in an orbital city of the future.
Initially helped by a virtual guide called Marvin, they must develop their business by establishing structures such as sales outlets and business centres, or by investing in new business lines and services.
Various performance indicators let players track the profitability of their investments in real time.
BNP says the game is an enjoyable way for new staff to learn about the bank's three core businesses: retail, asset management and services and corporate and investment banking.
Last month the bank launched an online game that saw 4000 students from around the world compete in a virtual world to accomplish banking related missions.
You can view a demo the game here


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InFocus introduced the ScreenPlay 7205 home single-chip DLP TV projector during the CEDIA Expo, here, earlier this month.
The projector, which will be available during the fourth quarter with a suggested retail of around $10,000, fits into the “home theater” niche the market, according to InFocus.
Scott Hix, VP/general manager, explained that there are three levels of the market:
- “Home Cinema,” with projectors going from $15,000 to $50,000;
- “Home Theater,” which ranges from $7,000 to $15,000 products in the “premium” area and $3,000 to $7,000 in the “value” segment”; and
- “Home Entertainment,” with products there priced no higher than $3,000.
Hix added that most of the industry’s business is still in the “Home Cinema” and “Home Theater” areas describing “Home Entertainment” as a “developing market.”
Built on the platform of the ScreenPlay 7200, the 7205 features the new “Mustang” HD2+ chip from Texas Instruments, which provides improved brightness, contrast and reduced pixel structures. The 7205 also features a custom-designed seven-segment 5x color wheel and the enhanced Faroudja DCDi, the FLI2310, that converts 60Hz video to the same refresh rate as film projectors. InFocus also noted that the unit also features a 35mm lens and 16-by-9 resolution.
The number of retailers and installers that carry InFocus products has grown in the past year, Hix said. During last year’s CEDIA Expo 318 U.S. dealers sold InFocus projectors while today 719 carry the brand. By the end of the year InFocus will be carried by around 1,000 retailers and installers and will cover the top 150 markets that can properly sell, explain and install the line, according to Jim Davis, senior director/home entertainment.
- DEG Honors Dolby, Sony And Warner At Annual CES Awards Event - January 11, 2019
- LG’s CES Keynote: AI Is ‘Opportunity Of Our Lifetime’ - January 9, 2019
- Memories Of Our Friend John - April 12, 2018


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Putting people at the heart of what a brand stands for seems to be a forgotten wisdom. Nonetheless some brands have unquestionably achieved this.
Coca-Cola has released a heart-warming short documentary dedicated to the joy of the family reunion on the Lunar New Year in China.
At least 10p from every bottle will be donated to Prostate Cancer UK, and the rest of money will be used to develop the business in order to generate more money and increase further donations.
Special K, the low-fat breakfasts and snacks brand from the Kellogg’s portfolio, is taking on the women’s bad habit to treat themselves aggressively with self-depreciation talks about their weight and beauty.
The Withings brand of body monitors has launched an impressive stop-motion video that inspires people to love their bodies and listen to them.
Doing good can be not just rewarding, but beneficial for all—prove the U.K. ethical food brand for kids and toddlers Little Dish together with the London children's charity Kids Company.
The brand in Switzerland is offering a match-making service now, allowing each person who doesn’t have a company on December 24-26 to find it through a dedicated site.
The online meet-up that starts at 9 a.m. EST today is dedicated to Giving Tuesday, the day when people traditionally donate to the charity of their choice.


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There's some good news if you're eagerly anticipating an updated look for Apple's most affordable iPhone. Based on the leaked renders, it looks like the iPhone SE 4 will actually look like a handset released this decade instead of one with a rapidly aging design.
But there's bad news, too. We're not any closer to actually seeing the iPhone SE 4 up close and in person.
Yes, CAD designs for the next version of the iPhone SE have appeared, and they deliver an updated look and feel for a phone that's more than ready to shed its circa-2017 design. But most Apple observers are expecting a 2025 release for the iPhone SE 4, meaning we'll be cooling our eyes for at least another year, waiting for a cheaper alternative to Apple's assorted flagships.
That's certainly a bummer for anyone in the market for a new handset who doesn't want to pay top dollar for the best iPhones. But it's an issue for Apple, too. As I've noted on numerous occasions, the market for midrange devices priced at around $500 is getting more competitive all the time. The longer Apple stays on the sidelines here, the tougher time a new iPhone SE is going to have making an impact, no matter what it looks like.
New look for the iPhone SE?
Still, you have to take some encouragement from the leaked iPhone SE 4 CAD renders published at 91mobiles. If accurate, they show that Apple realizes it's time to file away that iPhone 8-inspired look and its chunky bezels once and for all.
In case you haven't seen the renders, they reveal a new iPhone design that looks a lot like the one Apple last used on the iPhone 14. Sure, Apple abandoned that look for its flagships this past fall with the iPhone 15 release, but turning to a design last used in 2022 would be a big step forward for the iPhone SE, which takes its current design cues from a 2017 handset.
The renders show a single camera cutout on the back of the phone, along with a notch for housing the front camera and Face ID sensors on the front. There's no sign of the Home button nor the vast swaths of bezel needed to house that physical button.
For some, it will be a disappointment that the iPhone SE 4 won't feature a Dynamic Island cutout or that it's sticking with the single camera setup currently featured on the iPhone SE (2022). There's also no trace of the Action button introduced with the iPhone 15 Pro and likely to come to other models when the iPhone 16 debuts later this fall.
But these are the kind of sacrifices you're going to make to get a cheaper iPhone. I wouldn't mind a second camera lens on the iPhone SE 4 myself, and I think the Dynamic Island has been one of the better additions to recent iPhone models. But would I drop both of those feature requests if it meant saving $300 or more off the iPhone 15's starting price? In a heartbeat.
I'm also not too sad to see Apple leaving behind the 4.7-inch screen of the current iPhone SE for what looks to be a 6.1-inch display even though I'm a big fan of smaller phones. In my experience, Apple's 6.1-inch models — currently, the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro among the latest flagships — are compact enough to use with one hand.
Why the wait, Apple?
What's less understandable is why we need to wait for a new iPhone SE. It's been two years since the current model came out, and that launch date was two years following the arrival of the iPhone SE (2020). It's true that Apple shortened the time frame in between iPhone SE releases to add 5G compatibility to the SE, but you could argue that the dated look of the current model is as every bit a pressing concern now that the lack of 5G support was back then.
And yet, waiting is something we need to resign ourselves to, if the people who make a living forecasting Apple's various moves are anything to go by. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has flagged a 2025 release date for the iPhone SE and the fact that Apple seems to be favoring product announcements by press release instead of an in-person spring launch event would also seem to suggest that an iPhone SE 4 launch is far from imminent. So 2025 it is.
Other phone makers haven't seem to have gotten that memo, though, because they're certainly not standing in place. Later this spring, we're expecting to see both the Pixel 8a and Galaxy A55 — new versions of phones that already out-paced the iPhone SE. And depending on when the iPhone SE ships in 2025, successors to those still unreleased updates could also be upon us. Throw in a new R series phone from OnePlus — the strong reviews for the OnePlus 12R almost certainly mean another global launch for that midrange phone — and that's a lot of competition for the iPhone SE 4 before it even sees the light of day.
Apple famously doesn't give a rip over what its competition does, and company executives have spoken disdainfully about releasing cheap phones just for the sake of releasing them. But that's not what Google, Samsung and, now, OnePlus are doing — they're putting out good phones that happen to be cheap. And that's raising the bar for what the iPhone SE 4 has to do to compete, whether Apple cares to acknowledge that or not.
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Philip Michaels is a Managing Editor at Tom's Guide. He's been covering personal technology since 1999 and was in the building when Steve Jobs showed off the iPhone for the first time. He's been evaluating smartphones since that first iPhone debuted in 2007, and he's been following phone carriers and smartphone plans since 2015. He has strong opinions about Apple, the Oakland Athletics, old movies and proper butchery techniques. Follow him at @PhilipMichaels.


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According to unofficial reports , the Apple TV app is currently being tested internally and will be released soon, although no specific timeframe has been set. This news comes as a surprise as the Apple TV app is currently only available on Apple devices and some non-Apple devices such as gaming consoles, streaming devices and smart TVs. See also: tvOS 16.1.1 solves the problem with the latest.
Apple TV 4K 128 GB The availability of the Apple TV app on Android smartphones would provide Android users with a more convenient way to access the Apple TV+ streaming service. Currently, Android users must rely on tv.apple.com to access the service. The Apple TV app allows phone number list users to stream Apple TV+, buy or rent TV shows and movies from the iTunes Store, and more. Its availability on Android smartphones can help increase Apple TV+ viewership and increase revenue from Apple services.
The move can also be seen as a way for Apple to compete with other streaming giants like Disney+, Netflix and HBO Max. Overall, the availability of the Apple TV app on Android smartphones can be beneficial for both Apple and Android users. Android users will have a more convenient way to access Apple TV+, while Apple can expand its customer base and potentially increase its revenue. It will be interesting to see how development progresses and what new features the app will bring to Android users.


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In his commentary in United Kingdom’s Telegraph newspaper, the company’s chief executive officer Sir Andrew Witty said GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) will unveil plans to build up to five new factories, creating hundreds of jobs to step up its presence in the region.
Sir Witty underlined the importance of the African region for GSK’s long-term business.
“The transformation of Africa into a successful growth region is one area that we need to focus on. There is a great opportunity for business to play a role, a alongside governments and other agencies, to help deliver improved infrastructure and create prosperity to lift people out of poverty for good,” he said.
GSK manufactures drugs in Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa but it is looking at sites in Ghana, Ethiopia and Rwanda for its new facilities in expanding its operations in Africa.
Sir Witty will make the announcement at the EU-Africa Business Summit in Brussels.
He said the company is thoughtful about the kind of modern, relevant business they want to build specifically for Africa.
“I will set out plans to move further on our agenda to help more people in Africa access health care and contribute to development. This will see us make new R&D and manufacturing investments that will create jobs. Build capacity and support sustainable growth,” he noted.
He said if done correctly, it will be a powerful illustration of how business can spur commercial success and support social change. “In this way, we can deliver a strong business performance and do good, improving the lives of people all over the world.”
GSK’s sales model for much of Africa is based on volume rather than profit growth. For the countries that fall into its “least developed” category, the company sells its patented medicines for a quarter of the price they fetch in the UK. In 2013 it established a new unit dedicated to selling drugs in Sub-Saharan Africa, which it described in its annual report as “the first step in a broader growth strategy for Africa”.
The company also reinforced its presence in the continent last year by partnering with Save the Children to “save the lives of one million children” by broadening access to vaccines, investing in health workers, improving child nutrition and researching new medicines. Programmes have been launched in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Kenya.
GSK is also in the advanced stages of developing the world’s first malaria vaccine, which could make a “significant impact” on the health of millions of young children.


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Study: Consumers Not Ready for Keyless Cars
A firm called Strategy Analytics explored consumer appetite for truly keyless cars in its recent report. The report-Keyless Cars: Do Consumers Want Them, and Are Automakers Ready?”-was prepared by in-vehicle UX group at Strategy Analytics.
While keyless technology provides a number of benefits such as consumers having one less item to lose or replace and automakers leveraging the technology for fleet management, it also holds fundamental disadvantages: the requirement of an active and charged mobile device and a reliable mobile connection, according to the report.
“Consumer demand is certainly present for keyless technology but this demand is largely being driven by two specific demographics: younger or middle-aged car owners and a large majority of early adopters,” said Derek Viita, the author of the report and a senior Strategy Analytics analyst. “With the proliferation of OEM-branded apps and telematics services, stakeholders are certainly under pressure to validate the keyless concept. Narrow demand and the limitations of the technology itself evoke questions about its readiness for a wider market.”
“Strategy Analytics advises immediate exploration of the concept for model lines catering to younger and tech-savvy consumers, but caution among wider portfolios for the near term,” according to Chris Schreiner, director of Syndicated Research UXIP.


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Prism Suite was designed with you in mind. It combines the automated desktop management functions administrators use the most
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Google and Facebook Could Challenge Traditional Banks
Bank of Google? Facebook turning into Facebank?
It sounds wild to think these companies could become major players in the financial services industry, but partnerships abroad are serving as a model.
Chinese customers of Alipay, a wing of e-commerce king Alibaba, are pouring money into Yu'e Bao, an online investment fund, and getting high rates of return of around 5% annually. They can also use the service to pay for things online.
It continues a trend we're seeing of a powerful online company with a wide reach (Alibaba) partnering with a traditional financial company (Yu'e Bao) and offering products in a fresh way for the Internet generation.
In the video below, Motley Fool banking analysts Matt Koppenheffer and contributor David Hanson talk about whether this is a direction Apple and Google could take to go further into the financial realm. But they also wonder how much the Internet still change the banking industry.
Big banking's little $20.8 trillion secret
There's a brand-new company that's revolutionizing banking, and is poised to kill the hated traditional brick-and-mortar banks. That's bad for them, but great for investors. And amazingly, despite its rapid growth, this company is still flying under the radar of Wall Street. To learn about about this company, click here to access our new special free report.
The article Google and Facebook Could Challenge Traditional Banks originally appeared on Fool.com.David Hanson owns shares of Facebook. Matt Koppenheffer has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Facebook, Google (A shares), and Google (C shares). The Motley Fool owns shares of Facebook, Google (A shares), and Google (C shares). Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Copyright © 1995 - 2014 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.


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PURCHASE, N.Y. (CBS.MW) -- International Paper said a slowing economy and a strong U.S. dollar along with rising energy costs will cause it to miss fourth quarter profit projections by a large margin.
International Paper IP, -2.67% is forecasting earnings per share of about 30 cents, well below the current forecast for earnings of 44 cents per share in a survey of analysts by First Call.
Shares dropped $1.94, or 5 percent, to $37.56 Wednesday morning.
The company is the No. 1 paper firm and a component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average DJIA, +0.29% The Dow fell 193 points in early action.
The Philadelphia Forest and Paper Product Index $FPP fell 2.7 percent on Wednesday morning as the impact of the warning hit the sector.
The company said it's balancing its supply to meet the demands of its customers and expects it will take more than 100,000 tons of additional downtime in the fourth quarter compared to the third. This brings the fourth-quarter total to more than 700,000 tons of market-related downtime.
"We intend to keep production in line with demand, and are taking aggressive steps to respond to weakened market conditions," said John Faraci, executive vice president and chief financial officer. "We expected a seasonal slowdown in the quarter, but rising fuel costs and concerns about the economic outlook are impacting our business across the board."
The company also blamed pressure on building materials prices and volume for biting into profit.
On the positive front, International Paper said its capacity rationalization and realignment initiatives are on or ahead of schedule. Cost savings from the Champion merger have been increased by 20 percent, to $500 million.
The integration of International Paper and Champion International "is proceeding extremely well," the company said.
International Paper will reduce capital spending to $1.2 billion in 2001, which is about 60 percent of depreciation and amortization. That's 20 percent below the $1.5 billion spent in the year 2000.


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U.S. light-vehicle sales are forecast to take a dive in January, while inventories are expected to remain high despite widespread production cutbacks.
Additionally, first-quarter deliveries likely will fall below year-ago results, assuming manufacturers show restraint regarding sales incentives.
Wardâ€™s is forecasting January light-vehicle sales to post a 15.7 million seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR), following Decemberâ€™s surge to 18.3 million. That also is down from year-agoâ€™s 16.3 million SAAR, and the lowest since June 2004â€™s 15.4 million.(See related data: Sales Forecast Jan. 31 U.S. Light Vehicle Sales)
Actual volume is forecast at 1.03 million units, equaling a daily selling rate of 43,000 over the monthâ€™s 24 selling days. The DSR is less than 1% below year-agoâ€™s 43,176 â€“ 26 selling days â€“ on volume of 1.12 million.
Even though inventories for some companies, and the industry as a whole, remain high, manufacturers are expected to hold back from pulling the trigger on new incentives and rely more on slower production to control inventory for the month.
Decemberâ€™s SAAR was a 38-month high and will have a large pull-ahead effect on January. Thus, the drop is not as serious as it looks, and the combined December-January SAAR of 17.2 million is higher than year-agoâ€™s 16.9 million.
But Januaryâ€™s results will put a damper on the quarter, as well as make it tougher for the entire year to match 2004.
Sales should rebound in February and March, and Wardâ€™s is forecasting a 16.3 million SAAR for first-quarter 2005, compared with 16.5 million in like-2004.
The outlook assumes that the industry, especiallyCorp., will not open the floodgates on incentives to cull first-quarter inventories. The second quarter is the highest-volume sales period of the year, and manufacturers with excess inventory are likely to combine slower production in April-June with the seasonally higher demand to continue paring dealer stocks.
However, if GM turns on the incentive spigot and others follow suit, then first-quarter sales easily could match year-ago levels.
Longer term, Wardâ€™s is forecasting calendar 2005 U.S. light-vehicle sales at 16.7 million, down from 2004â€™s 16.9 million. The outlook takes into account the apparent easing of incentives, higher interest rates and other factors.
U.S. light-vehicle inventory ended December at 3.77 million units, 1.0% above year-ago. Thatâ€™s the narrowest gap for any month since the last time inventory was below year-ago levels in September 2002.
Still, stocks remain about 500,000 units higher than needed and will remain about 400,000 units too high when the first quarter ends, based on a Wardâ€™s outlook.
Inventory is forecast to end January at 3.984 million units, 2.6% above year-ago, but should fall below year-ago levels for the first time in two-and-a-half years by March 31.
January daysâ€™ supply is forecast at 93, compared with 66 the prior month and 90 a year ago.


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Following the Government’s announcement that pubs, restaurants, hotels, social clubs and galleries will be able to reopen on July 4, 2020, our head of offices across England have shared their anticipation for the regions.
“Manchester is just not used to being a quiet place,” said Peter Gallagher, Head of Collier’s Manchester office. “Our vibrant hospitality sector is tightly bound to the fabric of the city. We are known throughout the world for our unique offering of big national chains alongside independent local entrepreneurs who create a day and night time economy for all tastes. In the region as a whole the visitor economy is worth over £8billion and supports over 100,000 jobs locally, so its restart is crucial to stimulating a much-anticipated awakening of wider commercial activity
“Reducing the social distancing measures to 1m+ is going to significantly help those businesses who feared running at a loss with 2m measures in place. Now businesses have a real chance to get their staff back to work and make up for the lost time of the past three months.”
Head of our Birmingham office, James Cubitt added: “Boris Johnson’s latest announcement regarding the opening up of the leisure and hospitality sector from 4th July and the reduction in the social distancing requirement to 1 metre+ is an extremely welcome step both socially and economically as it increases the potential for social interaction – which is the thing that people have missed most throughout this crisis.
“The direct benefits to the leisure and hospitality sector are significant and it will be great to see bars around Brindley place and other leisure districts in the vicinity thriving again. In addition, the opening up of amenities such as restaurants, bars and pubs will also have a very positive impact on other sectors, such as offices. The ability to socialise with colleagues and clients in bars and restaurants is a key driver for companies to be based in city centres and returning to the workplace is likely to be a far more appealing prospect for staff now these are open for business.
“However, public health remains the key concern and it is essential for operators to implement the suggested measures correctly. Consumer confidence is key at this time and failure to take on board Government health and safety procedures is likely to damage customer trust and have a reverse effect on business.”
Jo Edwards, Head of our South West office in Bristol said: “After many weeks of uncertainty this is a welcome relief for businesses that they are able to reopen ahead of the peak summer season. The local economies of Devon, Cornwall, The Cotswolds and Dorset rely heavily on tourism, while Bristol and Bath’s hospitality sector will be significantly boosted by the reduction of social distancing measures to 1m+, helping to make reopening a more viable prospect.
“With many people looking to enjoy a staycation rather than a holiday abroad this year, we expect there will be many looking to visit this beautiful part of the country and provide a vital boost to the local economy – we must all ensure that measures are in place to protect staff and customers so we’re ready to welcome visitors again from July 4.”


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"There is some concern that by circumventing Google Play, Epic may potentially make it more challenging for users to install "Fortnite" on devices running older Android versions, where side loading of apps isn't as straightforward as in more recent releases", he said. As such, the company is taking action, and is showing a warning to anyone who searches for Fortnite in Google Play.
When Epic Games brings its hugely popular battle royale game "Fortnite" to some Android smartphones and tablets later this month (it's now available on select Samsung devices only), it won't distribute it on Google Play. The app will also be required for updates to the game on Android, just like it is on the Windows platform.
The arrival of Fortnite on Android has not only been eagerly awaited, but also steeped in controversy.
Fortnite Android download: How to download Fornite on Android phone? These apps could take advantage of Fortnite's absence from the Play Store and try and scam users.More news: Omarosa shares tape of Trump's reaction to her being fired
More news: Iran’s Khamenei rules out war, talks with U.S.
More news: Ronaldo Scores In Juve Debut
"We believe gamers will benefit from competition among software sources on Android". Well, that exclusive period is up and Fortnite is now available for more devices. However, the good news is that Fortnite's exclusivity to Samsung devices has come to an end and now the beta is available for download on other Android smartphones too. Once the game is installed, you will have to wait for an official invite from Epic Games to begin playing the game - therefore, you still can't play Fortnite yet.
Research suggests scammers are tricking Fortnite players out of more than $1 million each year through fake, corrupted links.
"The perpetrators are abusing the fact that online players of Battle Royale games may be very eager to get free in-game currency and items, and are willing to go to pretty risky lengths to get hold of them".


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TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — UPS says it is looking to fill dozens of open positions in the Tampa and Sarasota areas to assist with the anticipated increase in shipping volume.
The company says the opening are a part of its annual seasonal hiring initiative which was announced In early September. UPS said they expected to hire more than 100,000 essential seasonal employees beginning in October 2021 and continuing through January 2022.
Jobs available in the Tampa and Sarasota areas include package handlers, driver helpers and seasonal drivers.
While seasonal work doesn’t typically last a long time, UPS says there are benefits to seeking temporary jobs. Seasonal employees have the opportunity to earn up to $1,300 toward their college tuition.
Plus, nearly a third of those hired in seasonal positions last year were hired in a permanent capacity following the holidays.
UPS says interested applicants can apply at jobs-ups.com.


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Our BFF the patriarchy is at it again, this time with the news that women who wear more makeup are paid more. In a study published in the June 2016 Journal of Social Stratification and Mobility, researchers Jaclyn Wong of the University of Chicago and Andrew Penner of the University of California at Irvine tested the "attractiveness-income relationship," or whether a person's attractiveness is a factor in how much money they earn (spoiler alert: It is). They tested both men and women, taking several factors into consideration for what constitutes attractiveness, including time spent on makeup and grooming.
Their research confirmed that people who fall into the "attractive" category are, on average, paid 20 percent more than their counterparts. Perhaps surprisingly, this did not vary across gender — attractive men were just as likely as attractive women to earn more than their "less attractive" peers. However, the study found that when it came to women, the attractiveness factor affecting their income was almost wholly determined by their makeup and grooming, whereas grooming only affected the attractiveness-income relationship of half the men. In other words, women's salaries were twice as likely to be dependent on their grooming standards than their male counterparts, which, y'know... bummer.
Basically, it's crappy enough to consider that attractiveness is a factor at all in what a person makes — but it's even crappier when you consider just how much more of a factor it is for women. And not just because of the underlying misogyny and a whole host of other unfair standards women are held to compared to men, but just on the practical end of things. The "pink tax," or the up-marking of women's products that are, for all intents and purposes, the same as the ones men use, is very real. Women aren't just charged more for hygiene products, but are expected to purchase a ton of other products to keep up with societal beauty standards that men just plain aren't.
In fact, on average, men will spend $691.52 on grooming products, and women will spend a whopping $1,351. So yeah, maybe women who are wearing makeup might be making more money — but at what (literal) cost? Between this and making 77 cents on the dollar compared to men, it seems like the whole effect would cancel itself out pretty quickly. Basically, when it comes to equal pay across gender, the Bad News Train is squarely parked in Even Worse News Station and experiencing HEAVY DELAYS.
Psst, check out our podcast, The Chat Room, for talk about all things Internet.
And of course, on the other end of this, women are also criticized for trying too hard with their hair and makeup, particularly in the workplace. So when you sit back, it almost looks like there's no way for women to win here. Solution? Don't do anything. Don't move. Don't breathe. Maybe move to Mars.
But truly — the best thing women can do is dress for themselves, groom themselves in whatever manner makes us feel the most confident and comfortable, and keep pushing against stereotypes that contribute to study results like these. That, and buy all the dude versions of hygiene products to mess with the fragile sexist ecosystem of pink tax marketing. Hooray!
Images: NBC; Giphy


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While much of the news out of camp Corolla has been surrounding the still far off 2014 Toyota Corolla, Toyota would like you to know it has a perfectly good model for the coming year.
Read This Article
Espousing the benefits of electric vehicles is typically what you'd expect your Green Peace-loving neighbor to do, replete with bumper stickers for all sorts of progressive causes.
Toyota Land Cruiser fans, rejoice!
Hybrid naysayers constantly say hybrids aren't worth the extra cost because it will take years to recover the premium paid for their high-tech vehicles versus a non-hybrid equivalent.


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Update your iPhone to iOS 17
As the tech world transitions from the excitement of an Apple event to the pre-order and release cycle, the company’s core technology will be updated.
After opening pre-orders for the iPhone 15 on Friday, iOS 17 is the most recent product to be released following the “Wonderlust” event. The new operating system was not discussed in the video presentation, but information was released the same day.
The operating system update will include enhancements and new features for Apple’s premier product and AirPods.
Here are some facts about iOS 17.
What’s new with iOS 17?
The new operating system will enable users to read a transcript of a voicemail in real-time and determine whether or not to answer the call.
iPhone users will be able to place their devices in inactive mode while the device is charging on its side. This mode enables the phone to function as a clock, cycle through photos, and operate applications.
FaceTime will now allow users to project conversations to AppleTV devices. The iPhone or iPad will serve as the outgoing camera, while the larger screen will display incoming video.
This new feature, an offshoot of AirDrop, will enable iPhone users to exchange contact information by holding their devices near to one another.
Adaptive Audio: This mode, introduced with the AirPod Pro, modifies the volume of media and noise cancellation to reflect the user’s environment.
Conversation Awareness: Additionally, iOS 17 will include a Conversation Awareness mode, which will adjust the volume of what’s playing and amplify the voices of the individuals in front of you.
What’s improved with iOS 17?
FaceTime users can now leave video messages if the recipient of their call does not answer. The messages will function identically to voicemail, and callers will have access to all the video effects that would be available during a completed FaceTime call.
Additionally, iOS 17 will allow users to automatically mute FaceTime conversations from strangers.
The operating system will incorporate additional “Check-In” options.
For those who use their iPhones as a phone, the phone app can now generate new visuals to alert the user of an incoming call from a contact.
In addition, Autocorrect and predictive text will be enhanced in the update.


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Realtors are improving their image, according to the latest National Association of Realtors’ annual survey that gauges public opinion.
The survey’s composite image score of 19 beliefs, opinions and attitudes about Realtors rose from 56 percent in 2004 to 59 percent this year – up 11 points since 2002, the group announced today. The survey also found that the likelihood of real estate consumers to use a Realtor over a real estate licensee who is not a Realtor rose four points to 64 percent this year.
Some of the consumer beliefs and opinions that improved most over the past 12 months are: “Realtors bring the latest technology to buying and selling a home” (up six points to 63 percent); “Realtors have the expertise to help sellers price their home fairly” (up four points to 64 percent); “Realtors earn their commission” (up six points to 50 percent) and “Realtors advocate private property rights of homeowners” (up 12 points to 54 percent).
Al Mansell, president of the Realtor association, said in a statement, “Consumer attitudes towards Realtors have been improving steadily for the past few years due to many factors.”
Total awareness of NAR’s television and radio advertisements reached the highest level in the history of the campaign, the trade group reported. Awareness rose two points to 73 percent – reaching nearly three out of four real estate consumers in America. In 2005, 55 percent of consumers recalled seeing or hearing at least one of the NAR advertising executions, an increase of two points over 2004, the trade group announced. Awareness of the “Ask your agent if they’re a Realtor, a member of the National Association of Realtors” campaign increased from 32 percent to 39 percent.
Beliefs about Realtors that improved the most this year were: that they have the best network of sources to help buyers and sellers (79 percent, up six points over year ago); that they are best qualified to promote the sale of a home (73 percent, up 12 points); that they are professional (70 percent, up 13 points); that they conduct business with ethics and integrity (69 percent, up 11 points); and that they get the job done properly (68 percent, up 10 points).
Buyers who purchased a home in the past 12 months reported a jump from 39 percent to 56 percent in agents identifying themselves as Realtors, while sellers reported an even more dramatic 23 percentage point gain, from 41 percent to 64 percent, the group reported.
Realtor support for the advertising campaign continues at levels similar to those last year, according to a survey of NAR members conducted in concert with the consumer survey. Ninety-eight percent of all NAR members favor the ad program, 94 percent would like to see more advertising, and 78 percent rate the advertising effectiveness as excellent/very good (up four points). Sixty-seven percent of members cite NAR’s advertising as an important reason for joining the association, according to the announcement.
The National Association of Realtors Public Awareness Campaign kicked off its eighth season last February and it will end next week. New ads this season featured people talking about their real estate experiences and touting the benefits of working with a Realtor. The ads encourage consumers to contact a Realtor first when they are buying or selling a home or leasing commercial space.
The $25 million advertising campaign featured four new television commercials, four new radio spots, and customizable print ads, posters and Web banners. Commercials included NAR’s first-ever Spanish-language television ad. The new spot, which closely resembles the English-language version, featured Hispanic Americans sharing their hopes, dreams and stories about trying to achieve the American dream of home ownership.
What’s your opinion? Send your Letter to the Editor to email@example.com.